Carrizo Plain, The Barrens

The Carrizo. Barren and desolate one day, alive with birds and flowers the next. And a place of endless fascination for me. Such a stark and elemental place, and oh so quiet. On a wide ranging day of exploration I retraced many of my tracks from previous explorations, seeing the familiar in a new shade of Carrizo. Saw the elk herd in the distance, foraging near one of the few reliable springs on the Plain. Saw old farm houses and ranch sites. Saw multiple rock art sites, new colors, a small shrine left by a latter day Native, and discovered a cupule and mortar site I had not previously known of. Saw a barn owl flap by, saw him glance over a shoulder at me with that ghostly, almond shaped face and bright black eyes. Saw a scruffy coyote trot away from me as I crested a small rise in the rippling land. Saw rusted trucks and tractors, miles of barbed wire. Saw a dusky grey fox slink across the grassless expanse. Saw a brilliant sunset from the crusted lunar surface of Soda Lake. And saw much of that through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.