Convict Lake and Creek are so named as the result of an encounter here September 17, 1871, between Robert Morrison, Benton merchant and member of a posse of citizens, and three convicts who had escaped from the Carson City, Nevada, State Penitentiary. Morrison encountered the convicts at the present Convict Creek, then known as Monte … Continue reading
Category Archives: Wild Places We Go
I’m Claiming First Ascent (By A Westerner)…
The pictures below were taken in the middle of nowhere in the Bayuda Desert in Sudan. And I really mean the middle of nowhere… We drove for hours cross-country to reach this point where we set up camp for the night. While we were setting up our camp, I noticed this hill (below) in the … Continue reading
Petrified Forest, Sudan
It’s hard to find somewhere much more desolate than this – except perhaps Bouvet Island. “This” is in the middle of the Sahara desert in Sudan. It wasn’t always like this though as the petrified forest pictured below proves. Hard to find a greater contrast in a “now” and “then” scenario, isn’t it? Transiency is … Continue reading
Driving Sonora Pass
Following my visit to Twain Harte last year (2008), I opted to return home via Sonora Pass rather than through the embarrassment of California that is the Central Valley. After mentioning my intention, my father had made an offhand comment along the lines of, “Yeah, it’s a drive worth doing.” In hindsight, he should have … Continue reading
Obsidian Dome
Obsidian Dome is located a few miles south of the June Lake Loop along Hwy. 395. It’s easy to figure out how to get there though if you just look at a map online. One takes a dirt road off of 395 to get there, but I drove my Honda to the site if that … Continue reading
Chimney Rock
Anyone that knows me, knows that I am not accustomed to defeat. Nor am I comfortable with it when that rare occurrence does take place. Nevertheless, I did experience the bitter taste of defeat earlier this year when attempting to summit Chimney Rock with Molly. Chimney Rock is a huge volcanic cone that is 12 … Continue reading
Carrizo Plain
The Carrizo Plain was my first destination on the California Loop Trip. Often described as California’s Serengeti, I was honestly not expecting too much after having seen the real Serengeti, but as with all stops on this trip – results exceeded expectations. In his very final days in office, President Bill Clinton signed a proclamation … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 