The Joshua Tree National Park in the
Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The twisted, spiky trees seem like
something straight out of a Dr. Seuss
book
something straight out of a Dr. Seuss
book
Mormon pioneers named the tree after
the biblical figure, Joshua, seeing the
bearded appearance and upraised limbs
as outstretched in supplication
the biblical figure, Joshua, seeing the
bearded appearance and upraised limbs
as outstretched in supplication
Colorful and hardy spring cactus flowers bloom in the desert
These are cholla cactus, nicknamed the "teddy bear" cactus. From a distance, the
bristles appear to be soft, but if you brush up against them, the spines will detach
and drive deep into your skin.
bristles appear to be soft, but if you brush up against them, the spines will detach
and drive deep into your skin.
This hungry coyote trailed our car for
at least a mile, hoping for a meal
at least a mile, hoping for a meal
Several spots in the 800,000-acre park
offer surprisingly lush oases
offer surprisingly lush oases
The "Disneyland Petroglyphs" - a movie
crew repainted the original rock carvings
to make them more visible to the camera.
There are also untouched petroglyphs in
the area, but they were boring.
crew repainted the original rock carvings
to make them more visible to the camera.
There are also untouched petroglyphs in
the area, but they were boring.
Gene posing on a windy spring day at
Lake Tahoe.
2008
Lake Tahoe.
2008
Dad, also on the shores of Lake
Tahoe. He joined us during our
honeymoon drive trip touring scenic
Northern California, Nevada & Utah.
Tahoe. He joined us during our
honeymoon drive trip touring scenic
Northern California, Nevada & Utah.
A "closed for the winter" (duh!) notice
about 8,000 feet up at Lassen Volcanic
National Park.
April 30, 2008
about 8,000 feet up at Lassen Volcanic
National Park.
April 30, 2008
Nearly year-round snowfields can
prevent traveling to higher elevations.
Compare the size of the snowpiles
with our car!
April 30, 2008
prevent traveling to higher elevations.
Compare the size of the snowpiles
with our car!
April 30, 2008
Numerous steaming fumaroles are
evident throughout the Volcanic Park,
an active hydrothermal region.
evident throughout the Volcanic Park,
an active hydrothermal region.
Despite the thick snow blanket,
bubbling mud pots still gurgle through
the rocks.
bubbling mud pots still gurgle through
the rocks.
This return trip to Lassen Volcanic
Park permitted a hike to view the
colorfully-named Bumpass Hell.
October, 2010
Park permitted a hike to view the
colorfully-named Bumpass Hell.
October, 2010
Bumpass Hell is a 16-acre cauldron of
scalding ponds (up to 310 degrees),
hissing steam vents, chortling mud
pots and the distinctive smell of
hydrogen sulfide gas.
scalding ponds (up to 310 degrees),
hissing steam vents, chortling mud
pots and the distinctive smell of
hydrogen sulfide gas.
Luckily, there is a sturdy wooden
boardwalk that permits exploration.
boardwalk that permits exploration.
Hiking on Mount Shasta. The 14,000+
feet summit can be seen from 100
miles away on a clear day.
October, 2010
feet summit can be seen from 100
miles away on a clear day.
October, 2010
A postcard-worthy photo of Yosemite
Valley. It really is this gorgeous.
July, 2011
Valley. It really is this gorgeous.
July, 2011
Tufa towers are limestone formations
built over hundreds of thousands of
years from calcium-bearing freshwater
springs welling up through alkaline lake
water.
Mono Lake, July, 2011
built over hundreds of thousands of
years from calcium-bearing freshwater
springs welling up through alkaline lake
water.
Mono Lake, July, 2011
Joshua trees and the largest sand dune in North America.
Mojave Desert, July 2016
Mojave Desert, July 2016
Devil's Golf Course, Badwater Basin salt flats, and view of badlands from Zabriskie Point - temperature 114 F.
Death Valley National Park, July 2016
Death Valley National Park, July 2016
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley.
Dry creek bed near Artist's Palette.