Gallery
The Mojave Desert is void
for the most part of man made objects. Of course you have your
railroad tracks, power lines, and occasional mine shaft but, for the
most part, the desert is mile after mile of sand, rock, and creosote
bush.
In several years of visiting the
desert one phenomena has stood out against the desert backdrop for
reasons not clearly understood. They are balloons.
We're not talking about hot air
balloons that people ride in. These desert varieties are your
simple rubber or mylar helium balloons seen at birthday parties and
used car lots.
Why so many balloons in the desert?
It's theorized that most of them come from the populous Los Angeles
area 150 miles to the west. A population base of over 10
million people provides ample opportunities for balloons escaping
the grip of a kids hand visiting an amusement park.
Once these balloons get airborne
the prevailing westerly winds and their 150 mile range brings them
back down to earth directly in the Mojave Desert.
Balloon sightings are almost as
common as shooting stars. There may be no other place in the
country that enjoys this phenomenon.
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"Trader Joes"
February 2008 |
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Shredded Rubber,
September 2007 |
Shredded Mylar,
September 2007 |
Deflated Mylar,
September 2007 |
Deflated Mylar,
May 2007 |
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"Friends Forever"
March 2007 |
Deflated Mylar,
February 2007 |
"Happy 50th"
October 2006 |
Quadruple Deflated
Mylars, October 2006 |
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Deflated Mylar,
August 2006 |
Deflated Mylar,
February 2006 |
Type Unknown,
November 2005 |
Deflated Mylar,
April 2005 |
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"Congrats Grad" January 2005 |
Deflated Mylar, January 2005 |
Deflated Mylar, January 2005 |
Triple Inflated Rubbers, May 2004 |
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Inflated Rubber, January 2004 |
Inflated Rubber, December 2003 |
Deflated Mylar, December 2003 |
Shredded Rubber, Date
Unknown |
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