Don’t miss our latest video and post
WASTELAND
Be sure to watch it on a big screen in 1080p, to best enjoy the soundtrack insert your EarPods or crank your speakers way up!
“A Wasteland is defined as a place that’s empty and desolate, with minimal life and is considered to have climatic conditions like consistently strong winds, extreme dryness and is typically inhabitable“
As extreme as this definition sounds this is the kind of environment that speaks to us, and are some of the areas that we enjoy seeking out.
We typically view these places as desirable destinations due to the lack of visitors, access that can be very challenging and the amazing vistas.
Some of our past travel destinations have been in what would also be considered extreme environments. Places like the Tibetan Plateau, the steps of Inner Mongolia, Northern Chile, Baja Mexico and many locations in America’s desert Southwest.
A sense of openness in our Western deserts is characterized by the visual expanse, immense scale, and horizontal silence, offering a feeling of extreme freedom and vulnerability.
“We prefer to seek out locations that give us a sense of peace and connection, rather than the popular destinations of American nature” Denise Taylor
Regardless of how extreme the environment one can always find life though it may not be immediately evident. Once you have spent a few days wandering these places life soon becomes apparent.
The few plants that struggle to survive are very hardy, drought-tolerant, and often thrive in poor soils requiring minimal water.
Wastelands are inhabited by highly adapted animals that thrive in very difficult landscapes.
In this episode we visit what we consider to be some of the more remote and drier landscapes one can find in North America.
Our first destination is Trona Pinnacles located in Southern California’s Mojave desert. We wander this fantastic landscape with our good friends the Motsko’s.
Then we again drive south of the border into Baja for some coastal living along the Sea of Cortez. We spend two weeks exploring “where the desert meets the sea”
Later we find ourselves back in Utah exploring the shores of Lake Powell and camping at the very special Alstrom point, a hard to place to reach but very much worth the effort.
The winter of 2025/26 has allowed us to visit many remote, unique and varied locations, we hope you have enjoyed all of our past blogs and videos and as always thanks for following.. Gone With The DOGS !
“Planet Earth is almost certainly the only home we shall ever know” Jane Goodall
“You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day, and you only get so many days on the planet, do the math and doesn’t waste either.” Galen Rowell
Our public lands are at risk….get involved, see the link below !!
https://ourpubliclandsandwaters.substack.com
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So love ! To follow your wonderful adventures! Thank you so much for sharing with us!!
Thanks for the nice comment Jacquelyn, very glad you are enjoying following our adventures.
I have driven past and flown over Trona so many times in my youth and never stopped. A miss spent youth…
Hey Allen, Its worth a visit for sure, hope your enjoying life!!
Your travelogues just keep getting better, and better, and better.
Thanks Ron + Toni, We appreciate your kind words. It’s easy to photograph these amazing places since they are so dramatic to begin with. Hope you guys are doing well.
Thank you for reminding us there are incredible places on this planet. We need to know Beauty and peace is out there. Your videos and music are extraordinary. Thanks for sharing. Been to a few of these places and need to get back. Happy trails and Adventure is out there. Thanks again for everything that you share. Your videos and music are extraordinary. Your distant California friends who are friends and neighbors of T and D
Thanks for the kind words you guys, yes we figured we better start visiting some of these more remote places since there may be a time when they could be off limits. Just got back to our home in AK and moving back into a more stable mode of living, but can’t wait to hit the road again this fall. Take care and let us know if your headed our way.
We love your videos! We get so excited every time we see an email from Gone With The Dogs! 😍 Thank you for sharing your adventures and continuing to remind us all to Vote for the Earth! It’s so important to do what we can to help protect! Big Hugs and Happy Adventures!
❤️ Mozzie, Ashley, Tony
Hi guys, We were just wondering where in the world you guys might be. It was a great winters worth of adventures for us and we thank for you wisdom and kind words.