Conglomerate Mesa lies in the southern Inyo Mountains, sandwiched between the Sierra Nevada range and Death Valley National Park. The nearest towns are Olancha to the southwest and Lone Pine to the northwest. The mesa itself is an impressive landform when seen from a distance, extending from 3,800 to...

I recently had a conversation with somebody who has driven and ridden in off-road vehicle areas maintained by the Bureau of Land Management for more than 20 years. This person was confident he knew and understood the rules that applied to various types of OHV areas. But as our discussion progressed,...

More than 30 species of cacti can be found in California’s deserts, ranging from the 3-inch fishhook cactus to the towering 30- to 40-foot saguaro. That number does not include plants which some people incorrectly think are cacti, such as yuccas, agaves, ocotillos and Joshua trees. In my opinion, the...

What would be your response to the question, “What are the oldest trees in the world?” If you guessed the giant sequoias, you guessed wrong. The oldest known giant sequoia is about 3,500 years old. The oldest known Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva), named Methusela, is an impressive 4,841...

California’s deserts are home to an extraordinary diversity of animal and plant species, many of which are threatened or endangered. Our deserts also contain some of our nation’s most prized recreational, historical and cultural lands. Over the years, there have been threats to our deserts. Interestingly...

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. As America’s environmental innovator, California demonstrates that conserving natural resources and developing clean energy sources can coexist. That is the reason California set the goal of generating 33 percent of its electricity by 2020 from renewable resources such...