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MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE - California |
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A photo journal of Nature Ali's Southwest National Parks and Colorado Plateau Adventure MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - south rim COLORADO - Hwy 160 PIKE'S PEAK REGION GARDEN OF THE GODS GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT ARIZONA GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - north rim ZION NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE DIARY |
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A trip to visit my son utilizing the pace of the hare and the tortoise alternately was really quite enjoyable. After giving a presentation to the Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club, I found myself heading east toward Colorado. I had intended to stop at every National Park, Preserve or Monument there and back again. So many beautiful aspects of each region left me awestruck at the awesome responsibility we have to protect our planet from those who will never see the beauty and would rather live only in the moment than soak in how wonderful this legacy is for our heirs. My first stop was the 1.6 million-acre Mojave National Preserve on the eastern edge of California. I only went as far as the Kelso Dunes off of Kelbaker Road but saw the Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard and the Mojave Desert Dwarf (tarantula) for the very first time. This is the place to find peace and solitude. A walk from the parking lot to the dunes along the trail early in the morning gave me a glimpse of the previous nights activity. As you can see on some of the photos, the tracks tell a great story. |
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 Nature Ali |
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Dark phase Red-tailed Hawk |
Granitic Sculptures along Kelbaker Road |
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Checkerspot Butterfly (possibly Sagebrush Checkerspot) |
Typical Mojave Desert habitat - Joshua Tree, creosote bush, cholla |
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Stink Beetle passed this way |
Kelso Dunes |
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Slitherin' succotash a sidewinder was here |
Foxes and lizards and bugs oh MY! |
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A bunny passed this way |
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia) |
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Tarantula tracks |
I vant to be left alone! - Mojave Desert Dwarf (Aphonopelma mojave) |
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I vant to leave this sucker alone! |
Branched Pencil Cholla - Opuntia ramosissima |
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Smoke Tree - Psorothamnus spinosus |
Mesa off of Interstate 40 |
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All photos by Alison Sheehey © Nature Ali All rights reserved. |
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MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - south rim COLORADO - Hwy 160 PIKE'S PEAK REGION GARDEN OF THE GODS GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT ARIZONA GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - north rim ZION NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE DIARY |
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OUTSIDE LINKS Official Site Mojave National Preserve Geology of Mojave National Preserve |
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Nature Alley is dedicated to protecting natural communities wherever they exist. She is involved in many scientific and educational programs, promoting environmental appreciation and ethics. |
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