It’s been a little quiet Chez Coyote, partly because I’ve been involved in a long-form writing project that — being largely unpublishable anywhere else — will show up here eventually, and partly because I’ve been bidding on projects, and partly because I’m heading off to a Climate Change conference in Joshua Tree Friday and a hiking date with Larry Hogue this weekend. (You may envy me now.)

But I wanted to remind you all that Saturday, while I’m out hiking, you will be having your deadline for the Carnival of the Arid Numero Dos, which will appear here on Monday, March 2. That’s just a few days away! We’ve got a few great submissions already, but there’s still plenty of room. Send ‘em on in to me by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or drop a link in comments here.

Okay, okay, you’ve got until Sunday. It’s only fair.

And though it’s still early, perhaps I’ll come back with photos of the beginning of what will almost certainly be a spectacular desert bloom this spring, what with the slightly greater than usual levels of precip the desert has enjoyed the last few months.

1. 
   Sven DiMilo 2009 02 26 at 11:35:01 am

   what will almost certainly be a spectacular desert bloom this spring

   OK, now is when I envy you.

2. 
   Chris Clarke 2009 02 26 at 2:10:13 pm

   I envy Florian Boyd. From his hike today:

   

3. 
   ed 2009 02 27 at 11:22:43 am

   here is a post for carnival of the arid #2.

4. 
   Bob 2009 02 27 at 5:48:24 pm

   Day hike from Mortero Palms trailhead to Goat Canyon Trestle

   We took a quick (well 5 1/2 hour round trip) from Mortero Palms trailhead to Goat Canyon this last weekend.
   Couldn’t convince the group to descend the last 500 yards but they were in awe of the trestle view from the overlook.

   Goat Canyon Trestle View from Overlook in Goat Canyon

5. 
   Bob 2009 02 27 at 5:49:02 pm

   We took a quick (well 5 1/2 hour round trip) from Mortero Palms trailhead to Goat Canyon this last weekend.
   Couldn’t convince the group to descend the last 500 yards but they were in awe of the trestle view from the overlook.

   Goat Canyon Trestle View from Overlook in Goat Canyon

   Day hike from Mortero Palms trailhead to Goat Canyon Trestle

6. 
   Rana Ravens 2009 02 28 at 12:41:34 pm

   I’ve sent you a link, but I also wanted to pass along word that 5% of the proceeds from any sale in my Indian Country gallery go to the Desert Protective Council, if anyone’s interested.  I’ll have links up at my blog.

7. 
   Rana Ravens 2009 02 28 at 10:45:02 pm

   The Goat Canyon Trestle is an amazing thing.  I went there once with some friends during one of our regular Thanksgiving Anza-Borrego visits.

8. 
   Rana Ravens 2009 03 01 at 10:08:03 am

   It’s up: palimpsest.typepad.com/frogsandravens/2009/03/goblin-valley.html