Even though we didn't finish the PCT, this trip will definitely be one we'll never forget, especially because we got engaged!
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| The edge of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest- 11,000 elevation |
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| The trees in this grove are up to 4,000 years old |
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| They grow in acidic soil other pines and plants can't grow in. |
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| The tight growth rings make them extremely strong and fire and big-proof. |
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| Older parts of the tree die off and new needles only need thin strips of bark to provide them with enough water. |
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| Looking out from the grove to the Sierra Nevadas across the Owens Valley |
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| Standing dead tree. It may not fall over for another thousand years, then it will lay there for another thousand or so. |
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| Female cone. The spikes are why they're called bristlecones. |
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| Male cone |
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| Stormy Sierra mountains |
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| Driving into Death Valley National Park |
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| We got to chase this rainbow for an hour before it finally went away |
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| It seemed a privilege to see one in a place that only gets 2" of rain a year. |
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| Fittingly this spot is called Rainbow Canyon |
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| Double rainbow! |
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| On the valley floor you could see evidence of the storm that just passed. |
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| Everything became even more colorful during the sunset. |
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| Sunrise at the Furnace Creek Campground. We drove until dark before we stopped in and set up our tent. At 9 pm it had just dropped below 100 degrees |
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| Desert breezin' |
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| Some trees around the campground. We pretty much so had the place to ourselves because believe it or not, summertime is not the prime season to go to Death Valley- the hottest place in the US. |
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| Palm trees in the campground |
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| Our rental elantra goes faster than our hiking boots. |
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| We were surprised to see cattle egret was on the entrance station to the campground |
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| The Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the US. So on this trip we were able to go to the highest (Mt Whitney) and lowest elevations in the country. |
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| The sign on the cliff shows where sea level would be. The road is at the bottom of the shot. |
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| The middle part is a salt bed, not water. |
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| Unintentional self-portrait |
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| "The Artist's Palette" |
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| Artist's drive |
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| Zabriskie Point |
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| We looked as hard as we could, but couldn't find anyone naked and rolling in the dust. Film nerds will understand... |
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| Gullywashes in the sandstone |
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| Amargosa Opera House and Motel |
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| Entering the Valley of Fire State Park about an hour northeast of Las Vegas |
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| The Beehives, Hon. |
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| I; pretty sure I sat here about 3,500 years ago too. |
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| Atlatl rock- 4000 year old petroglyphs |
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| 5 of the 7 Sisters |
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| These were built by the CCC in the 30's. |
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| Red-Tailed Hawk soaring above the sandstone cliffs |
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| Petroglyphs behind the pueblos |
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| Petrified Wood |
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| Freemont Street, Las Vegas |
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| LV seems to have more murals than Baltimore |
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| Poppy seeds cure baldness. |
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| Not David Lynch themed. |
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| The Luxor |
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| Trippy cat animation set to The Zombies "She's Not There" |
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| Chocolate Meringue bliss |
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| "Ladies, are you down with Peaches?" |
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| Now we have something to plan besides a hike! |
