Thursday, December 2, 2010

Carrizo Canyon

Carrizo Canyon is open for hiking from October 1 to December 31. Met that deadline. The hike begins along a wide open wash continuing to narrow to more branching small canyons. Vegetation is limited to flora tolerant of this arid and hot land like this smoke tree.


Walking the trail in the canyon is rock hopping and climbing over rock falls with side canyons for exploring and returning to the trail. In several pockets and dead ends of the canyons, there are the California Fan Palm. Seems hard to believe that there is enough water runoff or underground water to keep these palms alive. But there is.


The canyon is closed the rest of the year to protect the big horn sheep. Didn't see any on my hike. Another hiker (who frequently hikes here) said he saw one a couple of days earlier. Seeing big horn sheep is being in the right place at the right time. I wasn't.

1 comment:

  1. How does it protect the sheep to close the canyon during the rest of the year?
    I hiked up some canyons in Death Valley for a few days and supposedly they are there as well. The reason given for not seeing any is that they stay clear of humans.
    Beautiful pics.....I almost feel...just for a sec... that I'm there myself.

    ReplyDelete

Anonymous comments are no longer allowed. Regardless, comments are appreciated. Sometimes there may be a response from Wandrin Lloyd. Sometimes not. Regardless. Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts. Leave a comment or send WandrinLloyd an email. Note: Ads disguised as comments will be deleted.