After last evening’s unexpected adventure (rainstorm, not the Valley of the Moon), we headed out to be one of the first entrants. Well done, because we were actually the second! We drove through the landscape to the first photographic opportunity,
and found a tour guide there with a couple of Brits. We chatted with him about the hiking trails, and decided to mush on the the second, particularly because he said he was taking his folks on the first.
Backed ourselves in (and yes, all the white you see is salt):
And headed up the trail:
The path was pretty easy to follow, although a bit sketchy sometimes. I will now share some of the breathtaking sights (the distant mountains and volcano were somewhat hazy from the vapor of last night’s storm):
Another direction:
And so it continues:
And delights:
Who is waaaay up high on that ridge waving at me?
This area reminded me a bit of Zion National Park:
An abandoned adobe and salt crystal-built house near a mine:
The view into the valley – hopefully gives you some idea of there are miles of nothing but plains of rubble, occasional tufts of grass, and sometimes even wild donkeys standing along the ridge of a hill of gravel:
An incredible adventure. Really. The entirety of our two hour tour was solo. Quieter than suwarrow. The breeze, the fun echo from the canyon wall, the warm sun, and the appreciation for the infinite variety of life on this planet.
Thank you for joining me on this trip (although I would love comments so I know you’re visiting me!). Next up: moving out of Boulder apartment, shedding way more material possessions, driving up with some things to suwarrow the first week in April, and planning the 2016 garden! (After a few ski days and a visit to FL for mom’s 80th)