Rainbow Basin Natural Area.

                                                     Rainbow Basin Natural Area. 

                                                        Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Rainbow Basin: Close-up of a dried, sandy spot...

Evidence of prior flooding?  This sand looks wet, but it was actually dry and hard-packed.  

Location:  Rainbow Basin Natural Area.

Equipment:  Nikon D7200.  1/80th sec. @ f/16.  50 mm.

Calico Mountains At Dusk II...

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

Calico Mountains at dusk.

Two weeks ago, went out to the Calico Mountains.  It was late in the day, and the temperature had cooled down to a comfortable ninety degrees.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

Comet NEOWISE...

The comet's full designation is C/2020 F3 NEOWISE.  "NEOWISE" is a reference to the NASA space-telescope that is called "Near-Earth Object Wide (field) Infrared Survey Explorer."  We just refer to it as "the comet."  

This image was taken on a ridge overlooking Lytle Creek Rd.  

30-second exposure.  f/3.5.  ISO 1600.   

Photo by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved. 

Calico Mountains...

                               Drone image, over Calico Mountains.  The drone was launched 

                               from Mule Canyon.

                              

                               Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

                               

                                Photo by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved.

Rainbow Basin: A fantastic day trip, not far from Barstow, CA.

                                The Mud Hills, looking north, from Fossil Bed Rd.  These 

                                hills are remnants of the area's much wetter past.  The dirt 

                                 heading off into the hills is the trail that takes one to the Rainbow-

                                  Basin Scenic Drive.  The Scenic Drive is a 4-mile loop through 

                                 spectacular rock-formations.                         

                                

                                        Photo By Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved.

Roughly ten miles north of Barstow, CA, there is a time capsule.  Here, the fossil remains of animals that have been extinct in North America for aeons have been found.  Camels, primitive horses, rhinoceroses, mastodons - and flamingos- lived here during the region's swampy past, millions of years ago.

This is the well-known Rainbow Basin Syncline.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved.

There are no services whatsoever in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area.  You should bring plenty of water and food.   Sturdy shoes- preferably hiking boots- are a must, as climbing on foot is necessary to view many of the sights here.

Clearly-defined sedimentary layers.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.

The loop trail allows for some spectacular views.  Toward the end of the trail, there's a parking area.  From there, one can climb (on foot) to a marked observation point, which affords some panoramic views of the area.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.