Uploads from Marc Briggs, tagged searlesdrylake

Trona Pinnacles

nobody@flickr.com (Marc Briggs) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:13:41 -0800

The Tufa at Mono lake certainly get lots of attention.... and rightly so. They make for great elements coupled with the water of Mono lake and the soaring Sierra Nevada as a back drop. However, there are some lesser known but much grander Tufa towers 187 miles to the Southeast. Soaring upwards of 140 feet out Searles dry lake bed are the amazing Trona Pinnacles. Far back in the Pleistocene much wetter conditions created massive runoff along the Sierra Nevada. This water created a series of huge interconnected lakes from Mono down through Death Valley and to the Mojave. Calcium rich springs bubbling up through the alkaline waters precipitated calcium carbonate...the Tufa formations we see today. Since there is no outflow to the Ocean water only leaves through seepage into the ground or evaporation. This leaves behind all the mineral and salts in crusted playas. The salt pan at Badwater basin in Death Valley is the most notable remnants of these ancient lakes.
Thanksgiving weekend I met up with Jean Day to shoot the always amazing Death Valley. We had a great time, even though the lack of clouds did not allow for any of those iconic desert sunrises or sunsets. On my way home, I detoured through Wildrose and the Panamint Valley. Despite an early departure from Death Valley, I explored and wandered enough to find myself near Trona Pinnacles around sunset. The clouds that eluded us through our stay in Death Valley stay finally materialized, and I was treated a pretty amazing sunset. This is one of my favorite images from the evening.

Looks even better in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotfish_mb/6444696657/#/photos

Click on the image to view in Light box: Large on black

Explore December 2nd, 2011 #26

My first FRONT PAGE! Dec 3rd, 2011 :-)

Trona Pinnacles...a wider view

nobody@flickr.com (Marc Briggs) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:29:58 -0800

Marc Briggs posted a photo:

Basic daylight gradually overpowers the magic morning light. A sea of Tufa towers cast their shadows across Searles dry lake. I enjoy breakfast, pack my camp and head for Death Valley having much enjoyed this little adventure.

Please Note: My images are posted here for viewing enjoyment only. All Rights are Reserved. Please contact me if you are interested in using this image, or purchasing a print.

"Cathedral City"

nobody@flickr.com (Marc Briggs) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:21:16 -0800

Marc Briggs posted a photo:

The Trona Pinnacles Rise from Searles dry lake bed, east of Ridgecrest, CA.
Once known as "Cathedral City", this collection of Tufa spires is now more commonly known as "Trona Pinnacles"

I camped nearby and shot the sunrise on my way to Death Valley during Thanksgiving weekend, 2009.

Please Note: My images are posted here for viewing enjoyment only. All Rights are Reserved. Please contact me if you are interested in using this image, or purchasing a print.

Explore Dec 2, 2009 #182

Welcome to Planet Trona

nobody@flickr.com (Marc Briggs) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:13:30 -0800

Marc Briggs posted a photo:

An otherworldly scene rising from Searles dry lake in the desert, south of Trona, CA.