Don, I agree with the posts above....best guess for Shale is that it was deposited in a sea (although there are other ways, but the creek is parallel to the strike of the shale (if that is what you meant...it is not what is on the photo) because the shale folded and guided erosion by the creek....or more likely it is just locally parallel. Only way to tilt things up fast onto their side is a landslide...so as John said....it took a long time...
Chris