Mini-Shootout: Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA

DavidTO · February 16, 2011

I'm thinking of heading up to the Carrizo Plain to shoot the wildflowers on March 26 or April 2.

This will be a casual day trip. We'd meet at the Monument entrance and then loosely explore the area. No itinerary, no commitment, just a chance to shoot together.

I've only been the one time, last year, and I want to go back and see some more of it.

If you're interested, let me know in this thread and we can work out the details together. :thumb

UPDATE: We'll be meeting on 4/2 at the southeast entrance to the park. Just inside the park is one of those large park billboard things. We'll meet there at 5:30am, wheels up and on our way by 5:45am. Note that the driving directions on the Monument's site are for the Goodwin Education Center, which is at the opposite end of the park.

ian408 · February 16, 2011

This is an excellent idea! With all the rain, this should be a spectacular bloom this year!

I'm going to add it to the schedule.

slflash · February 16, 2011

March 26 th would be great. I have a shoot the next morning, so depending on meet time I would be in for that day. The 2nd I have to shoot Ironman down in Oceanside. Do you know what the meet time might be?

DavidTO · February 16, 2011

slflash wrote: »

Do you know what the meet time might be?

That's open to discussion. I'm also thinking about deciding on a FMRS channel for this, so even if you showed up after others you could find us. Cell coverage is spotty or non-existent out there.

Angelo · February 17, 2011

david: approx 3 hour drive from LA?

(what's FMRS?)

.

ian408 · February 17, 2011

Angelo wrote: »

(what's FMRS?)

Family Radio Service -- walkie talkie

kdog · February 17, 2011

March 26 works for me as well. The following weekend is the Overland Expo in Amado, NM. Sounds great otherwise, David. I've always wanted to see the poppies.

anonymouscuban · February 17, 2011

David,

My wife and I have been wanting to see the poppies but something always comes up. March 26th works so count me in. I guess you'll post details of meeting place and time.

Marc Muench · February 17, 2011

Hope to make it too! just need to confirm with the wife as I will have been out on assignment for a month and having missed Valentines Day I need to make up lost time.....
But this year ought to be AWESOME!

DsrtVW · February 18, 2011

I am interested but will have to see if it works into the schedule as it gets closer. It has been quite awhile since I have been to that area. Used to work up on McKittrick Summit a lot back in the day. Should be a good year for wildflowers. Table Mountian up here in Northern California should be good too. It seems to peak march thru april

ChrisJ · February 18, 2011

Hmmm, never been there and close enough that it might be a possibility. I'll pencil it in and see if I can make it stick.

anonymouscuban · February 25, 2011

So are we doing this?

DavidTO · February 25, 2011

anonymouscuban wrote: »

So are we doing this?

Yah, for sure. But it's in March, right? Marc and I are working on the details, and he's on assignment this week. I expect that late next week we'll have some more information and will have narrowed in on which date.

anonymouscuban · February 25, 2011

DavidTO wrote: »

Yah, for sure. But it's in March, right? Marc and I are working on the details, and he's on assignment this week. I expect that late next week we'll have some more information and will have narrowed in on which date.

I'm very impatient!

anonymouscuban · March 1, 2011

so... any news on how the flowers are shaping up this year?

DavidTO · March 1, 2011

anonymouscuban wrote: »

so... any news on how the flowers are shaping up this year?

Yes. From here.

March 1 2011 Carrizo Plain National Monument reports: Due to cool / cold weather the wildflowers have gone into hibernation. The morning of February 26 over two inches of snow fell in the Monument. A few Goldfields, Hillside Daisies and Fiddleneck are beginning to show up at the south end and east side of the monument. The Hillside Daisies are noticeable but do not occur in large quantities. Because of recent the warm weather, the flowers are two to three weeks ahead of schedule. However, the weather forecast for the next 10 days is colder, ranging from the mid-50s during the days to twenties and thirties at night.

anonymouscuban · March 1, 2011

Trying to do some research on this and found this: http://www.theodorepayne.org/hotline.html

According to the site, they will record the first update on March 5th and have a new every weekend through April. I will call this Sat and post what they say. I don't know but what I've read so far is making it sound like this could be a very good year.

DavidTO · March 1, 2011

anonymouscuban wrote: »

Trying to do some research on this and found this: http://www.theodorepayne.org/hotline.html

According to the site, they will record the first update on March 5th and have a new every weekend through April. I will call this Sat and post what they say. I don't know but what I've read so far is making it sound like this could be a very good year.

Yah, I've been waiting for that site to start posting updates. Wildflower season really gets me going.

ian408 · March 1, 2011

It will be a great year!

DavidTO · March 8, 2011

I'm thinking that due to the snow in the area that the later date is going to be better. So for now, let's concentrate on April 2. We should know more after the reports for the area come out next weekend, when we can get a handle on how it's progressing.

anonymouscuban · March 8, 2011

DavidTO wrote: »

I'm thinking that due to the snow in the area that the later date is going to be better. So for now, let's concentrate on April 2. We should know more after the reports for the area come out next weekend, when we can get a handle on how it's progressing.

I'm good with either date.

kdog · March 8, 2011

anonymouscuban wrote: »

I'm good with either date.

Sadly, I'm not.

philiphutson · March 8, 2011

Whom ever is the lead for this should arrange a guided tour to painted rock. If you're in the area anyway its worth seeing painted rock. BLM Site

-Philip Hutson

DavidTO · March 8, 2011

philiphutson wrote: »

Whom ever is the lead for this should arrange a guided tour to painted rock. If you're in the area anyway its worth seeing painted rock. BLM Site

-Philip Hutson

If there's interest in it, I'll arrange that, if I can.

ian408 · March 8, 2011

Hard to say what the snow and water will do. Sometimes, it just intensifies the bloom. Other times, it does delay things.

DavidTO · March 9, 2011

kdog wrote: »

Sadly, I'm not.

You want to lead one on the 26th? We could do both dates. It only takes 2 to make a Dgrin meetup!

Andy · March 9, 2011

DavidTO wrote: »

It only takes 2 to make a Dgrin meetup!

And to Tango!

kdog · March 9, 2011

DavidTO wrote: »

You want to lead one on the 26th? We could do both dates. It only takes 2 to make a Dgrin meetup!

Hmm, I don't know about leading one, as I've never been there. But I'd sure be glad to hook up with any other folks who want to go that day. Any takers?

Andy wrote: »

And to Tango!

And to do a few other things too, but I think we'll just stick to photography for a first date.

DavidTO · March 9, 2011

kdog wrote: »

Hmm, I don't know about leading one, as I've never been there.

Well, I've only been there the once and I'm far from any kind of an expert on it. I just drove around, in an aimless sort of way.

How about instead of calling it "leading" we call it "coordinating"?

kdog · March 9, 2011

DavidTO wrote: »

How about instead of calling it "leading" we call it "coordinating"?

Sure, I'll coordinate. If anybody reading is interested, speak up, and we'll figure it out.

-joel

anonymouscuban · March 9, 2011

So is it a sure thing that we're going on the 2nd? I thought it was dependent on how the blooms are doing?

Mini-Shootout: Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA

Comments