Monday, March 29, 2010

Virginia Rail Bragging Rights & More

This past week a fish salvage took place for three days. As part of a slough restoration project pupfish were trapped, removed from one stream and placed in another. One of our endangered pupfish
Endemic spring snails. They live here at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and no where else on earth.
Non-native crayfish. With voracious appetites for pupfish, these are maybe the biggest threat.
And, the Virginia Rail..... This is a shy reclusive bird that doesn't allow itself to be seen very often. Someone spotted it. Identification was by Carl Lundblad, our resident bird expert. He tells me that this is a bird that rarely allows itself to be photographed. I was lucky to be there with camera in hand.

2010 NV-CA Finale

Next weekend, Easter weekend, is the last one here but there will be no time for fun and games. We'll be busy preparing to hit the road - battening down the hatches, so to speak. These photos were taken the past few days and are shown here in random order. Saturday we ran 93 miles of the main road in Death Valley. Partly this was to see wildflowers. It was also one last chance to see the valley that we have come to love - a final time to engrave uncountable wonderful memories into our souls......
The dunes at Stovepipe Wells in the central valley are wonderful. Like nothing I've seen before, the wind has formed ripples that have cross-hatched. In the center of this picture the ridges appear waffle-like. Double click for a good look. Sunset but no color Gold Valley had nice color
The view from Jubilee Pass to the Panamint Range
Skipping around a bit - this was the view during our lunch in the Spring Mountains on Sun.
Saturday Badwater Basin was filled with tourists. Many walked out onto the saltflats until they could barely be seen. Badwater is 282 feet below sea level - the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere and one of the dryest places in the world. The water is slowly evaporating from the last rain. It had been 6" deep and covered much of this end of the valley. Kayakers with low draft kayaks had rare fun for a short while.
Gold Valley again
Back to Stovepipe Wells dunes with an almost-full moon.
Lizard Rock just beyond the refuge's north boundary
Desert Paintbrush
East view of salt crust from Stovepipe Wells before sunset.
Now a ruin, the Ashford Brothers built this mill at the south end of the valley in 1914 to process gold ore for shipment to a smelter.
Lavender flowers are Sand Verbena. The yellow flowers are hairy desert sunflower also known as Desert Gold - certainly a prettier and more romantic name.
Joshua tree bud ready to pop - again in the Spring Mountains.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Photography Workshop 101

This past Friday I had the joy of participating in a photography workshop with Bob Greenburg. "Ranger Bob" has, for the past 15 1/2 years, worked as either a volunteer or a "flat hat" (ranger) for the national park service at a number of national parks. He has been an official park photographer/interpretor at many parks throughout the United States. Most of his time has been spent at Death Valley and Yellowstone Parks.
Last spring Vic and I attended a ranger-led interpretive walk with Ranger Bob which is where I first met him.
This year I have a new camera with more capabilities than I can begin to comprehend. Two friends here at Ash Meadows also have great cameras and have been in the same predicament. I approached Bob a few weeks ago and asked if he would consider doing a workshop for the three of us. Right then and there he scheduled us. We three were so excited for three weeks just waiting....
And what a grand day it was. The weather cooperated beautifully. Bob gave us a full day - from
morning until past sunset and even calibrated my camera!
None of us believes how much we learned in the course of that one day. And we had so much fun, laughing and learning.
I'm going to break with my past format and begin labeling beneath photos rather than above. Sorry if this causes much confusion. I hope you will find it an improvement.
This photo was taken while we were in Golden Canyon by Kathie Taylor. It is actually the back of Zabriskie Point with Red Cathedral to the left. This is one of Bob's "secret" spots that he shared with us.
Exiting the canyon we had this lovely view of the snow-topped Panamints across the valley.
From atop that high "secret" spot looking back down the canyon to the valley floor. This is another canyon carved by the force of water.
Some of the rocks from which the canyon got its name.
Next stop was Badwater where we were 282 feet below sea level. Lake Manley occupied this arid region thousands of years ago. Normally dry now it has perhaps 6" of water from the El Nino winter. At last count there has been in excess of 3" of rain since the beginning of the year. The average annual precipitation measures 1-2"! Thus the return of a smaller Lake Manley and the beautiful green life beginning to emerge.
Helectites - thread-like salt formations that grow in any direction.
What appear from the distance to be potholes in the salt.....
Kathie and Cyndi Souza practicing what we have learned.
More salt deposts
Kathie, taken by Cyndi
Looking north up Death Valley in the late afternoon light.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

More Zabriskie Point

We are back and ready to hike the 2.5 mile loop trail that goes down, around the base of the viewpoint and through Gower Gulch before climbing back up to the beginning. I'm not sure what the elevation change is but know that it's serious for someone who has done nothing but sit all winter. Hope I make it.Here we are in the wash at the base. Folks at the top look mighty small.
We took a wrong turn and missed Gower Gulch. This is a dead end for me although lots of hikers think nothing of heading right up this slot in the canyon. In dry conditions I MAY have considered it but not with the recent rains and water running right where our feet needed to go.
Storm waters flowing through that slot come through with such force that this cut was formed. This is why one is advised never to be in a canyon when rain is in the forecast. And this, in a place that is the dryest in the Western Hemisphere, with 1-2" of annual precipitation.
Of course, this year is different with the El Nino weather system. The Furnace Creek Visitor Center has registered 3.09" of rain since the first of 2010! This promises to be an incredible wildflower season. I can hardly wait!
Vic decides to take the shortcut while I decide to retrace our steps.
On my return I find a college class enjoying a project.
After spotting this well-used path, I decide I'll try it as a shortcut. Shorter, yes, but a killer. Up......
and up and up.
The ravens love soaring here.

Specie Spring and Steve Pass area

Mine shacks were not built for the long haul. Prospectors were far more concerned with digging ore than building anything lasting. Here is the exception to the rule. More striped mountains
Interesting rock formations and colors everywhere
The willows at Specie Springs are just beginning to bloom.
And our views go on forever - or nearly.

Zabriskie Point

Zabriskie Point has to be one of the more magical places in Death Valley National Park. The colors and forms are like nowhere else. The snow covered peaks are in the Panamint Range on the west side of the park. At the base of those mountains are salt flats which comprise "the valley". They are below sea level, as much as 282 ft. below at Badwater Basin which is about the area that can barely be seen.
Manley Beacon is the pointed rock to the right. Here Badwater can better be seen.
An even better shot of Manley Beacon.
Before the end of the month and our departure I'd like to return and hike the 2.5 mile loop trail that begins here.