Category — whole wide world

We got some great pics while driving through Mojave National Preserve. Partner-in-Climb has a very reliable Canon PowerShot A640 that really takes some great photos. The thing I like most about Canon digital cameras is that they are so easy to use and durable. Plus, the pictures consistently look great.

Here are some great Mojave links:

• The American Southwest
  
• GORP Destinations: Mojave National Preserve
• USGS Virtual Field Trip: Geology of Mojave National Preserve
• Hiker Central: Mojave National Preserve
• 3-D Geology Tour of Mojave National Park
• Road Trip America: Hole-in-the-Wall & Kelso Dunes in Mojave

Just got back from a whirlwind road trip on Historic Route 66 (also known as Interstate 40 to Interstate 44.) Lots of stories and pictures to share, but I will need a few days to get settled back into my routine. For now, some trip highlights:

• Mojave National Preserve
• Snow and stars in Arizona
• Wind and sunrise in New Mexico
• All roads lead to Las Vegas
• The Texas Panhandle and it’s surprising lack of rest areas along the highway
• Tornado warnings in Oklahoma
• My first encounter with wild onions in Missouri

Stay tuned for more!

I came across a copy of this apparently new magazine called Science Illustrated that has some absolutely amazing photos of Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve in Madagascar. Tsingy de Bemaraha is dominated by a network of needle-like limestone crags, the remnant bed of an ancient sea, which makes it almost completely inaccessible to humans. That fact has been key to its survival. According to UNESCO, “Madagascar retains only 10% of its original forest cover,” which makes Tsingy de Bemaraha vitally important for the survival of Madagascar’s unique wild life.

Tsingy de Bemaraha is home to my favorite animals, sifaka lemurs. They are so adapted to climbing rocks and trees that their locomotion while on the ground looks like a cross between an upright frog hop and a skip. They are adorable! They are also unfortunately extremely rare and need protection in the face of a shrinking habitat.

Some info on Sifakas:

• National Geographic and National Geographic Video
• Animal Info
• Lemur Center at Duke University
• Primates.com
• National Wildlife Federation
• BBC Science & Nature
• WildMadagascar.org

I just found out that there are actually Sifaka stuffed animals! I really want one, but I am worried that Big Old Dog will claim it as his own, so for now I will consider adding it to my wish list.

If you want to help these awesome animals, Conservation International makes it easy to donate to save the sifakas.