Desert Life

desert hiking finds many different aspects of life here.
Spending a week desert camping provides a definite change of venue from a coastal life where the daily influences of the ocean permeates every aspect of life. This desert area was underwater millions of years ago and the effects of water on topography are present across the entire landscape. Mountain canyons etched down to sand washes providing pathways for exploring deep into the barren expanse.

When you stumble onto a palm oasis it presents a visual relief from much of what you see for miles around. Palm trees struggling to maintain life on the limited water where occasional winter storms are the only hope for survival.

A cluster of dried branches provides a clue to life and death here in the desert. An annual cycle surrounded by thousands of years of relentless decay and change. A picture here capturing a millisecond of this process. One small glimpse into the otherwise endless march of time.