Reflecting Clouds

Last weekend we went on few days long trip to deserts. Took bunch of photos but haven’t had chance to go through them just yet, stay tuned !

We drove to Joshua Tree Friday night, unfortunately there was an accident which blocked 58 and we had to take 395 south and go around which added about 40 minutes to the the drive. Naturally all campsites were taken (I completely forgot about easter on that weekend), so we slept on a road side of geology tour road. Night was pretty warm but a bit windy.

Saturday morning I decided to take another drive through Ryan campsite in case someone was leaving early and got campsite for two night. We spent rest of Saturday driving around and sightseeing flower blooming in various parts of park. In cholla cactus garden I accidentally stepped on small cactus joint and since I was wearing sandals cactus attached itself to my naked heel. Spikes on those guys grab incredibly strongly, I had to use pliers to pull them out.

Sunday hike was planned in advance – one way trip from Hidden Valley area down to Indian Cove via Rattle Snake canyon, totaling about 9 miles with some route finding. We started early morning and first half of the hike was pretty flat and easy, then fun began with a lot of bolder hopping and route finding. We met only three people that day who were hiking up from Indian cove and they recommended us to check out the “caves” – short part of the route completely covered by huge rocks (it can be be bypassed on the left side, looking downhill). That was a lot of fun squeezing between rocks, avoiding pools of uncertain depth, precise jumping 10+ feet down on soft sand banks etc, reminded me of canyoneering in Utah a while back. After a bit more hiking we arrived to rattle snake canyon and some more to the parking lot where Dara was waiting with the car to take us back to campsite. It was a long day but exciting day.

Later Sunday night we drove to Zabriskie Point in Death Valley, we arrived there around 2 AM and slept by the car on parking lot. Got waked up by the crowds arriving to see sunrise. Sunrise over rugged terrain there was amazing! Zabriskie point perhaps is the best place to watch sunrise in Death Valley, Dantey’s view could be another good spot but I think Zabriskie is better. We spent sometime in Death Valley but didn’t stay long and drove up to Mono Lake for dinner and sunset. Unfortunately Monitor pass which I was planning on taking over Sierra was closed so we had to drive through 247 and Stateline Tahoe which added another extra 100 miles to the trip. One god side, gas is about 50 cents cheaper down in Nevada floor.

This year we had plenty of rain and everything is blooming. Last weekend we went to Arboretum of US Santa Cruz, I love that place and now everything is blooming there. We usually trying to come there twice a year in winter for flowers from southern geosphere and in spring like that last time for everything else.

I have a photo gallery where you can view all photos taken in that place at various times. Some of those photos were used to create a flower card set which can be viewed here. You could also download or purchase prints right from that site.

Sunday my son and I rode our bikes down Steven Creek Canyon trail to reservoir. It was fun easy 4 mile ride on old fire road, mostly down hill. We met only few bikers going uphill but otherwise had the trail to ourselves.

We had plenty rain earlier in the month, creeks and ponds were full. Everything has woke up after winter park was lavishes with bushes and grass.

Riding along Stevens Creek road we spotted a gate made of bicycle frames. Looks creepy like a warning to all riders – “Don’t enter here!”