February 29, 2024 Shoshone, California

 76 degrees and sunny. Very windy also, so we hiked in Willow Canyon.

We drove down Thelma and Louise road to Willow canyon. The road ends at the sheer drop off. Heading down into the canyon. 

Judy D descending the chain into the canyon.  John down climbing into the canyon below the chain.

These ruins are an old house in the canyon. John decided to take a bath in the ruin.

The remains of an old car near the house. We then hiked into the slot canyon across the canyon. 

John in the slot canyon. It was very narrow and not too long. Part of the slot canyon walls.

John and James got caught in a vortex in the slot canyon. Nice light heading out of the slot canyon.

Heading down the main canyon. Hoo doo. 

Phacelia, ground cherry seeds, a mixed bouquet,  Rabbit thorn bush bloom, and a heart on the canyon wall. Heading into another side slot canyon.

Cool formations on the top of the cliff. Judy D is a tiny dot about 3/4 of the way along the canyon wall base. 

Slot Canyon.

Desert 5 spot, mojave ragweed, nicotiana, dripping canyon walls. Nearing the end of the canyon, John is a tiny dot on the left side in the canyon.

The canyon boxed out in this huge amphitheater. John at the bottom on the canyon wall. 

James and Judy D. James photographing the top of the canyon.

Heading back out of the slot canyon. Judy D is the tiny dot at the end of the canyon. 

Yet another slot side canyon. It was short and ended in a smaller amphitheater. 

James and John waiting below the keystone. Heading back out the canyon.

Out of the slot canyon into the main canyon.

White evening primrose, mustard, phainopepla, seed heads, thorn apple, and raven. This slot canyon ended in this small dry fall Judy D is in. 

Back out the slot canyon. Heading toward twin hoo doos. 

We just past Willow spring. The irrigation pond at China Ranch. A couple years ago there was a huge fire started by someone with fireworks. It took out about 20 acres of Willow Canyon , but thankfully was stopped above China Ranch.

We walked along the Ranch View trail on the ridge over Willow Canyon. You can see some palm trees at China Ranch at the end of the canyon. 

Looking down on China Ranch Date Farm. An oasis in the desert. Heading down the last ridge to China Ranch.

Ahhhh. China Ranch Date Farm. After a fabulous hike we stopped at the ranch and had date shakes. Yum yum

A few dead shaggy mane mushrooms and a coyote melon. 

February 26-29, 2024 Shoshone, California

 High of 73, partly cloudy and very windy.

It was very windy and blowing dust. Winds of 30 mph with gusts to 37 right now.

The Judy's are doing a little more of their B2B hike, which they had to cut short because of the atmospheric river. John dropped them off at Death Valley Junction this morning. They are hiking to Shoshone, with one overnight at Evelyn.  Sunset. 

I finished this cute little basket, It is made from dyed and natural pine needles, glass and stone beads. The center is one my friend Pam  made and gave me. The stone beads came from the flea market last weekend. Perfect match for the center. It is 7 x 6 1/2 x 3 inches.  While I was in my lawn chair working on a basket this lizard scampered up onto our rubber snake. Fake snake did not fool the lizard. 

Judy and Judy made it back this afternoon. They hiked 29 miles from Death Valley Junction to Shoshone. They spent the night at Evelyn last night. A few geological features along the entrance road to China Ranch.

The beginning of sunset. At one point sunset did this. 

End of sunset.