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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Death Valley Wildflowers

SW Trip part 10

 

2016 in Death Valley is predicted to be a year of a Super Bloom! We were there at the beginning when Desert Gold (geraea canescens) was beginning to carpet the low-lying areas of the park. We saw vast areas of the gold flowers off in the distance and along the road to Badwater Basin. By the time we stopped to look at them, the wind had come up and made flower photos very difficult! I did my best.

I found a few individual flowers of Desert Gold near the campground before the wind came up
I think this is brown-eyed evening primrose (camissonia claviformis)
I think this is notch-leaf phacelia although it could be another phacelia
Gravel ghost (atrichoseris platyphylla)
This is how they looked most of the time!

Some Scenes from Death Valley

SW Trip part 9

 

Death Valley is a place of broad vistas and eroded rock, sand and salt. And wind. We arrived in the evening just before sunset and began to orient ourselves. We quickly figured out that we would not be able to see many of the park’s big attractions. You really do need a some kind of a rugged, high clearance vehicle to do that and the 33 foot coach didn’t qualify. There was still plenty for us to do.

In the morning we headed out from Furnace Creek to Golden Canyon for a three mile hike and then to Badwater Basin. As the day went by, it was apparent that the weather was changing. We stopped at Zabriski Point (see another blog post) and then the old borax works. At that point the wind was blowing very hard, shaking the coach as we drove down the road and we needed to find some place to hunker down for the rest of the day. So we returned to Furnace Creek where we were protected from the strong gusts. That night we went to sleep listening to raindrops on the roof. In the morning it was dry and seemed calm. We stopped at Salt Creek, a desert oasis and home to an endangered pupfish and then went on to Stovepipe Wells. Again the wind was howling and a strong gust pulled the door right out of my hands. It had some minor damage but Jennifer was able to repair it using some inappropriate tools and lots of elbow grease. What a relief when the door closed again. After a less-than-satisfying lunch at a the only restaurant we moved on, crossing over at least two mountain ranges and out of the park.

Evening light on salt-crusted ground
There once was water
Hiking in Golden Canyon
So many cool rocks
lizard
I think this was called desert holly
More cool rocks
Crystals between layers of rock
Salt
Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level
It’s a half a mile out to the salt flats
Badwater
Amazing clouds
Salt flats
Salt crystals
Old borax works
Yellow flowers
Salt Creek
Salt Creek
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It was blowing too hard for us to consider getting out there.
Lizard
A windy road over steep mountains
We crossed that range farther north

Amargosa Opera House

SW Trip part 9

It’s been quite a road trip so far with more to come. Fortunately we were not tied to a specific schedule except to get me to the airport on time. Between the Grand Canyon and Death Valley we were able to stop for a break at the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel. We’d seen it on the map and hadn’t a clue what it was. Thinking maybe that it could be a venue for Notable Exceptions or Horse Crazy, we took a chance and stopped the coach during a hot afternoon on our way to Death Valley.

The Pacific Coast Borax Company built the adobe structures between 1923 and 1925 as a company town. Marta Beckett, a dancer, discovered the abandoned buildings in 1967 and agreed to rent it for $45 a month and take care of needed repairs. She had her first performance in February 1968 and continued to perform three nights a week until retiring in 2012! There continue to be regularly scheduled performances under the current management. The hotel and gift shop have been restored and are also open.

I was charmed by the architecture and the history. I would have loved to go inside the opera house and see Marta’s paintings and murals. Another trip.

Grand Canyon Sunset

SW Trip part 8

 

Sunset can be that glorious time between night and day when the light changes in the blink of an eye.

Feb152016_0210

For instance, if you blinked, you missed this moment.

 

We stayed at the park til sunset both days and drove back to our camp site in the dark. It was well worth the effort. Easy for me to say since I wasn’t driving! These images are all from the second day of our visit.

With a background as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, the setting sun constantly changes the colors of the rocks creating a kaleidoscope effect of horizontal layers. Initially the colors are subtle with little contrast. As the sun tips below the horizon, the rocks seem to be illuminated from within and when the sun was below the horizon and the sky lit up as if on fire, the light reflected onto the rock walls was magnificent. 

A Few Grand Canyon Birds

SW Trip part 7

 

I had hopes of seeing California Condors at the Grand Canyon but it turns out that they stay down in the canyon til the weather is consistently warm. It’s a good thing I saw one last year at Big Sur.

The most common bird we saw was Common Raven. Lots of them. They begged in the parking lots. They were somewhat menacing. I wonder if they ever scare small children.

Western Scrub Jay
Juniper Titmouse
Common Raven
Common Raven
Raven soaring over the canyon
Common Raven looking threatening
Western Bluebird – such a beautiful little bird