Waterfall in Miniature

A tiny waterfall at the base of Weeping Rock. Zion National Park, Utah. Taken 3.26.15.

Weeping Rock

The Weeping Rock. The sandstone is porous, so spring water seeps through and makes the rock 'weep.' It is a very slow process, though; the water you can see has been in the rock 1000 years. The water supports hanging gardens on the rock face. Zion National Park, Utah. Taken 3.26.15.

Sunlight

Late afternoon is a great time of day to see the contours in the canyon walls. You can also see the Colorado River in the upper right corner and the Vermilion Cliffs on the right horizon. Grand Canyon, Arizona. Taken 3.25.15.

We found the trees!

My Minnesotan friend was extremely glad to see trees again after so much time in the Mojave Desert. Grand Canyon, Arizona. Taken 3.25.15.

Colours

If nothing else, the road trip demonstrated all the different colours rock can be. The Grand Canyon, Arizona. Taken 3.25.15.

Familiar

Does it need an introduction? The Grand Canyon, Arizona. Taken 3.25.15.

Bacon

One of my friends, who grew up in the area, calls these the bacon rocks. I can see it, actually. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Taken 3.24.15.

Stripes

I love the stripes in the cliffs. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Taken 3.24.15.

Canyon

Nevada does have beautiful skies. Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Taken 3.24.15.

Flowers

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Taken 3.24.15.

Rock

Red Rock Canyon National Preserve, Nevada. Taken 3.24.15.

Red Rock

Red Rock Canyon National Preserve, near Las Vegas, Nevada. Just to confuse things, there is also a Red Rock Canyon state park in both California and Oklahoma, and a Red Rock Canyon Open Space in Colorado. Taken 3.24.15.

Badwater Basin

A spring-fed pool of incredibly salty water in the bottom of Death Valley. The lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level) is in this basin, on the salt flats. The precise position varies by wind erosion and evaporation rates. Death Valley also has the highest recorded atmospheric temperature on earth (134 F/57 C), making it an altogether inhospitable place. Taken 3.24.15.

Point

Badlands in Death Valley, California. Taken 3.24.15.

Death Valley

There were a huge variety of textures and colours in this region of desert. Death Valley, California. Taken 3.24.15.

Sherman

The largest tree in the world is the General Sherman giant sequoia. It's estimated to be around 2500 years old. Interestingly, the General Grant tree actually has a wider base then the Sherman tree, but is not as tall. The General Sherman's top is dead, though, so that could change as it is no longer growing upward. Giant sequoias grow extremely fast, and it is estimated that healthy ones grow by as much as 40 tons of wood a year. This, coupled with their longevity, is why they end up so huge. Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

King's Canyon

Looking toward King's Canyon from Sequoia National Park. Taken 3.23.15.

Fire

Forest fires are relatively common in these mountains, and giant sequoias have adapted unusually resistant bark. In fact, fire is a necessary part of their reproductive cycle, triggering the germination of their seeds. Sequoia seedlings need full sun and lots of mineral resources, so fire has the added benefit of clearing out less resistant competing species. Sequoias are also extremely resistant to disease, so much so that pretty much the only way a mature tree dies naturally is by falling over (they have relatively shallow roots). However, humans went through a period of putting out all fires that start (we know better now), which led to build up of highly flammable undergrowth in the forests. This made fires burn more intensely, and use smaller trees as ladders to be able to reach the crowns of sequoias. The Washington tree (previously the second-largest tree in the world) had this happen, and was damaged badly enough that the upper half of the tree collapsed the following winter. Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

Fog

Giant Sequoias in the afore-mentioned fog. Taken 3.23.15.

Grant

The General Grant giant sequoia. The second-largest tree in the world by trunk volume (third largest if you include branches), it was named the nation's Christmas tree by Calvin Coolidge. It's estimated to be 1650 years old. Sequoias are too tall to be able to get water from their roots to the top branches, so they have adapted to pull water out of fog to supplement that more traditional method. They're also too tall to easily fit in a single shot- oh for a wide-angle lens! Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

Centennial

The remnants of a Giant Sequoia felled in 1875. A section of it was sent to the Philadelphia centennial celebrations, where it was dubbed 'The California hoax,' as Easterners refused to believe that the 24-ft diameter tree could be real. Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

More trees

A couple more Giant Sequoia trees. As a species, they are the world's largest single trees, and the largest living things (by volume). They only grow in this region of the Sierra Nevada. Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

Trees

Three Sequoia trees in a row. Sequoia National Park, California. Taken 3.23.15.

Granite

The valley walls are made of granite. Taken 3.22.15.

Sentinel

Sentinel Rock in Yosemite Valley. Taken 3.22.15.

Buds

Another shot from the Tunnel, with a budding tree in the foreground. Because spring. Yosemite Valley, California. Taken 3.22.15.

Tunnel View

One of the most famous views of the valley. El Capitan on the left, Half Dome peeping up in the middle, and Bridalveil Falls and the cathedral rocks on the right. Taken 3.22.15.

Rocks

A better view of the Cathedral Rocks and the Merced river. Yosemite Valley, California. Taken 3.22.15.

May the Fourth be with you!

Vista

El Capitan and the Cathedral Rocks, reflected in the Merced River. You can also just see the Bridalveil Falls on the right. Yosemite Valley, California. Taken 3.22.15.

Cathedral

The cathedral rocks in Yosemite valley. Taken 3.22.15.

Half Dome

The iconic Half-Dome of Yosemite. Taken 3.22.15.