Poppy Leaf Dew

Poppy Leaf, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Dew drops on a California poppy leaf up on Yucca Ridge.

Sunrise Over Cuesta

Cuesta Sunrise, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Twelve hours after the sunset hike yesterday, I was up on the ridge again, but this time for sunrise. The sunrise wasn't as dramatic as the sunset as there were no clouds to catch the light...hopefully they'll be there next time!

Sunset Over Cuesta

Sunset Over Cuesta, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

When I was on this ridge Friday night, clouds were just starting to drop rain. A storm and 24 hours later, I was on the same ridge, but the clouds were moving to the East, leaving behind a beautiful sky.

Violets

Violets, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

They're violets, but they're yellow. In full bloom on Yucca Ridge behind Cal Poly. Close examination of the ridge-top revealed that there are millions of things getting ready to bloom in the coming weeks.

Approaching Rain

Approaching Rain, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

It's been a very wet winter here on California's Central Coast. With over 17 inches of rain so far, we're at more than twice the amount of rain we had at the same time last year. As a result, the hills are incredibly green, the reservoirs are filling, and the Sierras are buried in snow. This is great news considering the state has been in a drought for the past few years.

A band of rain just behind Bishop Peak is visible in this photo. About 60 seconds after this photo, another rain band from the south drenched me by surprise.

Mission Bells

Misty Mission Bells, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

On a hike yesterday I spotted these mission bells in full bloom. They're really an interesting species, unlike anything else that grows nearby in the grassy oak woodlands.

Spring is here in San Luis Obispo, but what about your part of the world?

Clover in Poly Canyon

Clover in Poly Canyon, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

With all the rain we've had this season, the hills are especially lush. I found a big patch of clover down near Brizzolara Creek which made for an interesting photo study.

Spring is coming into bloom here in SLO; be on the lookout for pictures of what is looking to be a great year for wildflowers.

Bishop Again

Bishop Again, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Here's a view up the trail on Bishop Peak taken a few weeks ago during a period of stormy weather. The mountain's chaparral is getting nice and green.

UCLA Dance Marathon

UCLA Dance Marathon, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

This weekend I was one of over 800 people to partake in Dance Marathon at UCLA. We danced for 26 hours nonstop, no sitting down allowed. The purpose of Dance Marathon is to raise money to fight pediatric AIDS...in the end we raised $407,223.73!

At DM, we heard from children afflicted with HIV/AIDS and heard their stories - it's amazing that those kids contend as well as they do. They are incredibly strong. In addition to the kids, numerous celebrities and dancers appeared to boost the morale. The last hour of DM, known as "Power Hour" was a massive rave-like dance party that filled the Ackerman Ballroom with energy. Sitting down at the end of the 26 hours seemed like the best thing in the world.

For this picture, I set up my camera on a raised dancing box and took a long exposure.

Passing Clouds on Bishop Peak

A Cloud Drifts By, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

The Sun was setting as I hiked down Bishop Peak on Saturday, and the fast-moving storm clouds lit up in bright colors for a few short minutes before twilight began. A long exposure shows some of the motion in these clouds. Those boulders are the summit rocks of Bishop Peak, and the true summit is inaccessible without climbing gear.

February Wildflower

Shooting Star, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

It may only be February, but here on the Central Coast it appears that February means spring. While hiking on Bishop's Peak yesterday, I noticed some brightly-colored shooting stars already in bloom. With the on-and-off rain, everything was covered in water, which made for some great macro opportunities.

Also, the live oak forests at the base of the peak, normally dry and dusty, were lush and green today with dripping water and fresh plant growth. Winter in California is wonderful.

Bishop's from Cerro San Luis

Bishop's from Cerro San Luis, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

After a week of drenching rain back in January, the hills are greening up quickly. In this view, you can see Bishop Peak in the distance with the slopes of Cerro San Luis in the foreground. On my recent hike at Cerro, I saw that every gully and creek was flowing and that the wildflowers are already starting to bloom.

It's gonna be a great spring.

Coast Live Oak

Coast Live Oak, originally uploaded by ParsecTraveller.

Here's an example of the coast live oak, a rustic and beautiful California tree. This one, in the hills above Cal Poly, marked the beginning of a small grove of the trees. You can find them all over the California coast ranges.