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Exploring the Mojave Lava Tube – Retro Post 2011
“In a world of ancient lava fields and much more” Saturday, March 26th 2011 On Saturday, March 26th 2011, I set off on a journey into the deep Mojave Desert with a few friends for a day of exploration. It was early Spring, the weather was perfectly cool and clouds were scattered sparsely as the sun shined brightly. The makings of a perfect road trip were underway. “One of many extinct cinder cones which litters the Mojave National Preserve.” Mojave Lava Tube GPS Coordinates: 35.2163997° N, -115.7546891° W The gang and I made our usual stop at Baker, CA for some Alien Fresh Jerky and plenty of water for the…
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Mini Venture – El Mirage Dry Lake Bed
Tuesday, September 28th, 2016 After waiting more than six month for some decent storm clouds, we were finally paid a visit by a storm system that was forming everywhere around Victorville except overhead as usual. Regardless, It always makes me smile to see stormy weather, I get bored of clear skies which don’t do much for photos, especially sunset images. When a good storm system rolls in however, the skies become very interesting and that’s when I keep my eyes on the sky for potential photo opportunities. I had a feeling that today would be a great opportunity for a fantastic sunset at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed. I had…
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Day Venture – Alien Scenery of the Bluecut Fire
Tuesday, August 16th, 2016 This morning, the Pilot Fire that burned from the Silverwood Lake region on through Summit Valley and Southern Hesperia was finally declared 100% contained. Unfortunately, a new fire erupted in the Cajon Pass off old Route 66 at 10:35 on this very same morning. I woke up to an all too familiar view outside my window and knew what I would be doing for the rest of the day. A gigantic plume of smoke was growing and heading our way again. It was time to grab my camera gear and hit the road for some up close action of the newly dubbed “Bluecut Fire”. I started my…
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Southwest 2015 – The Desert View Watchtower
Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 Today was a good day to head back out to the south rim of the Grand Canyon for some pick up shots and a bit more time for exploration. The Grand Canyon Railway was a most excellent experience, but unfortunately it did not leave us with much time to hike around and get the shots we wanted, so Julia and I took the starship out to the south rim and took in some much desired photo opportunities as we trekked along the regions east of Mather Point. Before we set off for a day at the south rim, Julia and I tried a place just down…
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Leap Day Adventure
Monday, February 29th, 2016 Of all the Leap Days that have come and gone in my life, I felt that it was about time to start doing something special on that rare day that only appears on the calendar every four years. There were many ideas going through my head about where I could possibly go including some places I had already been to, but that would not work. Today had to be about something “New” and “Unexplored” so I decided that I could head back to Joshua Tree National Park and visit the Hall of Horrors and the Barker Dam loop hike as a follow up after that. I had recently been to Joshua…
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Death Valley Super Bloom 2016
Thursday, February 18th, 2016 Death Valley is a place of extreme heat and desolation with wide valleys well below sea level and surrounded by tall and eccentrically featured mountains of the Amargosa Range to the East and the sierra like peaks of the Panamint range to the west. Of all the times I have visited this beautiful park, never have I had the opportunity to catch the annual flower bloom, let alone the even more rare “Super Bloom” which was happening this year. The last Super Bloom occurred over a decade ago in 2005, so I was certainly not going to miss this! Victorville My day started off somewhat later than…
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Day of the Jellyfish 2014
Pacific Coast Highway 1 Sunday, March 23rd, 2014 Julia and I always enjoyed a good photo venture to the coast when we lived in San Luis Obispo together, so when she came out to visit last year, it was only natural that we embark on a series of new adventures to new coastal locations with our trusty photo gear. Chandra Beach ( 37.3493758°N, -122.3988259°W ) For the many times that I had driven past various sections of coast, there was one spot that had a really nice photo opportunity of some sea cliffs, but it seemed that access to the shoreline below from the highway up above was by means…
