Heat to Freeze

In the past two weekends, I engaged in a mini backpacking spree. The first weekend we traveled to Carey's Castle in Joshua Tree National Park - temps hit nearly 100 degrees.



The following weekend we sought to visit fall leaves in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bishop, CA.




Instead we found ourselves camping in snow in early October. This photo is from our furtherest point - Piute Pass - up the North Lake trail.



May the fall fun continue, rain, snow, sun, sleet or hail.

Nature Knowledge

Last weekend some friends and I attended a Nature Knowledge workshop in the San Bernardino Mountains outside Los Angeles. Below is just a sample of the nature knowledge we acquired: the name of every flower family; plants in forests, chaparral, and riparian (river) ecosystems; a scientific hypothesis of when the "big one" (earthquake) will shake California; mountain bird songs of birds in the San Bernardino Mountains; how to identify butterflies and river larva (stoneflies, mayflies); and how much hot chocolate a human tummy can digest. Enjoy some pictures!


The Gravel Road, like the one we drove on to reach camp



Flowers!


Bugs resting on our hats



River bugs gathered by participants