Right in front of us, this guy took time to take his headdress off and rub his itching head before getting back into the throng.
Showing posts with label CALIFORNIA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CALIFORNIA. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Carnaval
San Francisco's Carnaval isn't as long or as wild as Brazil's, but it's definitely colorful. The Bay Area takes any opportunity to have a parade, and it held its own Carnaval parade in the Mission district on Sunday, May 30. Folks of all ages and persuasions took part.
Right in front of us, this guy took time to take his headdress off and rub his itching head before getting back into the throng.
Parade lasted a couple hours before we took off for lunch.
Right in front of us, this guy took time to take his headdress off and rub his itching head before getting back into the throng.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Telescope view
The day I arrived it snowed several inches in Death Valley National Park. That was not what I was expecting, and let me explain why it's not quite as freaky as it sounds.
The actual Death Valley, an area partly below sea level, lies between two mountain ranges. One is the Panamints, which along with the Sierras catches much of the moisture coming from the Pacific, leaving the valley in a rain shadow. So, it was the Panamints that caught the snow and rain.
The highest of the Panamints is Telescope Peak, and the 6.6-mile trail to the top was covered much of the way by snow the next day. The last 1,000 feet of elevation gain was interesting, with new snow covering old snow and making each step uncertain, but I struggled to the top by 1 p.m.
The view was incredible. From the top of Telescope Peak (11,049 feet) you see the highest point in the Lower 48 (Mount Whitney, 14,491 feet) and the lowest point (Badwater, 282 feet below sea level).
The actual Death Valley, an area partly below sea level, lies between two mountain ranges. One is the Panamints, which along with the Sierras catches much of the moisture coming from the Pacific, leaving the valley in a rain shadow. So, it was the Panamints that caught the snow and rain.
The highest of the Panamints is Telescope Peak, and the 6.6-mile trail to the top was covered much of the way by snow the next day. The last 1,000 feet of elevation gain was interesting, with new snow covering old snow and making each step uncertain, but I struggled to the top by 1 p.m.
The view was incredible. From the top of Telescope Peak (11,049 feet) you see the highest point in the Lower 48 (Mount Whitney, 14,491 feet) and the lowest point (Badwater, 282 feet below sea level).
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
As low as you can go
Death Valley formed between two mountain ranges, the Panamints and the Amargosas, as the earth tilted, creating uplifts and the valley. A lake formed in Death Valley at one time, but when it evaporated, minerals including salt and borax remained.
In this photo, taken at Badwater, you can see the ridges where salt crystals have oozed up from the surface. I'll stop trying to explain geology and just say that Badwater, at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in North America. The highest temperature recorded there was 134 degrees in 1913.
The day I was there is was unseasonably cool. The temperature was 80, at most, and I wore jeans. It was snowing several inches in the Panamints, which slowed me down greatly the next day when I climbed Telescope Peak (11,049 feet).
In this photo, taken at Badwater, you can see the ridges where salt crystals have oozed up from the surface. I'll stop trying to explain geology and just say that Badwater, at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in North America. The highest temperature recorded there was 134 degrees in 1913.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Ouch!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)