See - I told you I'd get pictures up this week!
So, Saturday, Zach got stir-crazy, which was perfectly fine with me. We both felt the need to get off post and go do something. Which we did :) We looked up online stuff to do in the area. What we found was actually via Google Earth. They've added a new layer on - very very cool! It's a layer of hiking trails, working in coordination with Trimble (a GPS manufacturer) and Backpacker or Outdoor magazine - one of those. At any rate, you can see different hiking trails around the world (at least around the US, that's where we were looking). You can see a handful of pictures that have been added, and bunches of way-points and scenic spots that people have GPS-ed along the trails. Like I said, VERY cool! As Zach was playing with this, he saw that there was one right near us, actually between post and Barstow! So off we went!
The park (well, "natural area") is Rainbow Basin Natural Area, and it includes a handful of hiking trails, as well as a scenic drive. We went hiking along Owl Creek Canyon Trail, a little two mile stretch along a canyon bed. Some very pretty rock formations! Growing up on the coast, and the east coast at that, I'm more used to natural areas focusing on the beauty of the trees, or more subtle geologic points (beaches, not canyons). I'm not used to all these big exposed formations (yes, the geo dork still exists inside me!)
The area gets its name from the different rock colors. There are several shades of greens, reds, pinks, greys, whites, and so on. The way the colors all come together in contrast is really pretty remarkable sometimes!
It was a gorgeous afternoon to be outside. A bit windy, but I've learned that wind is pretty much a given in spring in this area. The only question would be how much wind you're getting on a given day. Anyway, the sun was out, but not overpowering, the wind kept us cool, and (most importantly) it was a lovely change from being cooped up inside! :)
We also met some nice hikers - actually from post as well! They told us about a couple Google searches they'd run to find stuff to do in the area. That's actually how we found the other state parks we went to this past weekend (more pictures and details coming soon!) Like we knew when we were first looking at the move out here, there are things to do in the area, just not anything close; you have to be willing to drive. At any rate, Zach and I are trying to put together a little travel to-do list of our own while we're out here - divide it up into afternoon trips, day trips, weekend trips, etc. So the next time we get a little stir-crazy on post, we can take a look in our book and head out to do something again!
The final little treat at this park, besides having 2 more trails and a scenic drive to explore, there was a cave along the trail! Could feel quite a lot of air moving through, and definitely went a little way! No, we weren't so cave-deprived that we went in then, but we are planning on trying to go back if we can get a few more people (and the gear for them too!).
So, Saturday, Zach got stir-crazy, which was perfectly fine with me. We both felt the need to get off post and go do something. Which we did :) We looked up online stuff to do in the area. What we found was actually via Google Earth. They've added a new layer on - very very cool! It's a layer of hiking trails, working in coordination with Trimble (a GPS manufacturer) and Backpacker or Outdoor magazine - one of those. At any rate, you can see different hiking trails around the world (at least around the US, that's where we were looking). You can see a handful of pictures that have been added, and bunches of way-points and scenic spots that people have GPS-ed along the trails. Like I said, VERY cool! As Zach was playing with this, he saw that there was one right near us, actually between post and Barstow! So off we went!
The park (well, "natural area") is Rainbow Basin Natural Area, and it includes a handful of hiking trails, as well as a scenic drive. We went hiking along Owl Creek Canyon Trail, a little two mile stretch along a canyon bed. Some very pretty rock formations! Growing up on the coast, and the east coast at that, I'm more used to natural areas focusing on the beauty of the trees, or more subtle geologic points (beaches, not canyons). I'm not used to all these big exposed formations (yes, the geo dork still exists inside me!)
The area gets its name from the different rock colors. There are several shades of greens, reds, pinks, greys, whites, and so on. The way the colors all come together in contrast is really pretty remarkable sometimes!
It was a gorgeous afternoon to be outside. A bit windy, but I've learned that wind is pretty much a given in spring in this area. The only question would be how much wind you're getting on a given day. Anyway, the sun was out, but not overpowering, the wind kept us cool, and (most importantly) it was a lovely change from being cooped up inside! :)
The final little treat at this park, besides having 2 more trails and a scenic drive to explore, there was a cave along the trail! Could feel quite a lot of air moving through, and definitely went a little way! No, we weren't so cave-deprived that we went in then, but we are planning on trying to go back if we can get a few more people (and the gear for them too!).
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