Most likely the most northern commercial date farm in the state of California - this remote ranch is well worth making the trek out to buy delicious dates (some 1,500 trees and 20 varieties). Located about 90 minutes from Las Vegas and 4 hours from Los Angeles. The property has a fascinating history - settled by a Chinese man who came here pre-1900 after working the Borax mines in Death Valley. He mysteriously disappeared (probably forcibly run … [Read more...]
Rhyolite, Nevada – September 2020
This former mining, now ghost town was founded in 1905 with the discovery of gold in quartz by several miners. Its development was as quick as its bust. Its heyday only lasted for about 5 short years before the mines began to be tapped out and residents moved elsewhere. During its peak this was a formidable community of over 7,000 people with several railroad spurs going to town, some 50 saloons, nearly 20 hotels, numerous restaurants, the … [Read more...]
The Trip to the Desert
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...]
Ballarat, California – May 2020
Not to be mistaken for the original Ballarat in Australia (which is still a thriving city and a popular tourist destination), this Ballarat was named after the Australian town by an Australian miner. Originally founded in 1897, it provided services and accommodation for miners working several mines in the nearby vicinity. Its peak population was around 500 - like other remote gold mining towns, once the gold began to play out, the population … [Read more...]
Why You Should Visit Death Valley in Summer
If the mere thought of visiting the hottest place on earth in summer freaks you out, think again. There are some great reasons to visit Death Valley in July or August. For one thing, there is the dearth of crowds. Unlike in winter, there are virtually no people anywhere. The few visitors you do encounter are most likely intrepid Europeans who have come to indulge in the desert at its most extreme. Also, unlike winter, days are significantly … [Read more...]
An Oasis in Death Valley is Restored Beyond Its Original Grandeur
When exploring the vast open spaces of the Western United States, millions of travelers visit iconic National Parks like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite. For the uninitiated, Death Valley National Park may appear to simply be a wasteland with record breaking temperatures famous for frying eggs on blacktop. But dig deeper and you have one of the country’s largest National Parks with extremely comfortable daytime winter and early spring temperatures … [Read more...]
The Rift Valley Mountain Trek to Petra, Jordan
Day 1 We began our hike under the 2pm sun from Dana Guesthouse, at about 4,300 feet (1300 meters) above sea level. The beating sun shone down on us intensified by the absence of shade and starkness of our rocky surroundings. Fortunately the hike descended down the side of the rugged mountains until we reached the canyon wash. The three of us were the only ones here - perhaps we were slightly nutty considering really very few people make this … [Read more...]
The Ease of Acquiring an ESTA Visa with Estas.net
I am on the road usually 5-6 months a year; my travel schedule has been this way for a number of years. As a result I meet people from around the world - some of which are interested in visiting or moving to the United States. I've had friends apply for traditional visas in the past - it can be a stressful process. One of my friends had to apply several times before he acquired the coveted tourist visa. We had been planning a climbing trip 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...]
My Personal Experience of Record Breaking Extreme Heat in Death Valley
Similar to the International notice for the Mavericks Surf Competition in Central California, I sent out our annual 48 hour window of notice to friends, family and acquaintances from around the world on Thursday June 27, 2013 - indicating temperatures were forecast for record highs in Death Valley, California USA. This was a tough sell for a number of reasons - especially because it is always a last minute notice, it is quite early in the season … [Read more...]