We spent two days at Eureka Dunes, climbing, hiking and exploring. The dunes are almost 700 feet high, the highest in California, and nearly the highest in the United States. We were very careful to avoid stepping on the tiny grasses and plants struggling to grow on the dunes. When the sand is dry and you step on a steep ridge, it makes an interesting “singing” noise, and vibrates under your feet. It sounds sort of like a distant plane.
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| The first day we were the only people there. |
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| Yellow Desert Evening Primrose. |
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| Eureka Evening Primrose, endemic to these dunes, rare. |
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| Desert Globemallow |
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| Zebra-Tailed Lizard. We found a juicy grub and dropped it front of this guy. He ate it. |
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| The flowers were in full bloom. |
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| Endless photographic opportunities when the light is low. |
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| Celebrating Ian’s 13th birthday. |
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| We hired a fighter jet to come by and wave at Ian for his birthday. (At least that is what we told Ian.) The pilot must have been having fun because he came around for another pass and wave of his wings after we waved at him. He passed lower than the top of dunes, between the mountains and the dunes. It was very exciting and loud! |
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| The layers in the moumtains looked like geodes to Ruth. Jason thought they looked like bracken fungus. |
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| It’s easier to fit the kids in the camper when they are small. |
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| Cyrus catches the moon. |
You'll have to give me that kid-shrinking recipe some day – how convenient!