| I AM JOE'S WEBSITE Desert Places THE MAINE TRIPS OTHER PLACES APPALACHIAN TRAIL "HOME" SECTION BACK TO PLACES |
| The desert, any desert, suggests always the promise of something unforeseeable, unknown but desirable, waiting around the next turn in the canyon wall, over the next ridge or mesa, somewhere within the wrinkled hills. - Edward Abbey |
| Death Valley Official National Park Service Website Death Valley. The very name evokes images of a lifeless, barren, searing, sandy wasteland, perhaps with a couple of oxen skulls alongside a dusty trail. Perhaps this is due to receiving its name from its folklore rather than from its physical description. The most popular legend has it receiving its name when Juliet Brier, one of the original 49ers stranded there during the winter of 1849-1850, turned as they were finally leaving and said, "Good-Bye Death Valley!". In truth, Death Valley is an amazing exhibit of geology and life at extremes of heat, drought and salinity and a visit may inspire a lifelong desire, as it has in me, to explore this fascinating and special place. Click here to explore some of the life and beauty of Death Valley. Scenery & Historical Sites Wildflowers & Other Plants |
| Other Desert Places I haven't spent as much time in other parts of the Southwest but what I have seen intrigues me. The awe-inspiring spectacle of the Grand Canyon, the plant zones and rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park, the beauty of Zion National Park, the sandstone formations of Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area and miles of desert, canyon and mountain vistas glimpsed from car and plane windows have continually called to me for exploration. Click here for some images and descriptions of a few of these places. |
| Background is Desert Pavement from Death Valley National Park |
| Desert Animals Here are a few photos of some animals common to the desert including coyotes, roadrunners, ravens, lizards, eagles, burros, kangaroo rats, tarantulas and unfortunately cattle. I don't really have a lot of photos of desert animals for several reasons. Most of them aren't very numerous or they're active only at night. Also, most of them are quite shy and won't pose for pictures. |