“Mountains, Clouds, and Shadows” — Clouds shadows drift across mountain terrain on the Isle of Skye.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but one thing that impresses about the mountains of Scotland is that they have the appearance alpine terrain in my California High Sierra. There are few or no trees, the only vegetation is the sort that lies under your feet if you walk through it. The peaks are sharp and rugged and rocky. The entire landscape — mountains, streams, valleys — is laid bare. In the Sierra I must go well above 10,000′ to see this. In Scotland it begins barely above sea level.
“Canisp and Loch Ewe — Canisp peak rises above Loch Ewe with a tree-covered island.
Some travelers like to know everything about their destinations before they depart. I can understand — one reason we travel is to learn about new places and, more practically, knowledge can help you travel efficiently. But I’m partial to not knowing everything in advance, instead leaving plenty of room for discovery. (Of course, it helps — a lot — that my wife is a planner!) The details of this photograph may be a case in point. (There has been an update to this post. Click the “more” link below to see… more.)
“Desert Holly, Dry Wash” — A desert holly plant, either dead or dormant, in the middle of a dry wash, Death Valley.
Desert Holly must be one of the must adapted and tenacious plans in Death Valley National Park. It grows in some of the least likely spots — places where there is barely any soil, where the sun bakes the land, and where water is rare. Desert Holly plants can occasionally put out a beautiful cover of pale green leaves, but more often the plant looks dormant or dead, with many dead leaves and very dry branches.
This specimen grew in a desert wash, where water occasionally passes through this very dry area. It has to rely on fairly rare flows of water. Plants grow in much of Death Valley, but few do in this location. While a few further up the wash had green foliage, I saw only dry, desiccated leaves on this one.
An expansive view of rugged Death Valley National Park desert mountain landscape.
I don’t think most people think of Death Valley as a “mountain park” along the lines of Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia-Kings Canyon and similar places. Most of the popular routes and sights are in valleys, including the great one that gives the park its name. But there are mountains, spectacular and very tall mountains, and it is possible to venture into them. This view comes from a place high in the Panamint Range, to the west of the main valley, topped by 11,000+’ Telescope Peak.
I made the photograph close to sunset, when long shadows began to highlight the textures of the terrain. This high perspective reveals features that are difficult to fully appreciate close-up. For example, it is very hard to get a sense of that remarkable terrain formed by flowing water at the bottom of the frame. Desert mountains rise behind, and beyond them is the Amargosa Valley and even more distant mountains.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
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