Echo Canyon State Park – Quiet Walk Photography

May 9, 2023January 15, 2026

Moving On – Echo Canyon, Nevada – April 2023

Our last days camping at Black Rock Road are especially pretty with filaree extending for acres, a beautiful green carpet dotted with purple blossoms. Soon there will be other wildflowers, but it is time for us to move on.

Wednesday April 26 is moving day. We are up by 7:30, have breakfast, finish packing, and are on our way by 11:30. It is good to have gotten a lot done yesterday despite the shopping day and Clifford not feeling well. Luckily, he is feeling better today. I don’t have much time for my morning routine, as getting ready to travel is a big deal for us. Lots of things need to be in place for safe travel, in addition to hitching up.

Suburban and Cougar Ready to Leave Black Rock Road

We have a safe and beautiful drive except for that area on Highway 56 where the trees are all dead – very dry, and negative energy there.

Happily, we make it to Echo Canyon by mid afternoon and find a nice spot on the side of the loop that we like, next to the site where we were last fall. We are happy to be here. I walk to the reservoir for photos of the water, getting reacquainted with this campground, one of our favorites.

Campsite at Echo Canyon Nevada State Park

A couple days after our arrival at Echo Canyon, our camping neighbor from Black Rock comes to visit us on his motorcycle, bringing sugar for hummingbird juice. I make a good lunch of pork steaks, wild rice, and salad. It is good to see him.

Words of Wisdom from my daily reading from the Law of Attraction: “The more you come to understand the power of the law of attraction, the more interest you will have in deliberately directing your thoughts – for you get what you think about, whether you want it or not. Without exception, that which you give thought to is that which you begin to invite into your experience.” I am keeping this in mind as I go about my daily activities. it is interesting to notice how often my thoughts stray to things that I don’t want to manifest.

The next day Clifford and I go for a picnic to a spot that we know of on the edge of the park where there is (was) a picnic table. When we get there, we find the creek overflowing and the picnic table is gone., but that doesn’t stop us from having our picnic. We just sit alongside the road using our own table and chairs for the picnic. After we eat, Clifford plays music until the wind gets too rambunctious.

I often climb the ridge behind the campground loop to get a bar of cell service. It is enough for me to send and receive text and connect to short “Begin with Breath'” tai chi routines. One day I come across a bench on the ridge, oddly out of place, but a nice place to sit for a great view of the area and a good place to prop my phone up for the tai chi class.

There are not many wildflowers, but some trees are in bloom, possibly crab apples, which are totally delightful for me to photograph. They also seem oddly out of place, but in a very pleasing sort of way.

The weather was pleasant when we first arrived, but then there are several days of cloudy, windy, rainy weather, and even hail. One morning we see some sunshine, but just a teaser. It is soon cloudy and windy again. The day before, I kind of wore myself out walking in the wind, trying to find a spot with cell service. Someone has camped at the site right below the bench, so I can’t go there now. So we don’t have much outdoor time, but I’ve been able to do tai chi inside, as well as other indoor projects, like journal writing. Clifford always has projects. We neither one are ever at loss for things to do whether inside or out. On the days that it is too windy for me to do the uphill climb, I get a boost from Clifford’s hotspot.

Finally we have a day calm and warm enough to sit outside. I take photos of Primrose on way back from restroom and then sit outside with coffee to listen to Clifford sing while I write in my journal.

Monday, May 8, the sky is a beautiful blue, but El viento no es divertido. Café is muy Bueno. Studying Spanish with Duolingo – the wind is not fun. Coffee is very good. The trees don’t seem to mind the windy days and are as attractive as ever.

We have just a couple more days to enjoy our stay here before we head to Pioche for a few groceries and better internet. This has been a good stay, but it is time to move on.

November 4, 2022April 8, 2025

Echo Canyon Nevada State Park – October 2022

Landscape at Echo Canyon Nevada State Park

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Today Clifford and I move from Pioche, Nevada to Echo Canyon Nevada State Park, about 15 miles to the east of Pioche. I am mindful of Segment Intending and everything goes well – packing, hitching, driving, finding the perfect site, and getting set up. We find a really a nice spot with a couple of trees and a hill in front of us on the door and window side for privacy and views.

I hike a short way up the hill at sunset and have a good view of the surrounding area and the reservoir below.

From our campsite we get a glimpse of the reservoir, which I like. It looks like the weather will be very nice for us. Only one other party is here.

Wednesday October 26. The sun is behind the hill until 9 o’clock a.m., but I watch the light creep across the land until it finally rises right in the kitchen window. It is exciting to watch the approach of sunlight, and now it is time for coffee. Maybe I’ll sit outside if it’s warm enough in the sunshine. I am happy to be here. It’s a great day to be alive!

By afternoon it is warm enough for us to sit out for projects.

Thursday October 27.

It was 27° this morning at Echo Canyon and we very grateful for the heater that we got at Bretz. It is satisfying to again watch the sunlight move across the land, and soon it will be at our campsite. I call sunrise the daily miracle as it brings light and warmth to the cold and dark of winter.

Friday October 28.

We sleep in this morning due to it being a chilly 22° outside and only 33° inside.

It is still dark the first time I get up. After breakfast, it begins to warm up and we decide to go on a photo outing up the canyon, as it is a good day for photos with a clear blue sky, lovely autumn colors, and the great rugged mesas of Echo Canyon.

Saturday October 29.

This morning I was up a little before seven, which gives me time for inspirational reading and journaling, along with hot tea, followed by a Qigong routine. I feel gratitude watching daylight approach. Today is the sixth anniversary of Mom’s passing, and my brother is back in the hospital, even needing a mercy flight. My sister calls, concerned, as am I. It is good to have family who care about each other.

Sunday October 30.

The last two clocks I have purchased don’t work, so I don’t know what time it is and I don’t want to get up in the dark. It’s hard to even make tea without waking Clifford, and it might be much too early for that. I hold the positive thought that I am going to enjoy this beautiful day. It is a great day to be alive and there is good stuff on the to-do list.

We decide to back up the canyon again, this time for a picnic along the creek.

Reflections on the Creek Flowing Through Echo Canyon

Picnic at Echo Canyon Alongside the Creek

Friday November 4. It has been an interesting few days, as Wednesday rain turned to sleet and then to snow. It was very pretty and there was more overnight.

Snow Begins to Stick at Echo Canyon Reservoir

I went walking both days and have a lot of photos to sort through.

Within a day, the snow melts, but the forecast is for more snow and much colder temperatures.

Although we really like this campground and had intended to stay longer, the weather dictates otherwise and it is time for us to move on over the mountain to Arizona to meet up with a friend and find a less wintry spot to camp.

A Final Sunset at Echo Canyon Nevada State Park

October 31, 2022March 4, 2025

Arrival at Pioche, Nevada – October 2022

Sunday, October 16, 2022

I am especially grateful for our safe arrival here yesterday after leaving Cave Lake Nevada State Park about noon. Connors Pass over the Schell Creek Range at 7,723 feet is much steeper and more curving than either Clifford or I recalled. It was very uncomfortable to say the least and I had to focus on the “I am safe” part of my daily mantra. I would prefer not to go that route again! Fortunately, we made it to the RV park on the outskirts of Pioche by mid afternoon, pleased that the end spot is available.

After camping 2 1/2 weeks at Cave Lake, it is odd to be in town with noisy vehicles, buildings, and power lines. I like the boulders at the entry to this site and the honey locust tree that I see out the window. I miss the convenience of restrooms, which we had at Cave Lake. It is very convenient that we have decent cell service here in Pioche, so both Clifford and I will be able to caught up on internet related activities.

Monday October 17

Today we drive south toward Pananca for an exploratory outing to Cathedral Gorge State Park just off Highway 93. This state park has quite the amazing landscape with rock formations reminiscent of a tiny Bryce Canyon, but the camping doesn’t look so good for us. Sites are small with additional fee for electricity. We take a few photos at at the campground and then stop at he scenic overlook, Miller Point.

We plan to go back one afternoon for more photography, but today we are checking out Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park, which are about 15 miles east of Pioche. My segment intention is for a safe and enjoyable scenic trip to find the perfect place to camp when we leave Pioche.

Exploring Echo Canyon and Spring Valley state parks is interesting and helpful. Both have reservoirs in what looks like a natural setting. Echo Canyon Campground has a great layout and lots of choices for camping.

Spring Valley is less suitable for RVs, but it was fun to go there to take photos along the reservoir.

At Spring Valley, we take the gravel road to Stone Cabin, a sturdy cabin built by Mormon settlers when they settled in this area. The landscape in this area is quite rugged and hardly seems like the kind of place where families would want to settle with livestock and gardens.

Rocky Terrain on the Road to Stone Cabin

Tuesday October 18

Today we explore Pioche a bit with a visit to the museum and lunch at the Gunslinger, a small cafe that specializes in subs and wraps. I read that it was originally the blacksmith shop, and even now it is rustic with no inner walls. However, it is quite interesting, the decor like a small museum.

Wednesday October 19

This afternoon we go again to the scenic overlook, Miller Point, at Cathedral Gorge for a picnic and late afternoon light for photos, despite spraying on horizon. I go partway down a long flight of stairs set into the rocks. The stairway leads down to the valley floor, but without hiking sticks, I didn’t want to go much further.

Stairs Through the Rocks to Valley Floor

Thursday, October 20

I am up by 7:30 this morning, giving me a quiet hour by myself. At sunrise, the light through the leaves of the honey locust tree outside the window is delightful.

Rays of the Rising Sun Through the Honey Locust Tree

Friday, October 21

Today is an outing to the Boothill Cemetery. While Pioche is less known than other rough western towns in the mid 1800’s, such as Tombstone and Las Vegas, Nevada, it was one of the roughest, most lawless mining towns of the Old West. In its early days, over 70 men were buried after violent deaths before anyone died a natural death. Sadly, small children and women did not do well in Pioche. We decide to come back later when the late afternoon sun is more favorable.

Morgan Courtney, Feared by some, Respected by few, Detested by others. Shot in the back 5 times from ambush

Saturday, October 22

This morning, I am up in time for a quiet hour before Clifford gets up. As quietly as possible, I make flower tea and take photos – a still life of the lovely unfolding leaves, the angel, traveling plants, and a kind of scuffy little box I got at the thrift store yesterday before the outing to the cemetery.

At the RV, we play fiddle tunes and I do a lot of photo editing in preparation for the next blogs, which are a year behind (October 2021) It is a good and fun day, though I felt a touch of sorrow for the parents whose infants and little children died here. Hard life for them in the 1870s and early 1900s. Very rough town back then.

Sunday, October 23

It was very windy in the night, and when I get up at sunrise, I am surprised to see snow on the ground. Of course I get dressed right away and go out to take a few photos of snow on chamisa before it disappears with wind and sun. Where it’s melting, the droplets sparkle in the breeze. Very pretty. In reviewing the book that I am reading on spiritual laws, today is a review of Witness Choices. Ask yourself if your choices are choices for happiness. I’d say running out to take photos in the snow was a good choice.

Monday, October 24

Since we are leaving tomorrow, we go Panaca, the larger town to the south with a market, to pick up a few groceries and while we are there, we drive to the spring outside of town. Fresh flowing water is rare and precious in this land.

Back in Pioche, we visit the museum and have lunch at the historic Silver Cafe. We have made good use of our time here in Pioche. We are grateful for the RV park on the edge of town and look forward to finding a good site at Echo Canyon tomorrow.