The day before Thanksgiving we move from the high, airy Mid Hills campground at 5600 feet above sea level to the much balmier Kelso Dunes at 2400 feet. My couple of hikes in the dunes put me into a rare camera frenzy. The dunes are providers of unusual sights. A few tamarisk trees provide a…

Today Ann and I split up – for a few hours. She does the 9 mile trail hike from the Hole in the Wall campground to Mid Hills, while I move the camper and run back to join her. This campground is high and airy, and I find a site with fantastic views. Mid Hills…

Some leaking transmission fluid under our truck and a weak camper battery make us question our plan to spend Thanksgiving in the remote Mojave National Preserve. We decide neither problem is too serious, and head out for the Hole-in-the-Wall campground. We arrive at sundown, with just enough time for a short exploration of Banshee canyon.…

Looking forward to a quiet thanksgiving week, we pack the camper and head south toward the Mojave. Desert Driving Break Harlequins and Mallards greet us for a break in Bishop. Harlequins and Mallard in Bishop And our friend Ted greets us for some long overdue grilling and yakking. The weather turns stormy when we get…

Note: posted 19 days post-outing. Twice now we’ve gone to the Emerald Bay trailheads on lake Tahoe to hike or climb and instead found ourselves fleeing crowds, mayhem, and full parking lots. A visit from our friend Peter prompts us to get up early on a chilly day to beat the rush and explore the…