Even though we live a full country's length away from our friends, we still find ways to meet up for adventures. They've travelled to the northwest to explore both Olympic and Rainier National Parks with us. They were also a huge support for us during our hike on the John Muir Trail last summer. If you've read through those posts, you may recall that our friend Joe surprised us on top of Mount Whitney for our last sunrise!
As our trip got closer we realised that we might just be lucky enough to see the desert in bloom. About a week before our trip we started to see news reports about the possibility of a "super bloom" in the Anza-Borrego desert. We also started following the wildflower report for the area.
In an effort to beat the heat, we decided to get up really, really early (4 a.m.) and make it to the desert for sunrise. We pulled into Borrego Springs with only a hint of light in the sky. Our destination was Coyote Canyon, about 5 miles down a dirt road. We parked partway along the dirt road near one of the stream crossings and at a trailhead for the Ocotillo Trail. Our timing was absolutely perfect; the sky was just starting to brighten.
Sunrise in the desert is an incredible sight. A sunrise that reveals fields of amazing, colourful flowers is even more incredible!
We finished our loop with a brief ankle-deep wade through the creek, a refreshing and cool relief for our feet!
Instead of heading back down the dirt road to our car we took the Ocotillo Trail, which meandered through the flats, following along the North bank of the creek and passing through many more wildflowers and beneath shade-bearing Ocotillos.
We made it back to our car around 11, just as the real heat of the day started to set in. There were also many more visitors making their way down the Coyote Canyon road.
I feel incredibly lucky to not only have seen the amazing desert bloom but also to have enjoyed my first desert sunrise.