While growing up, some might say or at least think, it's still a work-in-progress. Notwithstanding the debate, I never thought much about deserts except that they were arid regions with few redeeming features. Some people lived in them while even more animals and many reptiles call the deserts home. Well, who would rely on their opinions? As maturity began to take a grip on me, the battle was fierce and perhaps protracted, the mystery of these seemingly barren lands became more interesting. And then, some years before Hike-about commenced, I began to understand these regions, sought visits to them and thoroughly enjoyed discovering the vast open lands, effectively uninhabited. I should qualify whatever I've mentioned thus far by adding we try not to visit during summer, for obvious reasons. The love is rational rather than emotional, in the hot season, although many a time I feel completely overwhelmed, even frustrated by trying to absorb and retain such wonder. We should be grateful—I hope I am—that these fascinating but unsweetened 'desserts' were presented to humanity.
It's interesting how situations evolve and today, I think both Jenni and I would choose hiking in the deserts, outside summer, before any other environment. We don't think we could ever have envisaged ourselves stating that some of the most beautiful places we have discovered are in the deserts, including semi-deserts. Why the preamble? Truth be told, the deserts in the American West are stunning. We would like to display a few photographs from this trip of desert scenes. While we have published many over the years, we think a set exclusively of the desert settings may just bolster the introduction. Perhaps, those who have not spent time in these arid regions might be jarred into discovering some of the beauty we've discovered and witnessed regularly. And to the rest, who can ever tire of the magnificence displayed in these regions for all our benefit.
Here are but a sprinkling of some of the sights we see and scenes in which we often immerse ourselves. We hope you enjoy them for we understand not everyone has the opportunity to visit these locations.
All photographs below are from recent hikes not yet published.
City of Henderson, NV, below the foothills.
Golden Canyon, Death Valley, California.
Lava Butte, Las Vegas.
Mesquite Flats, California.
From Black Mountain, Boulder City, NV.
Golden Canyon, Death Valley.
From Lava Butte, Las Vegas.
Death Valley, California.
Hamblin Peak, Lake Mead, NV.
Mesquite Flats, California.
From Lava Butte, Las Vegas.
Hamblin Peak, Lake Mead, NV.
Death Valley, California.
Golden Canyon, Death Valley.
Desert moon over Fortification Hill and Lake Mead.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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