DESERT SOUTHWEST

I was fortunate last month to guide in Joshua Tree, Death Valley and surrounding areas, while a snowstorm was ravaged my home town. When I returned the snow was already melting and temps were rising. You gotta love that kind of timing. If winter is chilling your days a little too much, then take a look at these desert landscapes for a warm up!


 JOSHUA TREE 

Cactus Wren nest in a Cholla. The wren was nearby as we could hear her loud, scratchy and scolding voice. It astounds that a soft-feathered creature could live in one of the world's most painful plants.

I just love this Barrel Cactus. These plants can vary in size and color, so to see one 3 feet tall and a vibrant red made it photo worthy.

No trip to Joshua Tree would be complete without a picture of one. This is along the Pine City trail. This trail is a bit of an enigma as a few old large pine trees still exist in the hot, arid climate. They remain from when the weather was much cooler.

This dead cholla gives the environs a creepy feel. Cholla are hollow inside, and that is noticeable once they perish. The wood is light but strong.

Don't you just want to rub your face up against this Teddy Bear (also known as Jumping) Cholla and have a snuggle? They are so deceptive. The close up of the Cholla's arm better depicts it spiky nature.

The dark parts of this Cholla have not been burned, they have simply died off. The rest of the plant will continue to grow and rejuvenate. 

Such lovely sunsets on this trip. This is the Heart of the park with the Hexie Mountains along the horizon. I love how these Teddy Bear needles capture the glow of the setting sun.

The hippie vibe is alive and well at the fantastic resort, 29 Palms. My clients get a big kick out of the quirky spirit this unique lodging provides.

The Sacred Datura/Moon Flower/Jimsomweed among many other names. This was spotted near the ghost town of Amboy on the side of the road. Take care when sniffing this flower as it is highly poisonous.

Walking amongst the lava flow the originated from the Amboy Crater. The crater last erupted 10,000 years ago. This lava flow sits along route 66 between Joshua Tree and the Mojave National Preserve,

Amboy, a modern ghost town. Well, somewhat modern. 

A great stopover on the way to Death Valley.

DEATH VALLEY

I just like this abandoned fire truck from Tecopa on the side of the road, so I had to snap a pic.

Another gorgeous sunset! Zabriskie Point provides stunning vistas. In the top pic you can see the lowest point in the western hemisphere: Badwater, 282 feet below sea level. Also in the top shot you can see the Panamint Range in the background with Golden Canyon in the foreground.

 Badwater Basin from atop Dante's View. The salt flats form once the Amargosa River seeps into the ground aquifer. This river only reappears after rare rainstorms. This is one of my favorite places in the world, and not just because this was used as the location for Star Wars planet Tatooine. Get you geek on and check out other Death Valley Star Wars' locations: https://www.panamintcity.com/exclusives/starwars.html

Early morning in Marble Canyon, a slot canyon.

Seemingly a rare sight in a desert landscape, but Ash Meadows Wildlife Preserve in Nevada is host to numerous Caribbean-like spring pools. The water is a part of the same underground system that feeds the Amargosa River. Sorry, Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins are nowhere to be found.

CLIENTS SHARE PICS AND INFO

MORLEY CANOES

Paul Thomson and his wife Karen Crapako shared this lovely shot of a canoe on Leigh Lake in the Tetons.  Its serenity captures the essence of the moment. We traveled together this summer during the National Geographic Expeditions Ultimate trip. We were hiking along the lake when we noticed folks getting into their canoe. The canoe was made at Morley Canoes in Swan Lake, MT. Wonderful craftsmanship! They have been making these works of art since 1972. You can find them at: http://morleycanoes.com/about-us/

BEAR SAGA

Back in June I posted a video of a mama bear and cubs traversing the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park. The drama ensued as one of the cubs got swept away, leaving us concerned that the baby wouldn't be reunited with his mother, or survive the treacherous waters. LUCKILY we were able to follow the cub until it reached its sibling and mother. I recently received more footage of the event from my client Russell Watters. (Thanks Russ!) He, his wife and son can be heard in the video.

WOLVES IN MANITOBA

I have regular clients: Joanna Stingray and her daughter Madison Alexandra, that I have had the privilege to guide multiple times in the past 10 years. They are awesome and I love hearing from them re: trips that I don't guide them on as well. This summer they were with an Outfitter in Manitoba: https://www.churchillwild.com/. Check out their website. The trips they offer and the site itself is fantastic. Joanna sent some great shots of her wolf sightings. (Thanks Joanna!)

A YELLOWSTONE YOWZA

Because I work in Yellowstone so frequently I sometimes don't realize the amount of wildlife I see in the park. I guided Linda Reyman on a Yellowstone Safari this past September and the list she compiled on our trip is pretty astounding.

Mammals

• Elk — Herds/ Bulls with huge racks — some bugling/ Females some bugling responses to males/ Young
• Mom Grizzly and cubs
• Mule Deer
• Bison - Herds/  Bulls / Females and Young often interrupting humans / traffic, etc.
• Coyote(s)
• Wapiti Wolf packs with Alpha Males / Females (and some with cubs)- heard howling. Pine Marten (related to weasels . . . .)
• Prong Horn - Herds with Bucks/ Does and Young
• Red Fox sprinting through field in AM
• Mountain Goats
• Big Horned Sheep

Birds

• Osprey
• Northern Harrier
• Bald Eagle (Adult and Immature)
• Trumpeter Swans
• Golden-eye
• Merganser
• Coots
• Rough-Legged Hawk (Juvenile)
• Golden Eagle
• Prairie Falcon
• Swainson’s Hawk (Immature)
• Sage Grouse
• Red Tailed Hawk (Immature)
• Kestrel
• Clark’s Nutcracker (at Hartman’s Studio/Home bird feeder)
• Stellar Jay (also at Hartmans’s feeder)
• Black Billed Magpie

Looks like I need to be taking more pictures on these excursions and share photographic proof of these sightings!

Thanks to these and all my other clients who constantly remind me why I love this job!

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS ULTIMATE

This is the second year in a row I have done this trip and it really is an ultimate experience for my clients! 5 National Parks in 15 days: Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Olympic and Grand Canyon. It was a whirlwind of exhilaration!


THE TETONS

Grand Teton National Park was established by Calvin Coolidge in 1929. The acreage of the park has grown since its inception from 96,000 to 310,000

A moose sighting is always a thrill, but when you get a mama and her baby it is an added bonus. The marshy parts of the park provide the perfect habitat for these ungulates.


YELLOWSTONE

 Being in Yellowstone multiple times a year allows me to share my love of the park with many travelers while I work on my photographic skills. Getting to know these phenomenal features aids me in capturing them on camera.

The majestic Grand Prismatic Spring! On a sunny day the colors are truly spectacular. The largest hot spring in the U.S. and third largest in the world.

Artemesia Geyser may look like just a hot springs when calm, but it goes through regular minor and major eruptions. After a major eruption its pool drops apx. 2 feet. I love the brilliant blue.

Morning Glory's current color is dramatic, but the result of a sad fact: years of tourist trash. Visitors to the park have unfortunately deposited refuse and wishing coins into the pool, which has lowered the temperature. This has allowed microbes that thrive in cooler water to grow, giving it this yellow and green color versus the blue that it would produce otherwise.

I just love the Mud Pots in Yellowstone. Their gurgling and bubbling never fail to astound new visitors.

I often post pics of the falls in the Canyon area of Yellowstone from a distance. This shot is atop the brink of the Upper Falls. Powerful and chaotic!

The water at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces is mostly underground. Scientists say that only 10% is on the surface.


GLACIER

On this trip we were supposed to stay at the Historic Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park, and I had hoped to wow you with pics of this rustic yet impressive structure. Unfortunately fires were encroaching the area, so we had to make other lodging plans in Whitefish.

Along the way to Glacier we visited the Berkeley Pit. I is the sight of an open-pit copper mining operation that was active from 1955-1982. Since it closed, the pit has filled with contaminated water that includes arsenic and sulfuric acid. It is now a Superfund site, meaning the EPA has given it special status for cleanup as it poses a risk to humans and/or the environment. It is an example of how greed can bring devastation.

My client Marianne enjoying a smokeless moment in the bit of Glacier we were able to visit.


OLYMPIC

I was saddened that I was not able to show my clients all that Glacier has to offer, but nature is unpredictable so you just have to roll with it. I was pleased to get to Olympic National Park, where the air was clear and beautiful views were unobstructed by smoke.

Sun soon to set over Lake Crescent......

...and sunset!

I love this shot along the Hall of Mosses Trail. It has an impressionistic appearance, like Monet's "Water Lillies."

 A grove of mossy Big Leaf Maples. Their limbs reach out in dramatic gesture, thus giving them their nickname, "the grand dame" of the Maple family.

The plaque for this very special Sitka Spruce says it all!


GRAND CANYON

By the time we got to the Grand Canyon we'd been traveling for 12 days! Covering so much ground (literally!) is exhausting, but luckily the Grand Canyon is equally inspiring and invigorating. Can't think of a better finale to cap off an incredible journey.

I will just let these pictures of the canyon speak for themselves.