A Lifelong Love Affair with North American Deserts
Introduction to a new landscape
In 1983, I had my first experience with a desert landscape, and it left an indelible mark on my life. The vast and seemingly endless expanse of land, under a bright and piercing sun, captivated my imagination. This initial view was but the start of a lifelong passion that has seen me travel and explore every corner of North America's deserts, an ongoing journey that continues to fuel my adventures.
The allure of freedom and adventure in the desert
From my initial experience in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to further explorations in southern Arizona, the allure of deserts has always been deeply personal. The immense expanse of land provided a sense of unlimited freedom and adventure. Unlike the controlled and regulated world, the safety and well-being of myself and my family rested on my own shoulders, a thrilling prospect that I embraced fully. The dry air, at a body temperature, and the endless rays of the sun, combined with the vast, unobstructed views, presented a stark and captivating contrast to the often overcast Swiss skies. The clear, impossible blue sky, reaching over 6,000 feet in elevation, was a sight to behold. The colors of the desert landscapes, particularly American deserts, stood out, with fossilized trees turned into rock formations adding to the unique charm of the area.
Exploring the Painted Desert and beyond
Our pilot, while thrilled by the view, took us down in a daring manner to land on a strip of a two-way road near Holbrook, Arizona, in a place called the Painted Desert. This was truly a spectacle, a testament to the raw beauty of the natural landscape. The colors and formations were otherworldly, and the experience was unlike anything I had witnessed before. We even got to see some towering spires, akin to skyscrapers, that one could imagine a plane flying between in the midst of the desert. In those 20 minutes, not a single car passed by our plane, emphasizing the vast emptiness and the unbridled freedom of the desert.
Further adventures and deep relationships with deserts
Over the years, my relationship with the desert has deepened significantly. A 6-week road trip in 1985 provided an even stronger connection, but it was an 8-month solo journey in 1987 that truly cemented my connection to these deserts. I was both awestruck and fascinated by the unique relationships living things have with their arid and forbidding landscapes. The deserts were not just an empty expanse of land but a diverse ecosystem filled with life, each species developing unique adaptations to survive in such challenging conditions.
Additional desert scenes
Some of the notable sights include the Petrified Forest National Park, where the petrified trees resemble giant logs. These are actually fossilized trees that have been turned into rock over millennia. Another iconic site is Monument Valley, where the spires stand tall, reminiscent of skyscrapers, and one can even imagine a plane flying through the gaps between them.
My experiences with deserts have been more than just a visual or emotional appreciation; it has been a deep, personal relationship built on adventure and discovery. The vast emptiness, the piercing sun, and the endless skies have all played a role in solidifying my love for these unique landscapes.