FAVORITE PHOTOBLOG POSTS
This is only a partial listing of photoblog posts. To see more, visit my photoblog at MavensPhotoblog.com
TRAVELING IN CALIFORNIA
The Feather River Canyon: California's SR-70
California's SR-70, the Feather River Route, is one of California's most scenic highways. Stretching from the Nevada border to Chico, this route travels through the rural ranches and mountains of Northeastern California, following the Feather River across valleys and through canyons until it reaches Lake Oroville. Check out the scenery in this photoblog post.
The South Fork of the American River
Originating in the Sierra Nevada mountains and running through Sacramento into the Delta, the American River is one of my favorite California rivers. (Of course, if I am to be honest, since I live in Southern California, any river whose flow primarily is not of treated sewage effluent running in a graffiti-laced channel of concrete is hereby deemed a favorite river of mine.) Come check out some of my favorite spots along the American River in this photoblog post.
Lake Tahoe - The Jewel of the Sierra
I love Lake Tahoe. I grew up in Reno, and Lake Tahoe was an integral part of my childhood experience. I skied the mountains here, went to summer camp here, hiked the mountains surrounding here and spent many countless days sitting on the shoreline here. As an adult, I have returned with my family several times for some really enjoyable vacations. Here are my favorite pictures from my many visits to Lake Tahoe.
Related photoblog post: Lake Tahoe's Sand Harbor: One of Tahoe's best beaches
Related photoblog post: Lake Tahoe's Sand Harbor: One of Tahoe's best beaches
Tufa and Mono Lake
The road to Grandma's house goes right past Mono Lake, so it's a place I've visited many times. Check out my favorite shots of Mono Lake in this photoblog post.
Our weekend at Convict Lake
The scenery at the Eastern Sierra's Convict Lake is almost a well-kept secret. Located three miles off the main highway, the dramatic mountain is not visible until you're almost to it. Find out all Convict Lake has to offer in this photoblog post..
A visit to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge
A couple of years ago, we took a trip out to the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. It was a little late in the spring, so unfortunately we had just missed the majority of the birds. Flooding of the habitat begins in October to coincide with the arrival of migrating waterfowl from the north, so the best time to visit is from October to March. However, when we visited in April, there were still plenty of birds there that hadn’t left yet. Check out this photoblog post on the Kern National Wildlife Refuge.
Dried up oasis in the desert: The ruins of the Rock-A-Hoola water park
Easily one of the creepiest places I've ever visited, check out what is left of the Rock-A-Hoola water park, a former oasis outside of Barstow that now is abandoned. Click here for the photoblog post.
Zzyzx Road and the Mojave National Preserve
Ever wonder what's off the exit with the most bizarre name on the way to Las Vegas? Find out in this photoblog post.
The Placerita Canyon Nature Center
Over in the southern end of the Santa Clarita Valley is the Placerita Canyon Nature Center, an oak woodland area with willows, sycamores, and a seasonal stream and waterfall. Check out the nature center in this photoblog post.
The Trona Pinnacles
One of the most enjoyable trips we took this year was out to a place called the Trona Pinnacles, which are located in the Searles Valley, just southwest of Death Valley. Check out this photoblog post on the Trona Pinnacles.
Red Rock Canyon State Park, California
You may have seen these cliffs before. They’ve appeared in many movies, from early cowboy films to Jurassic Park, in TV shows such as Bonanza, and even occasionally in commercials. This is the scenery of Red Rock Canyon State Park. Located along SR-14, north of Mojave, the dramatic Red Cliffs on the east side of the roadway provide a welcome stop to stretch your legs on your way to points north. The more adventurous souls can find plenty here to fill a few hours, an afternoon, or even a day. Check out this photoblog post on Red Rock Canyon State Park.
The mud volcanoes at the Salton Sea
Imperial Valley-Salton Sea area, also known as the Salton Trough, is also geologically interesting. Bounded by faults on its east and west sides, the region is sinking at a rate of 1 to 2″ per year, and more during earthquakes. Here, a series of divergent and transform faults are ripping the crust apart, forming a spreading center or a rift valley, much like that of Iceland and the mid-Atlantic ridge. Magma is believed to exist little more than a mile beneath your feet in a plume estimated to be about 20 miles long, 4 miles wide, and at least one to two miles thick. This magma produces a large, upward heat flow that powers geothermal plants, as well as numerous hot springs, mud volcanoes and mud pots. See the mud volcanoes at the Salton Sea in this photoblog post.
The Desert View Tower and Boulder Park
Definitely full of surprises, the Desert View Tower and Boulder Park is a welcome roadside stop. See it all in this photoblog post.
The Old Plank Road
The Imperial Valley was one of the last remaining frontiers left in the West around the turn of the 20th century; these settlers endured the scorching temperatures of the Colorado Desert to work the land and turn it into the agricultural paradise that it is today. These plucky settlers figured out ingenious ways to deal with their harsh environment, and nothing represents this more than the old Plank Road. Find out more in this photoblog post.
The New River: America's Most Polluted River
The New River flows from its headwaters in Mexico north through Calexico and on to the Salton Sea. It's earned the dubious distinction of being the nation's most polluted river. Here's my photo account of my visit to the New River in Calexico.
SAN ANDREAS FAULT
San Andreas Fault at the Palmdale road cut
One of the most well-known spots to see the San Andreas Fault (among geologists, at any rate) is at the Palmdale Road Cut. Check it out here in this photoblog post.
Features of the San Andreas Fault by Wrightwood
The adventure of finding the evidence of the San Andreas Fault continues in this road tour of San Andreas Fault features near Wrightwood, California. View the photoblog post here.
The San Andreas Fault and the tortured landscape of Painted Canyon
If you want to see the effects of earthquake faults up close and personal, then among the spots you will want to visit is Painted Canyon, located in the Mecca Hills just east of Indio. This area is known as the San Andreas Fault Zone due to the numerous faults in close proximity that criss cross the area. Click here for this photoblog post on Painted Canyon.
Road Trip to the Carrizo Plain National Monument
Beautiful in its starkness, the remote Carrizo Plain National Monument offers solitude and a chance to see evidence of the San Andreas Fault. Check it out in this photoblog post.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture in the Central Valley
Millions of acres are under cultivation in California's Central Valley. Take a photo tour of agriculture in the Central Valley in this photoblog post.
Photo Tour of the Imperial Valley: The most productive agricultural region on earth.
So what does the Imperial Valley do with all of the water diverted at Imperial Dam? Take a tour and find out in this photoblog post on the Imperial Valley.
In the fields here today, on your table tomorrow
If its the middle of winter, chances are the lettuce in the salad you will be eating tomorrow was grown right now in the Imperial Valley. Estimates are that 90% of the lettuce we eat in the wintertime is grown in the Imperial Valley. Check out the harvest in the Imperial Valley and around Yuma in this photoblog post.
Agriculture in Central Ontario, Canada
In the summer of 2011, I traveled to Canada, where I spent some time out on a farm. Agriculture in Canada is done much differently than it is here in California. Here are my pictures from the area.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A day at the Santa Monica Pier
Roller coasters, ferris wheels, aquariums and more ... Check out all the family fun there is to be had at the Santa Monica Pier in this photoblog post.
The Getty Art Center
We spend an afternoon checking out the art and other offerings at the Getty Art Center. Check it all out in this photoblog post.
Sepulveda Wildlife Area - The Los Angeles River in a natural course - Who knew!
Most people living in Los Angles are familiar with the concrete-lined flood control channel that is named the Los Angeles River. Encased in concrete along much of its route, the Los Angeles River doesn’t really look much like a river – but there are places where the river runs in a natural course. One of those places is the Sepulveda Wildlife Area. See it all here in this photoblog post.
Stars in Los Angeles of a different kind - The Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory at Griffith Park is a great place to spend the day. Located on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory was the dream of Griffith Jenkins Griffith, who had deeded the city the land for Griffith Park in 1896. After visiting Mount Wilson and looking through the telescope in 1908, he was inspired to have an observatory built in Los Angeles. He donated $100,000 to the City of Los Angeles in 1912 to build the observatory, but passed away before its completion. Check out the Griffith Observatory in this photoblog post.
The view from the top: The Mount Wilson Observatory
Come up to the top of the mountains where, if you are lucky enough to come on a clear day, you will have an amazing view all the way out to the Pacific. You can also check out some telescopes and have a nice hike, too. Click here for my photoblog post on the Mt. Wilson Observatory.
Traveling the Angeles Crest Highway
The Angeles Crest Highway crosses the rugged terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains, unparalleled in its views of the Southern California mountains. Come take a trip across the Angeles Crest Highway in this photoblog post.
CALIFORNIA WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
The Big Lift: Photo tour of the State Water Project's Edmonston Pumping Plant
The Edmonston Pumping Plant is the largest single water lift in the world, flinging the water nearly 2000 feet up to get over the Tehachapis. Check out the pumps and find out what it takes to make it happen in this photoblog post. Click here for the post on my photoblog.
What is this place they call the Delta?
Here's the photoblog post that was the precursor for the Delta slideshow. It is almost exactly the same presentation, only in photoblog format. This is my most visited photoblog post.
Sacramento's flood control system: Under pressure but holding up
In the spring of 2011 after a series of strong spring storms, flows in the Sacramento River were high. I happened to be visiting at the time, and here's my photoblog account of how Sacramento's flood control system was handling the deluge.
Related photoblog post: Here are more pictures from the Fremont Weir.
Related photoblog post: Here are more pictures from the Fremont Weir.
Southern California's first water project: The Los Angeles Aqueduct
Take a trip from Mono Lake to Southern California, tracing the route of the aqueduct as it travels south, some of the water traveling as far as 400 miles and taking as long as three months to get here. Click here for my photoblog post on the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Imperial Dam and the All-American Canal Headworks
At the Imperial Dam, located about 20 miles north of Yuma, over one-fifth of the flow of the Colorado River water is desilted and then diverted into the All-American Canal to irrigate the fields of the Imperial Valley. How does a facility accomplish moving so much water? Find out in this photoblog post.