Alvord Desert Trip September 2010

driving out onto the lakebed...moment of truth with 12 tons

camped with our friends

resting under camo net...perfect for high winds!!

looking West toward the Steens!!

September found us visiting the Alvord Desert in Eastern Oregon. This stretch of dry lake, about 10 miles wide by 20 miles long is an extraordinary spot of beauty and offers unique conditions to enjoy the night sky free of man-made light sources, an opportunity to "land-sail" on the often windy lakebed, and a closeup look at extraordinary fault lines forming the Steens Mountains rising to over 9000 feet just to the West as well as evidence of volcanic activity all round. We camped on the lakebed and marvelled at the night sky that revealed a mass of stars and a milky way one could almost reach out and touch. wow...a priceless show at no charge. we watched other folk with paragliders enjoy the still morning air and sailed in "land yachts" when the wind arose.