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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

CLARK DRY LAKE HIKE


Since the weather is cooperating with us, we decide that we are going to take another hike.  This hike is right in our own front yard here at Clark Dry Lake in the Anza Borrego desert. We decide to leave Oliver and Olivia home.

In comparison to last year, the desert looks dead. Plants, Creosote bushes, grasses, Ocotillo, cholla cactus; they all are not dead but have gone into dormancy.  What we see this year is grey and brown,  with one exception, a tree that I cannot identify.  

Rather than starting from the motorhome, we drive the Miata about a mile north  toward the dry lake that looks close enough that we could walk to it.  In the desert, everything appears to be closer than it actually is. 

As we walk, little sights draw our attention. We marvel at what wind, rain and heat can create.                                           Here, the shrub and grass are the same color as the sand. 

                                                                                                                                                                Talk about monochromatic!  At least in this next photo, I am able to get a touch of the sky and clouds.                

What creature of the desert has lived in here?  Is it still in there?  Did it cover it's track while inside sweeping the floor?
 




Looking north, the sky and the varied hues coming from the mountains provide distraction from the desert floor.

The tree stands in the wash waiting for next winter's rains.  Hopefully, the drought will end and next year bring green in the sleeping desert.  



 I climb a nearby hill and look out toward the dry lake.  Ahh!  I see something green!  Maybe there is water down there?  Let's go see.  

John says he has walked far enough knowing that we have yet to return to the car.  Good decision on his part as we have lost sight of the car long ago.


I continue on and on and on.  Until I reach my goal.   

There must be an underground water source.  But it is deeper than the other desert plants have reached.  

Since I have totally lost sight of John, I turn back and spot this interesting formation in my path.   


 What do we have here?  A mini volcano?  An aunt condo?  What desert creature lives here.  




Any ideas?  Where do the scorpions and tarantulas escape the hot sun only to come out at night?  That reminds me why I am so thankful that we have a black-light flashlight.  Those critters only show up at night with that kind of flashlight.

Continuing to walk back to where John is supposed to be resting, I find he is not there.  OK, where did he go?  I look around expecting to find him venturing out of the wash. Nope, no John.  

I look for shoe prints in the sand.  They all point North.  If he were returning to the car on his own, some would be in a southerly direction.  

I continue to walk south looking for tracks.  Only a Black tailed Jackrabbit darts across my path startling me enough to make me scream.  Tense?  No!  I'm not stressed...

Ahhh, after a while, I find John's tracks heading south. Rounding  a curve in the wash, there sits John in the midst of rocks.  That's my rock hounding husband all right. Geesh.

Oh well,  we return to the Miata and drive back to the motorhome.  We have had a great walk.  It was longer than the previous day, therefore we are both making progress.  

Did we arrive at Clark Dry Lake?  No.  It looks just as far away as it did from the motorhome.  Now, I am wondering how far from the motorhome the dry lake is.

The day was so nice that we could have taken the dogs with us.   

Thanks again for joining us on our desert walk. It is getting warmer so I think we will take Al's suggestion and hike the slot canyon next time.  Come back again and we will take you with us.  

God bless!






12 comments:

  1. Definitely warming up here. 97 today or higher. I agree, the slot canyon would probably be cooler.

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    1. We hope to try slot canyon today, Monday 4/14

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  2. I wonder why nothing was in bloom?

    I would have gotten a bit concerned if I didn't find shoe prints. I am so terrible with directions, I would be sure I was lost.

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    1. I use the position of the sun to help me find my direction and if all else fails, I have a compass on my phone.

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  3. Black and white photography with a little touch of color here and there. It sure does look like a hot desert.

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    1. It wasn't that day. We had a good breeze and cloud cover. All makes for comfort while hiking.

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  4. Glad you and John are continuing your walks. I'd take Al's advice, too, and get out of the sun.

    I DREAD the hot weather. That's why I loved the northwest and the coast--sweatshirt weather all summer. Granted, I think it was an unusually cool summer. I just happened to luck out and miss the heat in Oregon because I was on the coast. It was hot east of the Cascades because people flocked west on weekends. Although, Washington, Idaho, and the bit of Montana I visited were all cool, too. Probably because I stayed at higher elevations.

    You had me curious as what does live in those holes. I'd be worried that Jack would stick his nose in and find out!!! Again, glad you and John are gaining strength. I find when my mind is busy I don't worry. Good for you, Nan. :)

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  5. How come you didn't poke your finger in that hole to see what was living there? ;c)

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  6. The lack of rain and cold temps this winter may have been a real bonus for us Snowbirds, but it didn't do the desert any favours. There were very few flowers around the Superstitions this year, and the Palm Springs area looked extremely dessicated when we were there.

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  7. Even in the gray dry desert you find things of interest! Walks are amazing on so many levels!

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  8. I miss the desert and the dry weather. Thanks for sharing your walk and photos!

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