Laughing Hills – Page 2 – "…and the little hills rejoice on every side."

Jun 10 2021

Thomas Canyon in the Ruby Mountains, Nevada

Filed under People, Places

Thomas Canyon in the Ruby Mountains, near Spring Creeek, Nevada on 9 and 10 June 2021. It is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was sunny, windy, and relatively warm when we arrived, but there were snow pellets on our tent when we woke up the following morning.

Thomas Canyon Campground – 10 June 2021

Our Camp Site – 9 June 2021

Area around Campground

Thomas Canyon Campground – 9 June 2021

Sunset on 9 June 2021

Martha on our morning hike – 10 June 2021

Fantastic Sky Colors!

Snow Still Melting on the Peaks

On the Morning Hike

Snow Pellets on Mule’s Ears

Look Up to a Summit

Signs of Melting Snow on the Rock Faces

Stickers from Other Visitors

More Stickers/Slaps

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Martha Vining, Nevada, Ruby Mountains, Thomas Canyon, United States Forest Service

Jun 09 2021

Snowplant

Filed under Places, Things

Snowmelt [Sarcodes sanguinea] found at Emerald Bay State Park and South Lake Tahoe, California on 8 and 9 June 2021. It’s a member of the Indian Pipe (Monotropaceae) family and “is the only mycotrophic wildflower in the heath (Ericaceae) that is not a ghostly white color or various shades of reddish to purplish brown,” according to the U.S. Forest Service

USDA Plants Listing: Sarcodes sanguinea

Snowplant – 9 June 2021

Snowplant – 8 June 2021

California, Emerald Bay State Park, Snowplant, wildflowers

Jun 03 2021

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Filed under Places, Things

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, 3 June 2021. The Grand Canyon Railway was taken from Williams to visit the South Rim of the park.

At the rail station in Williams, AZ

Sign at railway station

Artwork in the passenger cabin

Passenger car

Looking back in the coach

A happy passenger

Near end of walk to Yavapai Point

View from the South Rim trail

Switchbacks on the trail below

Along the South Rim

Another “Grand” view

Trails below

Out to the edge

Green in the valley

View along South Rim

Zoom out, more panoramic

Lovely clouds

Along the South Rim and more clouds

Back in Williams, Arizona

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Railway, National Park Service, NPS, Williams

Jun 01 2021

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Filed under Places

Images from a visit to Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona on 1 June 2021.

Petrified Forest National Park

The Painted Desert

At Home in the Painted Desert

Painted Desert Inn

The Tipis/Teepees

Out from the Tipis

The Tipis

Ram Promaster City at the Tipis

Back to the Park Road

Tipis

Looking Out to the Van

Along the Park Road

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrification Process – From NPS Brochure

A Kaleidoscope of Minerals – From NPS Brochure

In the Crystal Forest

Time to Tumble, slow pokes!

Agate Bridge

Rainbow Forest Museum and Visitor Center

Giant Logs

At the edge of the Rainbow Forest

Martha with Logs

More Giants

Agate Bridge, Arizona, Crystal Forest, National Park Service, NPS, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Petrified Forest National Park, Rainbow Forest

May 30 2021

El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico

Filed under Places

El Malpais National Monument, near Grants, New Mexico on 30 May 2021, part of the National Park system of the United States. Two areas were visited: La Ventana Arch and the Sandstone Bluffs. There wasn’t time to go to the volcano flows.

La Ventana

On the path to the arch

La Ventana from viewing area

Under the arch

Skyward

Arch flower

Out the “window”

Another skyward view

Graffiti under the arch

Out of La Ventana

At the Sandstone Bluffs area – El Malpais

Down from the Bluffs

Sandstone Bluffs

Lizard at the bluffs

The van awaits

One more look at the bluffs

El Malpais National Monument, Grants, La Ventana, National Park Service, New Mexico, NPS, Sandstone Bluffs

May 30 2021

Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico

Filed under Places

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, New Mexico on 30 May 2021, part of the National Park system of the United States. Rock carvings made by indigenous peoples and early settlers over 400-700 years ago.

Albuquerque, indigenous peoples, National Park Service, New Mexico, NPS, Petroglyph National Moument

May 29 2021

Richardson’s Geranium

Filed under Things

Richardson’s Geranium [Geranium richardsonii] seen at in the Lama community, New Mexico on 29 May 2021. It’s a member of the Geranium (Geraniaceae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America page 260, states it is found Spring through Fall in woods and moist mountain meadows.

USDA Plants Listing: Geranium richardsonii

Richardson’s Geranium – 29 May 2021

New Mexico, Richardson's Geranium, wildflowers

May 28 2021

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, New Mexico

Filed under Places, Things

Along our travels on U.S. Route 64 on 28 May 2021 in New Mexico: the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge over the Rio Grande river.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – 28 May 2021

View from Rio Grande Gorge Bridge – 28 May 2021

Rio Grande Runs Below

Martha Taking Photos

View from the Gorge Bridge

Looking Back U.S. Route 64

A Parting Look Before Moving On

Gorge Bridge, New Mexico, Rio Grande, U.S. Route 64

May 28 2021

Earthship Biotecture, New Mexico

Filed under Places

Along our route to Taos, New Mexico, we stopped at Earthship Biotecture on 28 May 2021.

Road Sign

Earthship Structure

Walk around Earthship structures

Martha Staying Hydrated

Ready for Warmer Climes

GMC Truck with Visitor’s Center in Background

Earthship Biotecture, Martha Vining, New Mexico

May 27 2021

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

Filed under Places

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, near Mosca, Colorado, on 27 May 2021. With the melting mountain snow, Medano Creek was flowing at the foot of the dunes, providing families with a “day at the beach.”