OT: Day Trip to Carrizo Plain in CA

[Frisco]

I took a day trip with some colleagues from work yesterday to Carrizo Plain, which is on the San Andreas fault near Bakersfield. We arrived around noon, took some pics down in the flats, and then hiked up into the hills where the blooms were the most intense. It was my first trip, and apparently the blooms were better last year with a much wider diversity of flowers and colors. Any suggestions about getting better pics is appreciated - I don't have a circular polarizer and it left the sky in some shots really washed out. Anyway, enjoy.

 

[Nanook]

Wow, gorgeous scenery and photograpy Eli...thanks!!!

dave

 

[Nagel]

WOW! Nice shots Eli! That first one looks like its right out of National Geographic!

 

[rbaker]

Very nice Eli, the last shot is incredible...

 

[Brewen]

With in a few hours from my home and I am missing it, (I need to get out more). Thanks for the look awesome pics

 

[billsreef]

Very nice indeed

 

[jwedehase]

Wow, I'm probably closer than all of you, and I didn't even know this existed. See what happens when you take your area for granted? Just imagine what a polarizer could have done for you!

I, too, need to get out more.

 

[piberoptikz]

nice shots!

 

[griss]

Wow, amazing pics Eli:thumbsup:

 

[zenya]

All shots are amazing but the wide angle shots are my favorite in this series. Thanks for the treat, Eli.

 

[Reefcherie]

Gorgeous shots!! I live in San Jose.....wonder how long the drive would be from where I live.

 

[Frisco]

Thanks, I need to work on my pics but had a good time.

It took about 4 hours from Santa Clara, and the area doesn't have paved roads once you get off Hwy 58 so a 4WD truck is recommended (you could easily get stuck in the mud if there's any standing water in the road - we had to help someone who did). We came in off 5 to Hwy 58 and went from Soda Lake to the Info Center and then up to Wallace Creek for the hike. We didn't drive around much now that I see the map in detail.

If you want to check it out, you better go quickly because the flowers and greenery are supposed to fade to brown pretty quickly without the rain. The wildflowers apparently vary significantly year to year, and this year was pretty sparse due to the lack of rain from Dec-Feb. You'll see patches of flowers down on the plain, along with other patches up in the foothills. But the area coverage of the flowers was probably 10-20% overall and could be shrinking by the day.

This is the pic that I saw showing how it is on a good year - apparently this is from Feb of last year:

You should call ahead and talk to Ana in the info center to find out what is open. http://www.blm.gov/ca/bakersfield/goodwin.html

 

[Reefcherie]

Thanks Eli - I think I'll schedule this trip for next February! Four hours would be more than worth it!

 

[smiller]

Gorgeous! Thanks!!!

 

[Skipper]

Dat's just beautiful, Eli! Thanks for sharing.