Day 7 of my border to border road trip. I left Kalispell under light clouds, but as I drove further south the clouds became heavier and heavier, and by the time I stopped in Dillon to refuel, it was raining. It rained intermittently until I arrived at my destination, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, […]
Soggy night at Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge Read More »
The northern terminus of my 2-week road trip in September 2016 was just south of the Canadian border, near Polebridge, Montana. I arrived with some unsettled fall weather, with a dusting of snow on the peaks, and more rain on the way. I was there to visit my friend, Cynthia Wolf, who was working as
Listening for owls in Montana Read More »
In September, 2016, I set out on a long road trip, from Carson City to northern Montana, and back to southeastern Arizona. The trip took almost 2 weeks and covered more than 3,600 miles. It was a good test for both my little CR-V camper and my recording equipment, as I ran into a wide
Exploring Nevada’s alps: Lamoille Canyon Read More »
In early September, 2016, it was time to head back to my home in Arizona, after visiting my dad in northern Nevada for most of the summer. A friend working in Glacier National Park invited me to visit her, so I decided to make a big road trip out of it, traveling to eastern Nevada, eastern
It’s no news to anyone who reads my blog that I am fascinated by the Great Basin. Where some people see brown desolation, I see a complex and intriguing ecosystem. Actually, many ecosystems, that differ by elevation, latitude, longitude and history. Lying in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains, the Great
The Sagebrush Ocean Read More »
Threading its way north from the mountains of northern Mexico, the San Pedro River meanders to the Gila River, then westward to join the Colorado River on its way back to Mexico. It is one of the few remaining undammed rivers (in the desert, they call any flowing water a “river”) in the US. It
San Pedro River–the thin fragile line Read More »
I love the transition in sounds as day fades into dusk and then evening, especially in late summer when the chorus of crickets and tree crickets creates a repetitious and soothing melody. I find recording at this time of day challenging, though, as man-made sounds, particularly vehicle traffic, are still quite loud. The early evening
Night falls on the Carson River Read More »
This summer has been a tough one for recording. With much of the mountainous west either on fire, freshly blackened from a fire, or waiting to burn, camping out in the mountains while hoping for something to record is a scary proposition. I’ve spent most of my time sequestered away from the heat working on
One marsh, many voices Read More »
The Upper Gila River ecosystem occupies a good chunk of southwestern New Mexico. It includes the first federally-designated wilderness area, 2.7 million acres of national forest, and is home to mountain lions, black bears, elk, eagles, and Mexican wolves. It’s been occupied by humans as long as almost any place in the country, but because
Back to the Gila River Read More »
Last October, I took a quick trip to the Chiricahua Mountains to do some hiking and camping. I’d been hearing for years that the aspens up on the crest put on a lovely show in the fall, so I decided to check it out. The Chiricahuas (cheer-uh-cow-uhs) are one of the largest of the isolated
Crazy night in the Chiricahuas Read More »
It was one of those glorious days in the fall, when the sun is bright but not hot, and a light breeze makes the golden aspen leaves shimmer. The kind of day that just makes you feel glad to be alive. It was on one of those glorious days, one of a string of similar
Fall afternoon on the Tahoe Rim Trail Read More »
Wildlife refuges are some of my favorite places. Little pockets of wild that provide critical habitat, they are usually great places to see and hear wildlife. On my frequent trips to northern Nevada, I try to get to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge near Fallon on each visit. Stillwater is part of a complex of refuges
Beneath Still Waters Read More »
