Thursday, February 18, 2021

Snow in the Desert

 So I admit, you probably won't get too excited about seeing snow patches (unless, like me, you live in an area that rarely sees snow!). I missed the really good snow (photographically speaking) by about a week. Since I don't live in the desert (I just visit as often as possible), I have to take whatever I can get. And for this hike, most of the snow had melted. That which remained was mostly on the surrounding peaks and deep shade areas, but still a treat!




Such a different experience from my usual hot, dry desert!
 

I'd never hiked into the Willow Hole area, and wasn't sure what to expect. I saw no standing water (although historically I think this area was a spring and important source of water).

It's easy to see were water levels have been in the past, based on the stain on the rocks. This area must be gorgeous after rains turn it into a small pond or lake, but I'm guessing it doesn't happen much anymore.



The Willow Hole trail during late afternoon.

"I have an idea. Lets all climb up on top of that rock and I'll take your picture!" You see some funny things hiking around Joshua Tree.
 
The surrounding snow-covered hills and mountains provided a beautiful backdrop as I started my hike back to the car. I'll share more of the details from this hike on my next post. It was a good one!




Mt. San Gorgonio

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by.
Stay safe and stay healthy!!


56 comments:

  1. Love the pictures of cactus with snow-capped mountains in the background!

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  2. amazing pictures of snow in the desert. It's beautiful even if the climate change is worrying.

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  3. Beautiful photos.
    I think snow in the desert is amazingly beautiful. I got to see a lot as a kid when I lived in Utah and little bit when we lived in Arizona.

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  4. Didn't think it ever snowed in the desert.

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  5. Enjoying your desert photos and sky shots ~ Gorgeous!

    MA is suppose to get yet another snowstorm through Th night and Friday so I can live without snow photos ~ LOL

    Moment by moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  6. Fantastic scenery and skies! Happy sky watching!

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  7. ...beautiful. It show how elevation changes snowfall. Thanks for sharing the rugged beauty of your neck of the woods.

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  8. WOW snow in the desert, I had no idea that could happen.

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  9. Love the pictures. We did hike something like this in the Chiricahua
    Monument. But could NEVER take pictures your eye and camera catch.

    Beautiful set up you caught with the Mt. San Gorgonio shot!
    All of them were tops.
    From a cool rainy NC
    Sherry & jack

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  10. the sky looks threatening to me in some of the photos

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  11. It must be a nicer hike when it isn't so blazing hot. Glad to see the desert getting some water added to its underground (when the snow melts). And I do love a picture with a snowy mountain in the background.

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  12. The snow does add a lovely touch when it's in a place where you're not expecting it.

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  13. Both beautiful and strange at the same time to see these snowy mountain tops as a background of the desert. Snow in the desert must be anomaly, or? Can imagine you enjoyed this treat! Was in in the weather predictions? fortunately the ice storm we had this week was expected, so my fridge was full, and we were n alert:) Hope that this week is the end of below zero weather as well as rolling blackouts though, because now we don't have our woodstove! Have great weekend, Jesh

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  14. A surprising sight in the desert. The snow-covered hills make a wonderful backdrop.

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  15. Wonderful photos, Specifically loved mountain view photos. Have a nice weekend.

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  16. Snow always makes mountains look more majestic!

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  17. The snow peaked mountains are delightful to watch. You have fantastic images even in that lousy weather.

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  18. Snow and treat, now that made me laugh!
    But I understand. My big Niece once was so disappointed there was not enough snow she hit her Daddy for it, LOL (she was 5).
    Dramatic skies.

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  19. Beautiful shots! I do love a good snowfall.

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  20. These are especially beautiful pictures!! Oddly enough, we did see a bit of snow fall on the hillside behind our apartment in Laguna Niguel-- Winter of 82-83. It didn't hang around though.

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  21. That must have been a sight seeing snow in the desert, it's a wonder you did not try and visit when it was covered in snow. the photos show how the desert can be so beautiful

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  22. I like the #12 best. I tried to spy on your exif data but you´ve removed them. Let me take a wild guess. Let´s see. A Tripod, 300mm, small aperature and focus on those weird looking plans in the foreground. Am I even close? I like the 3 layers it got. Foreground, mid ground and background. The Mountains look mighty fine.

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    1. Very close. No tripod, but using a telephoto lens with image stabilization. F9, 1/80 sec, ISO 125, 262mm. I can't recall exactly where my focus point was, but probably on the Joshua Trees.

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  23. I love the combination of the snow and teh color of the rocks. The snow covered mountains is really fantastic.

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  24. Dearest Peter,
    That no doubt is a very rare sight, snow in the desert, just like they also saw this year in the Sahara.
    It sure adds some much needed moisture as it melts and seeps into the surface.
    Excellent photos with great contrasts.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  25. We used to hike to Willow Hole before anyone knew what it was there. Now it's usually full of people. In the spring it usually has standing water. If you hike to the left there is an underground waterfall.

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    1. Thanks again for sharing those awesome photos with me. I might ask your permission to share them sometime!

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  26. Snow in the desert does sound strange but looks wonderful. Such contrasts----specially with cacti around. We seldom see snow here but we are not desert. We have a funny Earth and I enjoy it all.
    MB

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  27. Greetings and Salutations from Illinois! Snow will add moisture to the desert there. Odd how the one area doesn't get as much rain anymore according to the markings on the boulders. Cacti photographs mixed with boulders and snow are quite beautiful. Top notch images! Stay safe.

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  28. I so appreciate these rambles with you! The marvelous skies echoed the snow. All fine shots.

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  29. Since all we have been seeing is snow, even now are persistent snow showers outside my Nashua, NH, window seeing snow wasn't unusual, just where it was spotted. As far as that group climbing up to get a photo, you see people doing odd things even when not all climbing on rocks for a photo shoot.

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  30. That must be a strange experience seeing snow in the desert but it delivers much needed moisture I guess.

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  31. Except on the mountains in the background, it seems strange to see snow there. It’s pretty and fun in small amounts like that!

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  32. The snow looks beautiful sitting on top of those mountain peaks.

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  33. Hard to remain socially distant on top of a rock. :-)

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  34. The sugar frosted mountains were lovely, but when I saw that group on the rock formation...ugh, superspreader event!

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  35. Your photos are spectacular. I think the snow makes the scenes even more beautiful.

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  36. This is new to me. I didn't know that there is snow in the desert. The snow-covered mountain is really beautiful. What a treat to see it even through your photos.

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  37. Funny to see the combination of snow and red rocks.
    Have a nice weekend!

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  38. "Come East young man!!!!" Find lots of snow! -grin-

    I know, right now, you don't have to _just_ go North East, to find winter snow/ice. But up here in the NE, we know how to deal with it. And it is normal.

    Thank you for your visit/comment at my blog.

    🍒

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  39. Esos paisajes son una maravilla para la vista.

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  40. Look at that snow in Joshua Tree! What a rare desert sighting! Wonderful you got to see it. Beautiful sky, beautiful landscapes as always.

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  41. It has been a very unusual winter, weather wise, so seeing snow in a desert doesn't surprise me! I'm glad you were able to get some photos of it.

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  42. Hi
    You don't see snow in the desert that often, do you?
    The rock formations look fantastic, great landscape with you.
    Here in Germany it has been super cold and a lot of snow the last few weeks ...
    stay healthy
    Greetings Frank
    P.S. a translator program on your blog would be helpful for me,
    Unfortunately I can't understand everything in your language ... Thank you

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    1. Great suggesting, Frank, and thanks for mentioning it. Let me see if I can figure out how to do it. I always assumed it came up automatically.

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  43. Rather unusual to see snow in the desert, but it makes for great pics!

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  44. Beautiful pictures! Have a good week.

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  45. Snow and desert always sounds rather contradictory to me, but I know it happens and it is beautiful to see. Sounds like you had a good walk :)

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  46. It's interesting to think that the landscape changes so much and that it can be so dry sometimes and have water that high at others.

    This has been a wild February snow! We've broken records for cold here.

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  47. I live in the desert and just love your pictures of the desert and snow, any amount of snow!

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  48. Totally, Excellent Back Drop - Something Special About A Snow Covered Desert - Stoked You Immersed Yourself In It - Keep On Keeping On

    Cheers

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  49. Fascinating photos, fascinating landscapes! I am totally thrilled!

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  50. Beautiful photos, as usual. I really love the last few - the layering, the joshua trees, the snow covered mountains - just lovely.

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