In March, I spent a weekend with some friends in the Anza Borrego desert. On the first day, we hiked "Rainbow Canyon". The picture below shows where the name comes from. The canyon features several twisted rock formations in hues from gray to red.
We had to climb several dry waterfalls on the way up.
Nature can often be surprising. A close-up view of arid rocks may reveal small critters or tiny plants striving for water. Many rocks were cladded with lichens, and the colors of which completed the palette of the canyon.
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The space between the rocks was filled with cacti, agave, and small bushes.
We stayed over night at Aqua Caliente County Park. The campground features a mineral bath. It was nice to have a swim and to relax before ending the day at the camp fire.
The next day, we hiked through Terote Canyon. Terote is another word for "Elephant Tree". The plant has the appearance of a rather primitive and prehistoric looking tree. The branches resemble the trunk of an elephant, and that's where the name comes from. The trees look quite scenic against the blue sky.
Below is a close-up of an elephant tree's base. The branches sprout from a single thick trunk close to the ground.
It was very windy throughout the weekend. When strong wind blows over mountains, waves in the airflow are created. As a consequence, lentil-shaped clouds form when air is forced upward. Meteorologist like to call the clouds lenticularis, a name that can hardly express their beauty.
