Favorite Pictures of Sunrises and Sunsets

Having to work for a living often required that I hiked at the beginning of the day or the end. The advantage of this was that I saw more sunsets than at any other time in my life. I probably also saw more sunrises, too, but I don't consider this to be an advantage. I really would have rather been sleeping.

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Nikolas sitting on rocks above La Quinta

Clouds above San Jacinto

The sun has already gone down above Pushawalla Canyon

Aerial cotton candy above the Art Smith Trail

A cloud halo above Mount San Jacinto

Clouds hover over the Desert Divide

This is one of my favorite shots and I had it as my desktop on my computer for weeks.

More clouds and sun and mountains

The temperature was as warm as this looks.

Getting ready to head home just before dark.

One thing that surprised me was how many clouds we actually have in the desert.

Not really a sunset but the glow from one.

Sunrise over Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake

Mount San Gorgonio. It was over 100 degrees when I took this one.

Sunset Palm

Halo around the sun

Clouds over La Quinta

Not a great picture but a great start. This was the sunrise of the first day.

Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park.

Sunset over the San Joaquin Valley

The last sunrise I saw this year just may be the last sunrise I see in years. I have no idea the next time I'll have to wake up that early but hopefully it'll be no time soon.

Macomber Palms Ridge at Sunrise

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE

My work schedule required that I go out hiking before the sunrise. For some people this is the best part of the day. I, however, have retained my sanity and realize that God intended these hours for sleeping. Some days a little insanity is required and today was such a day. I set my alarm for 6 and rose while it was still dark. When the alarm went off I wondered if I'd died and gone to hell. I drove over to the Indio Hills and decided to do a little hike I last attempted in the summer. This is the location I encountered my one rattlesnake that I encountered this year. Rattlers shouldn't be a problem since the temperature was in the 30s.

The trails are very eroded in this area so I tried to access the ridge from the bottom but ran into a little problem.

At this point there's nowhere to go but up.

The sun has not yet crested the horizon but it is light enough to see. I was afraid that I'd have to spend part of this hike in the dark and I did enough of that last night.

Looking back toward Mount San Jacinto I can see that the sun has reached some portions of a valley. It is still and cool and I wish I were back in bed.

Finally, the sun decided to make an appearance and I start to feel it's actually OK to be awake.

The light hasn't filtered down to the canyon where I parked my Jeep but most of the area is starting to wake up.

At one time there was a very good trail here. I wonder who made it and why. There are sections of severe erosion but most of the trail is in superb shape. With just a little work, it could be usable for others besides me.

Up on the hilltop someone has built a little campsite. There are certainly better campsites around but if you're looking for solitude, nice views and no chance of starting a forest fire then this might just be the place for you.

Here's a section of the incredible erosion on this trail. It may look like the trail goes down to the left but it doesn't. It actually continues straight.

The light has finally touched to top of the palms and it's time to go home and get ready for work. I've already done my hike and haven't even had a cup of coffee. Maybe I have lost my sanity. That's OK. It's only temporary. Tomorrow, I'm sleeping in.

Going Nowhere Fast

Day Forty Eight

With a long day at work the only time I could go hiking was early in the morning, too early.  I knew it was going to be a bad day when I woke up in pain.  My back was killing; it felt like someone stick a samurai sword in it, then twisted.  I stumbled into the kitchen and the first thing my wife said to me was, "I didn't make any coffee this morning".  Great.  

I head out on my hike, after taking some Aleve, and hope my day gets better.  I stop to take a picture and my camera doesn't work.  Lens error.  Restart camera it says.  I try that and it doesn't work.  It figures.  Good thing I brought my phone.  At least I can use that for a few pictures.

I start out by hiking south through the Fred Wolff Bear Creek Nature Preserve.

I get up to the trail and am really looking forward to finding out where it goes.

It's not very long before I discover where this trail goes.  Nowhere.  What is this, the Sarah Palin Trail?

On my way back home I notice this message.  Of course, the person who owns this is probably still in bed.

I then get this message.  OK, I guess life is good.  Now if I can only get some coffee it'll be perfect.

On A Hill Far Away

January 1, 2009

Day One

If not for the pictures I took, I would swear to you my hike this morning was a dream.  It doesn't seem real.  I guess there are a few reasons for this.

It was early.  I thought it would be fun to get up and hike to the Palm Desert Cross and watch the sun come up.  I don't know why I thought this but it was probably because of the champagne I drank.  I should know better.  A morning person I am not, unless we're talking about the hours after midnight before I normally go to bed.

I set me alarm for 4:55 a.m. so I can get to Palm Desert before twilight at 5:23 and sunrise at 5:50.  The alarm goes off, beep beep, beep beep, beep beep, for one full minute and I don't even hear it.  I'm out.  At 5:20 my wife nudges me and tells me to get up.  I respond by saying that I'm waiting for my alarm to go off and she informs me that it did.  Great.  I'm going to miss the sunrise.

I get out of bed and grab whatever clothes I can.  I get my keys, put on some shoes (Not taking the time to get socks) and go.  It's 5:30 and oddly still dark outside.

I drive to Palm Desert trying to beat the sun and get to the trailhead parking.  No sun yet.  It's too dark to even start hiking  since in my haste I forgot to grab a flashlight or headlamp.  I guess I'll just have to wait.  While I'm waiting, I look up the sunrise time on the internet using my phone and realize I misread what time the sun comes up.  The real times: Twilight 6:23 Sunrise 6:50.  I'm glad I didn't get here earlier.

Finally, at about 6:15, it's starting to get light so I start up the hill.

Since I forgot to grab a jacket or vest it seems cold.  I check my phone again--39 degrees-- that's 30 degrees below freezing for a desert rat but I warm up once I start climbing the hill. 

The cross looms ahead.  It's not old or rugged but it's looks nice standing out beneath the twilit sky.

The trail continues all the way to the cross and there's actually a new section since I last hiked here and I get there before the sun makes an appearance.  I'm plenty warm now and the cold feels refreshing.  

At the base of the cross, someone has decorated a creosote bush for the holidays.

I notice that the sun is coming up and it's getting light but not to where I can see it.  I realize that Eisenhower and Indio Mountains are blocking my view of sunrise.  I'm starting to get cold again so I decide to head down.

The Santa Rosa Mountains to the West are starting to shine in alpenglow and I figure that's enough for me.  

Just as I get to the trailhead the sun makes an appearance to greet the New Year.  This will probably be the only time I see that sunrise this year so I enjoy it for about 2 seconds.  I've got a nap to take and I've got to get to work.

Welcome 2009!  Only 364 hikes to go.