Hole in the Wall, Death Valley NP
Hole in the Wall is a small gap in a natural wall of rock some four hundred feet high. It is located 3.7 miles up a sandy wash/road that takes off of Highway 190 close to Zabriskie Point and Twenty Mule Team Canyon.
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Converse Basin Grove in Sequoia NP
The Converse Basin Grove in Sequoia National Forest was extensively logged in the late 1800’s and many of the stumps are still intact. The oldest sequoia stump in this area is just over 3,200 years old!
Links: Sequoia National Forest
Twenty Mule Team Canyon
Twenty Mule Team Canyon is an unpaved 2.7 mile, one-way loop drive in Death Valley National Park located off Highway 190 just east of Furnace Creek. This badlands area is quite spectacular in color and texture.
Links: NPS previous related post
Palomar Mountain Roadway
This pic looks back down the roadway leading up to the top of Palomar Mountain. Camping is available at Doane Valley and Cedar Grove campgrounds in Palomar Mountain State Park and at the Palomar Observatory campground. Some of the great hiking trails on the mountain boast views of the Pacific Ocean.
Salton Sea View
The Salton Sea was formed between 1905 and 1907 when the Colorado River broke through irrigation system diversion canals in Imperial County. It currently hosts over 400 bird species each year and serves as a critical stopover on the Pacific Flyway. The lake surface is 234 feet below sea level and its deepest point is only 5 feet higher than the lowest point in Death Valley. It sits directly on the San Andreas Fault.
Palm Grove at Furnace Creek
The Inn at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company of Twenty Mule Team fame and opened in 1927. It remains a luxurious oasis in the middle of an inhospitable desert. Included on the grounds is a large palm grove that invites one to stroll its paths and enjoy the shade!
Jumbo Rocks at Joshua Tree NP
Set at 4,400 feet of elevation, Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park offers 124 campsites with outstanding views!
Half Dome in Yosemite
Half Dome rises 4,737 feet from the valley floor to reach a final height of 8,839 feet. It was first successfully climbed by George A. Anderson in 1875. Today, the summit can be reached via a 16 mile (round trip) trail, with the last 400 feet being aided by two steel cables.
Fountain at Santa Barbara Mission
In the parking area of the Santa Barbara Mission sits an interesting little fountain just waiting for your visit.
Links: previous related post
Acorn Storehouse on Palomar Mountain
This pic shows a so-called “granary” tree on which every crevice has been filled with acorns for later retrieval as a tasty dinner. The industrious storekeeper responsible for this phenomenon is the Acorn Woodpecker. The largest recorded number of acorns stored in this manner in one tree numbered 50,000. This tree was in the Palomar Observatory parking lot.
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