Cute little Coyote pup!

I photographed this little guy today on the way out to Grand Canyon West. September 10th, 2010

A close-up.

My favorite perch at Toroweap!

Nampaweap - Rock Art Site July 9th, 2010

Today, on my way to Toroweap with two guests, we stopped and checked out Nampaweap, a Rock Art Site near Mount Trumbull. The rock art is carved into basalt. The gulch that the rock art is in is heavily wooded with Juniper and Pinion Pine Trees. It is a half mile walk from the parking lot to get to the rock art. The temperature was over 100 degrees. The hike back to the parking lot is a little uphill so remember to take water. We saw a doe Mule Deer on the way back to the Trekker.

This looks to me like a doodle rock.

This looks like a mythical beast.

This looks to me like it might have been the art of a younger boy.

Is the one on the bottom modern graffiti? I think so.

A beautiful Indian Paintbrush that we saw on the way.

Remember to click on the photos for a close up. One more click is even closer.

We finished off a great day with the spectacular views at Toroweap. Frank and Donna from Perth, Australia were a lot of fun and it is fun to guide folks who love wild places.

Frank and Donna Hoppe, thanks for a perfect day!

My Lizard Photo Collection

I photographed this baby Chuckwalla at the mouth of Titus Canyon in the spring of 2010.

It was about 3 to 4 inches long.

Spring 2010

I photo'ed this lizard at Grand Canyon West, Quartermaster Point.

I think it is a mature Desert Spiny Lizard.

It was about 10 - 11 inches long.

Spring 2010

I took this picture of a Zebra-tailed Lizard at the mouth of Titus Canyon.

It was about 8 or 9 inches long.

Spring 2010

A collared Lizard photographed on the way to the Racetrack Playa.

It was about 10 - 11 inches long.

Spring 2010

Photo Tips from Pink Jeep's Tour Trekker!

Tour Trekker on Red Pass (Titus Canyon, Death Valley)

Tour Trekker on the way to the Racetrack Playa!

The Tour Trekker is an excellent photo platform. Photos can be taken right through the windows. The windows are tinted so it is a good idea to take the photo straight out the window, as much as possible, to minimize distortion.

With only 10 guests on board, it is very convenient to stop at neat photo taking opportunities like Desert Bighorn Sheep or Wild Horses.

Photographers can take turns sitting up front with the guide to capture that special photo. Just remember to take turns so that all that want to sit up front can.

One thing to remember on rougher roads: keep your camera or anything delicate off of the floor so that it won't be damaged by the bumpiness. Hold delicate equipment in your lap or seatbelt it into an empty seat.

Also: When climbing into the rear of the Trekker, always remember to duck your head if you are tall. The head room at the entrance is limited. Also, remember to duck on the way out.

Following the tips above will make your photography experience great! The Pink Jeep Tour Trekker is a state-of-the-art off-road tour vehicle.

The Amazing Chuckwalla!

Here in the Southwest, we have a plant eating lizard called the Chuckwalla. They are related to the Iguana. They can grow to 24 inches. They have an interesting way of dealing with predators. They crawl into the crack of a rock and wedge themselves in and then inflate their lungs 3 to 4 times their normal size.

They don't bite but use their tail to hit at and startle predators. They also puff themselves up to look bigger to their enemies. In this photo you can see that it is puffed up.

They are excellent climbers. One of their favorite meals is Creosote Bush.

Experimenting to see just how hard it would be to pull a Chuckwalla out of a crack.

VERY HARD! They wedge themselves in very tight and then inflate themselves to make extraction impossible.

This is the guy that's tail I was pulling. It was about 18 inches long.

They are natural climbers and always climb to the highest perch.

This one is probably 2 or 3 years old.

Handsome devil, isn't he?

They have very small teeth so getting bit is not a problem. They do have large, sharp claws and when you first pick up a Chuckwalla you need to be careful that you don't get scratched.

Racetrack Playa May 26th, 2010

May 26th, 2010 was our last trip to Racetrack Playa until September because of the heat. It was a great trip. We saw 3 Collared Lizards, 1 Red Racer (Coach Whip), 2 Chuckwallas and a Horned Lizard. We also saw a red and black beetle out on the playa.

Collared Lizard #1

Collared Lizard #2

Collared Lizard #3

Up close of the 3rd Collared Lizard. Note the red coloration.

The photos of the collared lizards were taken about half way along the road to the Racetrack Playa from Ubehebe Crater.

This next photo was taken out at the Grandstand.

We came along two Chuckwallas at the west end of the Grandstand.

(Close-up)

While we were watching the Chuckwallas, a Horned Lizard was spotted.

We came upon this beautiful insect out on the playa where the rocks roll down off of the hill to start the whole moving rock drama. It is a Master Blister Beetle.

(Close-up)