Thursday, July 22, 2010

Are You Ready to Rock?

Maybe it’s the mid-summer heat. I want everything on the rocks!

So… How about a few of the rocks I’ve had the pleasure to have gazed upon…
The Grandeur of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range

Tehipiti Dome, Kings Canyon National Park, Central Sierra Nevada Mountains…

This granite monolithic dome rises 3,000 feet above Tehipite Valley... An 18 mile hike to get to great Rainbow fishing in the King's River there.


Devil’s Postpile National Monument, Central Sierra Nevada Mountains…

Layer upon layer of lava flows made this unique basalt formation in eastern Madera County.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, Central Sierra Nevada Mountains…

Probably the most famous of the Central Sierra domes. In the old days the Park Service put on a real show on summer nights with the Fire Fall from Yosimite's Glacier Point...

The practice was meant to compliment the many water falls around Yosimite Valley and as you can see it was quite an attraction. The park became too popular and the Fire Fall was discontinued to discourage the huge crowds...


Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park, Central Sierra Nevada Mountains…

I've been to the top of Moro Rock many times to look across the Kaweah River Valley below while up above I could gaze upon the High Sierras that reach 14,000 feet above sea level.


The Glorious West

Morro Rock, Morro Bay, California, Central Coast

A huge rock planted in the beach that forms the bay of the same name... Many a time in the grey of the morning did I ride with Virg in one of his party boats headed out past Morro Rock for some deep sea fishing.

The Northern California Coast...

If you're ever able to drive Highway 1 and 101 along the Pacific Coast scenes like this are commonplace... You can basically follow the coast from Washington all the way to San Diego. A nice leisurely four day drive oughta do it!


Hole in the Mountain Peak, Ruby Mountains Nevada


Just below the summit it looks like someone took a huge drill bit and bored a hole through the granite.
The Ruby Mountains, a beautiful range of mountains east of Elko, Nevada...


Sedona Arizona’s Red Rock Mountains

The Red Rock Country is truly a spiritual experience... It's little wonder why many of our nation's most highly respected artists have spent time in this part of the country.

Monument Valley, Arizona

Can't you just see John Wayne leading the cavalry across that scene?


Petrified Forest, Arizona

Hard Rock Candy Mountains?


Coyote Butte, Arizona

If you listen you can here the pack howling...


Arches National Park, Utah


Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Reminds me of a Gothic Cathedral... They need to move the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's huge pipe organ in here and give a concert...


Bryce Canyon deserves another look...

What can I say?


Zion National Park, Utah


These scenes of such beauty are from only a small corner of our Earth... A corner I've been lucky enough to enjoy. Someday I hope to see them all again.


Did you rock out???

9 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Dwindy!

    We have a rock near here called Stone Mountain, complete with a laser show at night and Elvis singing, "Dixie" as General Lee marches off the side of the rock!

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  2. Beautiful pictures my friend. I hope to experience that scenery in person someday, God willing.

    Thanks man!

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  3. Awesome Dwindy! Been to many of those very spots myself. Rock of Ages!

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  4. Thanks Bev,

    Look for something down the road with Stone Mountain.

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  5. Hey aero!

    Good to type with ya! The west is full of intriguing places, but so is Florida and the south. I hope to get out more and enjoy this neck of the woods too!

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  6. Kristen,

    I thought you'd probably seen several of these "rockin" places. There are so many others that I could have included.

    Watch for some more "Rock" out places!

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  7. Wow, beautiful sights, fo sho! I've only seen a couple of these in person. Did you take the pics?

    How did they manufacture the firefall?

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  8. Gene, Like I said, I've been to all of these places and yes I have pictures, but I can't take credit for these.

    Park Service people would build a huge bonfire next to the cliff edge at dusk and then, in conjunction with a nightly show, they would slowly push the embers over the side. The practice started in 1880 and continued for 88 years. Here's a You Tube link that explains it better than I can: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDm3VrCeBVY

    Thanks Gene!

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  9. Went by Dome Valley, Arizona today Interstate 8 about 25 miles east of Yuma, AZ. Looks like the Movie "Cars" background. Didn't have my camera but it made me slow down to 70 MPH from 80. Rocks Rock.
    Chester of Paso Ancho, Panama

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