Greetings all! It's been an awfully long time since I posted here, but life took an unexpected turn in late spring and took me out of the Rocky Mountain region to the eastern California desert. My wife got a job at Deep Springs College, an eccentric and very small school located in an isolated valley in the White Mountains. Though I certainly miss New Mexico and Colorado, it an amazing area here, just north of Death Valley, east of the Sierra, near the ancient bristlecones, and perched on the edge of the vast Nevada outback. The valley itself has striking geology, springs, a seasonal lake, endemic toads, a maze of tributary canyons, views of the high peaks, an abundance of giant granite boulders - and the College is the only human presence. It's certainly a photographer's paradise!
The move and it's associated turmoil haven't left me a ton of time for posting here on RMNP, and now that I'm outside the area, I don't know that I'll have much cause. But I certainly do like to check in and enjoy everyone's splendid work, and hopefully I'll manage to say hello now and again. And maybe I'll post some stuff from Nevada, which doesn't really have an official home on the NPN forums. In any case, keep up the good work, and feel free to drop me a line if anyone's ever coming out for some time in Death Valley or the eastern Sierra!
My house is theoretically visible in the photo above, probably at about 1/4-pixel size in the upper left.
That's awesome! I looked at Deep Springs when I was deciding on colleges, and then ended up doing some geology work in the Poleta Folds on the west end of the valley. Amazing place -- the Inyo's are an undiscovered gem.
Are you there for a one-year or two-year position? If I remember correctly, there's no "tenure" at Deep Springs.
In short order you'll know the area better than any of us, but be sure to check out the valley just East of you along 266, the Eureka Dunes, and the Saline Valley hot springs. That close to Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra, there's not too much cause to wander that far, but if you want some other suggestions for NV, email me. Don't forget to stop in at Mountain Light every once in a while when you hit Bishop!
The first shot is terrific; it captures some of the CA mountain/desert environment that I miss.
I might be headed down to Death Valley come February...
Cheers on your new adventure!
Posted by John Mumaw on November 24, 2013 at 6:52 PM
I envy your location in this 'Empty Quarter' of the West. Great chance to explore areas that few ever see. Funny that Mark mentions the Saline Valley hot springs. I visited the area when I was a young hippie and just loved it.
The school sounds intriguing indeed. Will you find work in the area?
As far as I'm concerned, your area has more in common with the RM/Intermountain West than California. Hope you'll stop by more often! Best of luck and light to you both!
Posted by Kane Engelbert on November 24, 2013 at 7:31 PM
Jackson, well that's a different place...Looking forward to seeing what hidden gems you discover. I'm sure it will all pan out for you...
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on November 24, 2013 at 10:04 PM
WOW, I never knew there was a college in Deep Springs valley! You'll have a great time exploring. Keep posting.
The Poleta Folds area that Mark mentioned brings back fond memories of the UC Berkeley geology field camp that I attended in 1973. It was a geology department graduation requirement. Lots of other schools had their field camps there because of the complex folding and faulting. Field mapping in mid August "builds character". You left base camp with at least two gallons of water. The camp was in the White Mountains and you hiked DOWN to the Poleta Folds. Weekend trips to the cool Palisades were a treat !
Thanks all! Bill, the Poleta Folds are very cool indeed, some of those structures are visible in the first and last shots here. We still see quite a few geology field courses hanging around there. It's definitely a part of the valley I want to explore further, especially now that the weather's cooled off.
John, I'm lucky enough to be doing part-time web admin work via Deep Springs rather spotty satellite internet. That, plus the stay-at-home dad gig and photo explorations keep me busy. It's a situation I'm very grateful for!
Mark, thanks! I really want to check out Saline and Eureka. Almost every backroad in greater Death Valley got clobbered by the rains this summer, which has kept me out so far. Eureka's open though, and the Saline road is said to be coming along, so I'm hoping to get down that way soon. If your February trip pans out, please get in touch, I'd love to meet you and get out and about.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on November 25, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Best to you and your family in your new valley home. Looks like a great place to find peace and soul.
Discussion
12 repliesThe move and it's associated turmoil haven't left me a ton of time for posting here on RMNP, and now that I'm outside the area, I don't know that I'll have much cause. But I certainly do like to check in and enjoy everyone's splendid work, and hopefully I'll manage to say hello now and again. And maybe I'll post some stuff from Nevada, which doesn't really have an official home on the NPN forums. In any case, keep up the good work, and feel free to drop me a line if anyone's ever coming out for some time in Death Valley or the eastern Sierra!
My house is theoretically visible in the photo above, probably at about 1/4-pixel size in the upper left.
That's awesome! I looked at Deep Springs when I was deciding on colleges, and then ended up doing some geology work in the Poleta Folds on the west end of the valley. Amazing place -- the Inyo's are an undiscovered gem.
Are you there for a one-year or two-year position? If I remember correctly, there's no "tenure" at Deep Springs.
In short order you'll know the area better than any of us, but be sure to check out the valley just East of you along 266, the Eureka Dunes, and the Saline Valley hot springs. That close to Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra, there's not too much cause to wander that far, but if you want some other suggestions for NV, email me. Don't forget to stop in at Mountain Light every once in a while when you hit Bishop!
The first shot is terrific; it captures some of the CA mountain/desert environment that I miss.
I might be headed down to Death Valley come February...
Cheers on your new adventure!
The school sounds intriguing indeed. Will you find work in the area?
As far as I'm concerned, your area has more in common with the RM/Intermountain West than California. Hope you'll stop by more often! Best of luck and light to you both!
The Poleta Folds area that Mark mentioned brings back fond memories of the UC Berkeley geology field camp that I attended in 1973. It was a geology department graduation requirement. Lots of other schools had their field camps there because of the complex folding and faulting. Field mapping in mid August "builds character". You left base camp with at least two gallons of water. The camp was in the White Mountains and you hiked DOWN to the Poleta Folds. Weekend trips to the cool Palisades were a treat !
John, I'm lucky enough to be doing part-time web admin work via Deep Springs rather spotty satellite internet. That, plus the stay-at-home dad gig and photo explorations keep me busy. It's a situation I'm very grateful for!
Mark, thanks! I really want to check out Saline and Eureka. Almost every backroad in greater Death Valley got clobbered by the rains this summer, which has kept me out so far. Eureka's open though, and the Saline road is said to be coming along, so I'm hoping to get down that way soon. If your February trip pans out, please get in touch, I'd love to meet you and get out and about.