Tag: explore
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Through the canyon and to the mountains where the hot springs lie
Continued… After spending the night at chateau BLM we headed towards Death Valley National Park through Titus Canyon. The Titus Canyon route is a 27 mile dirt road which passes through the rugged mountains that frame the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park. The road was originally built, like so many other roads in…
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The Opera, Pupfish, and Ghost Towns
Continued… As the diffuse morning light painted the landscape in pastel we packed up and left the desert rat enclave of Tecopa and headed toward Death Valley Junction. Death Valley Junction is a small desert town with a population of less than 20 people. The town was formed in the 1920s with the backing of…
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Hippies, Date Palms and Mud Mites
For thanksgiving we explored corners of the desert we had not been to before. Our five day road trip started in the depths of the Mojave, took us over arid mountains and into Death Valley. We finished our trip by popping out by the eastern Sierra. I realize I write an awful lot about the…
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Five Essentials For Hiking In Southern California
Southern California is a great place to go hiking. The weather is almost always pleasant, the mountains are accessible, and you can be sure there will be a micro brewery to hit up on your way home from the trail. In addition to the 10 essentials I find the following five items are great supplements for…
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Hiking: Mount Morrison
When many Southern Californians head to the beach during the hot summer months I prefer that glorious drive up the 395 to the Eastern Sierras. The goal of my latest trip was to summit Mt Morrison. Morrison is a 12,000 foot peak which is perched above Convict lake. It’s about an 8 mile round trip…
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Photo Essay: Glacier National Park
From the west side to the east side. Spending just two days in Glacier National Park was not enough I will have to return someday.
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Meet Me in The Mojave
“When you get what you want, what do you want? So you go to the desert…” -Mojave 2015 The Mojave desert is my backyard. At over 47,000 sq miles the Mojave is the smallest desert in North America, it is also the driest. Despite these factors the Mojave is rich in biodiversity and there…
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Hiking : Middle Palisade
Elevation- 14,019 Distance- 12 miles round trip ( An estimate – the last part of the hike is off trail) Oh Eastern Sierra, how I love thee. The only part I do not love is having to wait till 8am at the Ranger Station surrounded by pushy Mt. Whitney hikers just so I can get…
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Why I Hike Solo
I begin to ascend out of the dirt parking lot. It is early and I do not pass anyone on the trail. All I can hear is the shrill call of a Steller’s Jay in an otherwise quite forest. The early morning dew helps to keep the dust down, but later, when the sun…
Bit of Betsy 