off the grid

i have written about the pinacate biosphere reserve just north of peñasco in the past on here, but it's an amazing place, and one of the more unique/interesting places in the peñasco region. there are two main areas - the gran desierto de altar (the sand dune system, largest one in north america) and the volcanic range. both incredibly impressive and stunningly beautiful.

last fall (ack still in recovering mode here...) they opened up a new visitors center on the dune side of the main, huge volcanic shield mountain. ivan and i finally got out there.





it's completely off the grid - those are solar panels on the top, it has a wind turbine, composting toilets, etc. etc. it's really an example of what one can do around here. it amazes me that with our 363 days of sun (not sure of that statistic) a year, use of solar power is very limited. i hope that this building will stand as an example for the area.

in general, the building is still being developed - exhibits, a gift store etc. for the moment is has a beautiful display of photographs taken inside the park







and since it's built on the ives lava flow (the largest flow in the reserve and pahoehoe lava), they have some little nature walks that you can do. mostly it's a good chance to look at the landscape and view.





i am aching to climb the pinacate mountain, and definitely need to do it before i leave peñasco. we didn't have time this trip (it's something like 17 miles round trip, so you need a day to dedicate to it), but we decided to camp in the reserve. just to get out of peñasco for a while and do something different.



[full moon at the campground]


[pinacate morning]