Vermilion cliffs, fun weekend

[xp29]

I will try to post photos of our nature, probably this will also be interesting to everyone.

I'm for one interested in it

 

[xp29]

When we went hiking in Joshua Tree, we were really surprised that most hikers (?) are around the parking lots, and walking out an hour, nobody anymore. I had, honestly, thought many more hike the longer distances, but no.
But good for us - we like the "never see another person". Best holidays are for us: Book a cabin or a family-run B&B, and then go hiking each day.
I personally could not go with the "city sightseeing holiday" or "spa holiday". Once in a while a bit city is nice, but rather keep it for a day - and probably we end up in a museum. But really, holidays or long weekend, that's nature.

What I found funny: While hiking at Oukaïmeden, I took some photos also with my phone (normally, prefer my camera). It then showed "similar photos" and for that it showed photos of Taco's tank Likely it had selected those over the ones we took while hiking in the Atacama, as Oukaïmeden has some rough shrubs (and Taco's tank has plants that can keep up with desert conditions), and at least the part of the Atacama where we are has no plants. No plants, zero. But not that far away from us is a place where cacti grow in the desert, and I plan going there when I have a few days off around February.

If you liked Joshua Tree, if you ever get a chance you should come visit Saguaro National Park in Arizona. It is amazing.

As far as the eye can see. They are my favorite of all cacti

 

[xp29]

If you liked Joshua Tree, if you ever get a chance you should come visit Saguaro National Park in Arizona. It is amazing. View attachment 94358
As far as the eye can see. They are my favorite of all cacti

That particular Cactus is not to far from my ranch, in person it is massive.

 

[xp29]

That particular Cactus is not to far from my ranch, in person it is massive.

Actually I think all post a few from my ranch as well. They are from ground level as I don't have the drone files on my phone. It might be a little hard to see the back drop in some of them because the vegetation is large in places. But there are mountains 360 degrees around it. My property is 13 miles up the mountain away from the main road.

I stood and turned in a 360 degree circle. The pictures do not do the view there justice.

 

[ChileanTaco]

If you liked Joshua Tree, if you ever get a chance you should come visit Saguaro National Park in Arizona. It is

I was there multiple times (going to Tucson has something to do with my work as there is a data processing center for one of the observatories I'm related to, but I also would have done otherwise while still living in the US). Always liked that very much, did long hikes and took a lo(oooo)t of photos.
Just this November, I had planned to attend a scientific conference in Tucson, and also going hiking. Didn't happen because of airport strike in Chile

But, I'll go next year in November (next iteration of said conference) or another time earlier. For me, from here in Chile flights to the US are pretty expensive (and income is 1/2 or 1/3 of that of similar jobs in the US), so I'd rather combine that with work travel - and instead go hiking e.g. in Patagonia, or here in the desert, which otherwise would be quite expensive to reach.

What I could recommend also, in the US: Catalina Island, in case you haven't visited yet. Near the beach, it's quite touristy, but as most people just go for a day trip (with a ferry) and hang out in the beach bars... the trails are quite empty. We once spent there two weeks (!) there which, I have heard, is unusual for going to Catalina Island, as of the beach-bar-daytrip thing.
If somebody is into diving (I can't), that's also there. Combines desert trails with awesome sealife which non-divers can see either from the pier or going on a submarine or glass-bottom boat.

 

[xp29]

I was there multiple times (going to Tucson has something to do with my work as there is a data processing center for one of the observatories I'm related to, but I also would do otherwise). Always liked that very much, did long hikes and took a lo(oooo)t of photos.
Just this November, I had planned to attend a scientific conference in Tucson, and also going hiking. Didn't happen because of airport strike in Chile

But, I'll go next year in November (next iteration of said conference) or another time earlier. For me, from here in Chile flights to the US are pretty expensive (and income is 1/2 or 1/3 of that of similar jobs in the US), so I'd rather combine that with work travel - and instead go hiking e.g. in Patagonia, or here in the desert, which otherwise would be quite expensive to reach.

I follow
Honestly it don't matter where you adventure, there is something cool to see almost anywhere when we take the time to slow down and look.

 

[ChileanTaco]

Honestly it don't matter where you adventure, there is something cool to see almost anywhere when we take the time to slow down and look.

I agree very much!
As a kid, I tended to (seriously) wanting to become a field biologist or national park ranger. Grew up close to a national park in Germany. (In Germany, there can be villages inside a national park; I know this is not the case in all countries.)
Rather decided differently and followed my other love (physics, computer science, astronomy) because this goes better with me having a disability (and still think: it's the better choice, being a field biologist or ranger would just be too physically demanding for me), but I'm so happy that I can keep on hiking and exploring and are in a good enough health that allows this at least for a hobby even for extended hikes (the 42-km-thing was crazy but I wanted to try and it worked).

 

[xp29]

I agree very much!
As a kid, I tended to (seriously) wanting to become a field biologist or national park ranger. Grew up close to a national park in Germany. (In Germany, there can be villages inside a national park; I know this is not the case in all countries.)
Rather decided differently and followed my other love (physics, computer science, astronomy) because this goes better with me having a disability (and still think: it's the better choice, being a field biologist or ranger would just be too physically demanding for me), but I'm so happy that I can keep on hiking and exploring and are in a good enough health that allows this at least for a hobby even for extended hikes (the 42-km-thing was crazy but I wanted to try and it worked).

I'm glad your able to still get out and hike life would be to dull without nature

 

[xp29]

I'm going to get Christina a 28x60 sunset canvas print for Christmas
I was looking through some of my older pictures and decided to post a few.
These are mostly from Arizona and my yard but a couple might be from elsewhere

And a coulpe sunrises

 

[Rocky2022]

I wish I could could take everyone on our adventures. There is so much natural beauty in the world and a lot of people are just so busy with day to day life that they forget to slow down and enjoy it.
Most every weekend Christina and I range out to a 600 to 800 mile radius from home. Every dirt road, every trail, every wash, every foot path, those are our playground. Most people are afraid of getting lost, we TRY to get lost. We will literally turn off the main road and 4 wheel through the deserts or creeks or over the mountains just to see whats there
View attachment 94355
Some times we find ourselves in places that are quite questionable lol

Awww I love that!!!! New adventures

 

[NickAVD]

I'm going to get Christina a 28x60 sunset canvas print for Christmas
I was looking through some of my older pictures and decided to post a few.
These are mostly from Arizona and my yard but a couple might be from elsewhere View attachment 94935 View attachment 94936 View attachment 94938 View attachment 94939 View attachment 94940 View attachment 94941 View attachment 94942 View attachment 94943 View attachment 94944 View attachment 94945 View attachment 94946 View attachment 94947 View attachment 94948 View attachment 94949 View attachment 94950 View attachment 94951
And a coulpe sunrises

Wow! How beautiful you have it!!! I really liked the photo with the cactus, I think I've seen it before, it's gorgeous!

I also liked these three

 

[NickAVD]

These are mostly from Arizona and my yard

Is this your ranch? It's very beautiful! Is it still wild there or is there a house already?

 

[LarryTheLizard]

My guess is it would be a chilly swim , the Colorado originates in the Colorado Rockys from snow pack melt.

im shaking in my boots it’s 34 degrees F right now at 8:39 am and it’s frEeZiNg

 

[LarryTheLizard]

I'm going to get Christina a 28x60 sunset canvas print for Christmas
I was looking through some of my older pictures and decided to post a few.
These are mostly from Arizona and my yard but a couple might be from elsewhere View attachment 94935 View attachment 94936 View attachment 94938 View attachment 94939 View attachment 94940 View attachment 94941 View attachment 94942 View attachment 94943 View attachment 94944 View attachment 94945 View attachment 94946 View attachment 94947 View attachment 94948 View attachment 94949 View attachment 94950 View attachment 94951
And a coulpe sunrises

What the heck, you should be a photographer lol. I used to study photography in high school, and your shots look better than mine

 

[xp29]

What the heck, you should be a photographer lol. I used to study photography in high school, and your shots look better than mine

Thank you