You might surmise that it will be another scorching summer in the Amargosa Basin, and a record-breaking one at that. While nearby Death Valley usually grabs the headlines, we receive our fair share of summer sunshine and all the cracked earth, desiccated vegetation, and melted objects left in homes or vehicles to show for it. Most part-time residents around here leave by May, and the summer can be a tough go of it for those who remain to stick it out.
However, a focus on the challenging aspects of life in the desert leaves little room for appreciation of what makes the broader picture worthwhile. In this instance, why the roaring months of June-August in the Amargosa can actually be worth looking forward to.
The key is to look small. And not necessarily just in a physical sense either. A glimpse of the Milky Way during a clear night can be just as impactful as finding a rare plant with tiny and yet beautiful blooms. Observing a gaggle of newly enlivened lizards scurry around their new home is as much a blessing as alpenglow on a nearby peak after a day when going outside was a challenge. Narrowing our vision to what is simply able to be appreciated in and of itself is how we unlock all the wonders that the summer months have to offer.
In any way, looking small is a strategy that can be employed towards surviving, and even thriving, during a desert summer!
Alpenglow on the Resting Spring Range outside of Shoshone, CA.