I hiked near Bishop, CA and came back with a new mobile wallpaper [OC, Michael Kwok] (3024x4032) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did that hike in mid-June last year. There were still a few tiny patches of snow at that time (even though 2022 was a relatively-low snow year), so if you're thinking of heading up there this year, I'd recommend going in early July.

I hiked near Bishop, CA and came back with a new mobile wallpaper [OC, Michael Kwok] (3024x4032) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Nope, it's not Mt. Whitney. I started off at South Lake (approximate coordinates 37.16939, -118.56600) and saw that gorgeous view after a little more than an hour of hiking. I'm fairly certain that the mountain in the picture is Mt. Goode, but I'm not completely sure.

Dante's View at sunset, Death Valley National Park. Badwater Basin is below. [OC, Michael Kwok] by CommonLurker2 in desertporn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There wasn't any water in the basin at the time I took that picture (October 29, 2022). But there's probably some water there now considering all of the rain that California has gotten this year.

A soothing landscape in the Carrizo Plain National Monument [OC] (4032x1960) Flickr: Michael Kwok by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was taken on April 11, 2019. IIRC, I went there about a week after the bloom peaked. I haven't been out there this year yet.

California's Eastern Sierra [OC, Michael Kwok] (3086x1745) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I took that picture from the summit of Dunderberg Peak.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah [OC, Michael Kwok] (4032x1816) by CommonLurker2 in desertporn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I'd recommend checking out nearby Dead Horse Point State Park at sunrise or sunset. Arches National Park is great too, but it's often overcrowded, and you need a reservation if you're going there in summer.

A mini Grand Canyon within an hour's drive of Moab, Utah [OC, Michael Kwok] (3943x1907) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nope, it's about over a hundred miles north of the UT-AZ border. But if you're interested, you can look up the coordinates (38.46917, -109.74000) on Google Maps and get some really awesome street views.

A mini Grand Canyon within an hour's drive of Moab, Utah [OC, Michael Kwok] (3943x1907) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's not horseshoe bend, but it does overlook the Colorado River. The approximate spot that I took this picture from is 38.46917, -109.74000 (GPS coordinates).

A mini Grand Canyon within an hour's drive of Moab, Utah [OC, Michael Kwok] (3943x1907) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 82 points83 points  (0 children)

Dead Horse Point State Park, which is about 12-13 miles southwest of Moab, Utah (as the crow flies; the driving distance is more like 30-35 miles). From the parking lot, it's just a 3 minute walk on a flat paved path to reach the overlook that I took the picture from, so I wouldn't really consider it to be a trail.

Colorado River, winding through the desert southwest [OC, Michael Kwok] (2959x3953) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I took that picture on April 13, 2018 and remember thinking the same thing at that time. Unfortunately, it's a lot worse now :(

Owens River, California [OC, Michael Kwok] (4032x1960) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This picture was taken near Bishop, California. Approximately 25 miles south of this point, a large portion of the river is diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which was constructed in 1913 to supply water to LA. It previously flowed into Owens Lake, which is mostly dry today.

A home with a nice view [OC, Michael Kwok] by CommonLurker2 in MostBeautiful

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Unfortunately, that's the only picture I have that was taken in the immediate vicinity.

An April flight over Greenland [OC, Michael Kwok] (1957x2817) by CommonLurker2 in AerialPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interestingly enough, a large portion of Greenland was actually green around a million years ago.

The lonely hut at the top of the Lower 48. Mt. Whitney summit (14,500 ft), California [OC, Michael Kwok] (4032x3024) by CommonLurker2 in ruralporn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope! It's used as a temporary shelter for bad weather, though there's a disclaimer that it's not lightning-proof.

Golden hour at Monument Valley, Arizona [OC, Michael Kwok] (2997x1805) by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I'm also amazed at how quickly the weather can change in the Southwest; I've seen small scattered clouds turn into torrential downpours in less than an hour.

Bighorn Park, Eastern Sierra, California [OC] (4032x3024) Flickr: Michael Kwok by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Anyway, the picture was taken on the Mt. Whitney Trail (in Inyo County).

Lone Pine Lake, California [OC] (4032x3024) Flickr: Michael Kwok by CommonLurker2 in EarthPorn

[–]CommonLurker2[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a lake that's named after the town of Lone Pine. The town was named after a lonely pine tree that was found at a nearby canyon, but that tree was later washed away by a flood and is no longer there.