Some More Pics From Capitol Reef National Park
Cathedral Valley
Like A Rainbow
Temples Of The Moon and The Sun
Dark clouds pass over the Henry Mountains near Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Highway 24 weaves its way through the heart of Capitol Reef National Park.
Nice sunset, nice fire and a nice 12 pack of Corona Beer.
Dixie National Forest adjacent to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Back In Business
My camera took another hit a few weeks ago due to an accident but now it is better. You may remember a few years ago that this same camera accidentally fell into a creek high in the Sierras and took some time to heal after Canon said it was totaled. This time I spilled a soft drink on the camera which was sitting on my vehicle’s passenger seat but I quickly dried it off, but some damage was done. It was a coke(No more cokes) and they contain a lot of syrup which got into some of the dials and switches on the camera. After a few days, I couldn’t move a few. I gambled with some WD-40 and after a few weeks of drying out, the camera is in fine running order. For my next camera, I will purchase accidental damage insurance which is available. So I took some photos out in my backyard of Zion National Park which turned out just fine!
Dark clouds pass through Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
The Remote Eureka Valley
Eureka Valley is located within Death Valley National Park and was added to the park when Death Valley became a national park in 1994. Death Valley NP is now the largest national park in the lower 48 states at over 3.3 million acres, 50% more than Yellowstone. Ninety One per cent of the park is designated wilderness and Eureka Valley is definitely wilderness. It is approximately 28 miles long and up to 10 miles wide. Eureka Valley could be its own national park. The valley is known for its soaring sand dunes, the colorful Last Chance Range and views to the snow-capped White Mountains that reach some 14,000 feet into the air.
Clouds pass over Eureka Valley at Death Valley National Park, California
Eureka Valley, upper left on map, is a 2 hour drive from the center of Death Valley NP, mostly on dirt and gravel roads.
Colorful strata are the predominate feature of the aptly named Last Chance Range.
The snow-covered White Mountains as seen from Eureka Valley.
Lazy clouds pass over Eureka Valley.
A full moon lights up the landscape over Eureka Dunes.
High winds kick up sand at Eureka Valley and eventually settles at the south end where the dunes reside.
The dunes rise up to 700 feet, amongst the tallest in North America.
The dunes look rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Sunset over the valley.
It’s amazing that anything grows or survives here.
Small mammals survive here by burrowing into the sand for relief. These nests are home to the kangaroo rat.
Rain makes an occasional appearance at Death Valley, but only a few inches annually.
Wintry Owens Valley
In the middle of my visit to Death Valley last week, I made a side trip through California’s Owens Valley. The snow level was much lower than in previous years as California has been hit with numerous storms this winter. Unfortunately, low clouds obscured the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
It Never Rains In Death Valley
Well, almost, it did a little this past Friday. Death Valley only receives 2 inches per year, mostly in the winter. In a lot of locations in this world, you can receive 2 inches of rain in less than an hour. The storm clouds gave Death Valley National Park a look I normally don’t see. The clouds and filtered sunlight produced some memorable images.
A Few More Zion Winter Pics
The light from the setting sun shines on Zion Canyon during winter at Zion National Park, Utah
Southern Utah Winter Scenes
The heavy snow last week turned rural Southern Utah into a winter wonderland.
Bryce Is Twyce As Nyce In The Winter
With a foot or two of fresh snow, Bryce Canyon National Park was a required venture. The hoodoos never looked better. The weather forecast called for a high of 20 degrees(F) with a windchill of minus 22, so I quickly took care of business.
Someone wrote in the snow, a love note that I believe is in Japanese. There were a lot of Japanese tourists around.
California’s Moro Bay
Along California’s central coast, Moro Bay is a home for one nice marina and one large ubiquitous rock.
These houses are stacked on top of each other, like cards in a deck.
I also forgot the ubiquitous smoke stacks of the local power plant.
The Hills Are Alive With The Color Of Green
That drought that caused brush fires in California that I highlighted earlier this week, is now a recent memory. California gets rain in the winter and the hills get green, but this winter , they are green green. These hills are east of Paso Robles, on the way to the San Joaquin Valley.
Where there are clouds, rain and sunlight, look out for the ephemeral rainbow.
