Tag Archives: flowers

Stovepipe Dunes and Funeral Mountains

Stovepipe Dunes and Funeral Mountains

Stovepipe Dunes and Funeral Mountains. Death Valley National Park, California. April 4, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Morning on the Stovepipe Dunes with the Funeral Range in the distance. Death Valley National Park.

This is probably a more “typical” Death Valley Dunes (a.k.a. “Stovepipe Dunes”) photograph, though I got here by a slightly different route than others might follow. The dunes are easily visible from the roadway east of Stovepipe Wells. Many people drive to a spot next to the dunes and start walking straight towards the highest point. Having “been there, done that” before, I now know that this is a long slog through deep sand – so this time I started my walk much closer to Stovepipe Wells and went around the west end of the dunes to get to the back side of the formation. I entered the dunes from the north to get this shot, and I have to say that access was a lot easier this way.

keywords: morning, stovepipe, dunes, wells, funeral, mountains, ridge, sand, desert, peak, ridge, plants, flowers, ripples, shadows, california, usa, scenic, landscape, nature, stock, flowers, roots

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring
From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring. Pacheco State Park, California. March 16, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white spring view from the grass and flower covered hills of the Pacheco Pass area across the Central Valley to the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. (I posted a color version of this photograph a few days ago, but I’m pretty sure I prefer this one in black and white.) Yes, the long focal length compresses the distance between the west side of the Valley, where I was as I shot this, and the east side where the Sierras rise.

I always think of John Muir when I pass though this area. As I recall, when he first headed to the Sierra he went through Pacheco Pass and his description remarks on the carpet of flowers extending into and across the great valley.

keywords: pacheco, state park, california, usa, pass, oaks, trees, grass, hills, mountains, flowers, spring, central, san joaquin, valley, shadows, green, sierra, nevada, snow, covered, peaks, distance, landscape, scenic, travel, pass, stock, black and white

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring
From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring. Pacheco State Park, California. March 16, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Spring view from the grass and flower covered hills of the Pacheco Pass area across the Central Valley to the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. John Muir travelled across this pass to visit Yosemite in the 1800s and remarked on the amazing wildflower displays.

keywords: pacheco, state park, california, usa, pass, oaks, trees, grass, hills, mountains, flowers, spring, central, san joaquin, valley, shadows, green, sierra, nevada, snow, covered, peaks, distance, landscape, scenic, travel, pass, stock