Thursday, February 25, 2010

SkyWatch Friday and Looking at the Sky on Friday / Palm Springs Tramway

 
This is the Palm Springs Tramway which rises from the 2000 ft level to the top of  Mt. San Jacinto Mountain.  
It is covered with at least 4 ft. of snow right now.
A new storm was coming in from the Pacific and it was very windy and cold up there!

You can see the tram coming back down to the base station.

We drove from the desert floor to about the 2000 ft level to check out a hiking trail that follows this canyon upward!
Not for us!
It is definitely way beyond our hiking capabilities!
Yikes!
After enjoying the scenery up here and talking to some people getting off the tram, we headed back down to have some dinner near Palm Springs...La Quinta, California.

 
This is the view coming down the mountain...look north eastward at the desert floor.
And...by the way...there is a lot of green on that desert floor right now!
The desert wildflowers will be popping out soon!
You can see a few of the desert windmills out there...just a few.
There are SO many more!  
They seem to be multiplying like rabbits!

It was after 4 p.m., February 24, 2010.
We were in in the shadows of the mountains looking at the light to the northeast.
The clouds were an assortment of colors and creating amazing shadows on the landscape.
You can see a few more of the windmills off in the distance.
Click on photos to enlarge!


29 comments:

James said...

These are fantastic. Wonderful views!

Suburban Girl said...

Very pretty views...and it does look like there would be some tough hiking up there. My husband would be up to it, but not me.

Tania said...

Wow! So beautiful! I would love to climb up that mountain (not with tram). And so wonderful landscape!
I love to see pics without whiteout right now:-)
You are a great photographer!
Wish you a nice evening!

My name is Riet said...

Those pictures are fantastic. Great view of the mountain and tram

Carol said...

Beautiful mountain shots...I like the view coming down the mountain...

Al said...

That looks beautiful. I'd love to take the tram up to the top, or hike (as long as there's no hand-over-hand climbing). My father had a very interesting experience on that tram many years ago (decades), as it started down before the doors closed...

Ebie said...

Was it foggy? The last time we were on that tram was in 2005.

Love the early sunset shots! It is beautiful to see the colorful mountains and vast landscape!

Sylvia K said...

What terrific shots, Carolyn! Looks like a really great day. I, too, love the shots coming down the mountain. The colors are marvelous! Have a great weekend!

Sylvia

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

Lovely photos - that tramway looks a bit scary though. Have a lovely weekend.
Cheers.
Melbourne Daily Photo

Unknown said...

Well maybe for that view you might get me on the ride up, but I have no head for heights. Lovely shots though.

Randi said...

Wow...what a stunning view, Carolyn! This landscape is so dramatic and you captured it so well. I love hiking in the swizz alps, but this looks so different.
I wish you a lovely weekend!

magiceye said...

beautiful images...

Gaelyn said...

What a wonderful place to get a distant view of desert and sky. Always liked the way San Jacinto stands out.

Unknown said...

The mountains look rather steep! The views are fantastic.

I hope you'll take tons of photos of the desert in bloom!

AL said...

Wow they are all covered with snow! While here, we are covered with sweat...hot days!

AL

Carletta said...

While the view is beautiful the tram ride seems scary. My heart is in my stomach just looking at the pictures.
Oh my what wonderful vistas!
Wonderful shots!

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful scenery and sky. I love the views, great photos!

BLOGitse said...

What a place! Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures.
Happy weekend from Cairo!

BLOGitsePHOTOS

Grandma said...

Gorgeous location and beautiful pics. Thanks so much for the narrative too, I really enjoyed that.

My First Friday Sky: Memphis Sunset

Victoria Tsavdaridou said...

Magnificent landscapes!!!

Dimple said...

Neat shots! Those windmills are also growing and reproducing along the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland, Oregon. They are sometimes called 'wind farms' now!

Liz @ MLC said...

Awesome views! I enjoyed reading your post.

Thanks for visiting. Happy weekend.

Ralph said...

How lovely it must be to be able to luxuriate in the desert basin while seeing the cold snow above. And being able to travel to the snow in a short time. Lovely views!

Calico Crazy said...

Lovely photos, it seems odd to think of a desert being green, I learn something new everyday. ~ Calico Contemplations

Joe Todd said...

Lovely as always. I really enjoy the "subject Matter" for your posts.

Patti said...

I"ll pass on the tramway! Scary.

I love the shots of the desert. I see the windmills. Interesting that there is green. I've never seen the desert in real life.

Tarun Mitra said...

realy pretty pictures :)

Carly said...

wow, I love the sky with the mountains in the background.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful views ... bring back mem'ries.
Hugs and blessings,