After visiting the original Ballarat in Australia about 90 minutes outside of Melbourne earlier this year, I got the urge to visit it's tiny relative in the Mojave Desert, California. I drove across what looked like a salt plane - some rare recent rain had muddied the road and left my windshield covered in white droplets. I pulled into the old town, originally founded in 1897, it's boom was a few short years before the nearby mine shut down in … [Read more...]
End of Tian Shan Mountains Trek & Drunks in Minibus
Upon cresting a Tian Shan Mountain pass at 3200 meters above Song Kul Lake we were treated with spectacular views of a valley far below and towering mountains in the distance. The scenery reminded me of parts of Southern California - especially around Bakersfield or around Death Valley. We hiked for several hours, ultimately reaching a small village in the valley. Looking back at the tall mountains it was impressive to see the great distance we … [Read more...]
Entering Luxor
Luxor lies along the banks of the great Nile (the longest river in the world). If it wasn't for the Nile there would be no population here (a ribbon across the great Sahara Desert. The green of the agricultural fields extends both sides of the river maybe 8-10km where it abruptly ends at the sands of the Sahara Desert. The town is spread out along the east and west banks with most of the population centered on the east side. There is no bridge … [Read more...]
Death Valley’s Heat Window opens
We are in that window again, the one time per year where you have a shot at experiencing the most extreme temperatures Death Valley has to offer. Typically years after higher rainfalls see the hottest temperatures in the valley. However this year has been disappointingly cold in the valley - below 110 for a few days, in mid July - whats UP? We are backed up on upcoming trips but we are trying to squeeze a camping trip to Furnace Creek sometime … [Read more...]
Eastern Sierra Nevada
Just returned from California's great "eastern side" - entire length of the Owens Valley from Mono in the north to Lone Pine in the south and everything in between. Springtime is a great time of the year to be in this part California. Parts of these Articles revised based upon this latest trip: Bishop - Mammoth & Vicinity - Mt. Whitney This is a full body down suit made by Mountain Hardware used for sumitting 8000 meter peaks. I gave it a … [Read more...]