The Haunted Desert - October has arrived once again along with spooky stories, unexplained mysteries and other desert lore. It is no wonder that so many ghosts haunt the lonely trails, mountains, and landmarks of the forbidding desert. The desert can be so unforgiving and, at the same time, unbelievably generous. Many travelers, prospectors and adventures have gone into the desert, never to return. More...

High Desert and High Adventure on the Oregon and Idaho Border - Who would have guessed that this isolated region – south of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, along the border between Oregon and Idaho – would have been such a gem to explore? I recently spent two to three weeks there with my dog, Spirit, the two of us wondering around on a motorcycle with a sidecar.  More...

Bodie’s Windows to the Past - Stepping on dusty streets whose original inhabitants are long gone, peering in past ripply glass windows to see antique bottles, peeling wallpaper, old shoes and worn chairs, visitors to Bodie can view a moment in time gone by, preserved by the contents of this historic ghost town. More...

An Insect Is Just An Insect Is Just An Insect - The population of insects in the desert basins and mountain ranges of the Southwest falls far short, in terms of sheer numbers, of that in many other parts of the United States. The diversity of species across the Southwest, however, may equal or exceed that of any place else in the country.  More...

On The Trail of Turquoise - The Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway connects ancient mines and ghost towns reborn as artist communities.With the eye-ache blue skies and hundred-mile views, it?s easy to understand why the high desert hills along the Turquoise Trail have inspired both artists and mystics. More...

The Panamint Chipmunk - If you plan to be a renowned authority on Panamint chipmunks, you?ll have to figure out first how to know one when you see one. That may come harder than it sounds. More...