Welcome to the Weekend Dispatch. Here are our top finds for July 2.
Bridge Mountain, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada. Photo by Ron Niebrugge
01. Photographer pick: Ron Niebrugge
Ron Neibrugge began his photography journey because loves sharing the outdoor world with folks, either through his photography or in person through photo tours and workshops.
He has some amazing shots of the Red Rocks Canyon where you can clearly see the red in the rocks rising from the landscape, which gives the canyon its name. The rust-colored grains within rock contain minerals made up of iron and oxygen, called iron oxides.
Check out more of his photos at wildnatureimages.com.
A roadrunner is a desert member of the cuckoo family. You may see these chicken-sized speed devils running up to 26 mph in the canyons. Photo by Zachary Spears | Unsplash
02. Article pick: Plants and Animals of Red Rock Canyon
On first glance this hilly desert land can look bare and lifeless. While they might be hard to see there is actually an abundance of animal residents.
Read about them here!
"Geological Treasures of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation" by Marvin Saines and Tony Ortiz. Provided photo
03. Book pick: Geological Treasures of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation
Shaped over millions of years, the geological and cultural history of Red Rock Canyon provides a look back at the changes that occurred there and how the area has been used by people throughout history. This book covers all the amazing discoveries reported (alongside eye-catching illustrations), including six places in the area where dinosaur footprints have been found.
The book can be purchased at Amazon.com.
Sanni McCandless. Provided photo
04. Audio pick: Fearless Living with Sanni McCandless
“Free Solo” star Sanni McCandless is a life and transition coach who helps people lead more outdoor-driven lifestyles by overcoming their fears, improving their decision-making skills, and inspiring them to live fearlessly. In this hour-long clip McCandles shares her own transition from the average 9-5 office life to one of adventure, while also diving into the science (and magic) of coaching.
McCandless is the co-founder of Outwild, a community resource hub for people who aspire to lead the outdoor-focused lifestyle.
She and her husband Alex Honnold can often be spotted climbing in Red Rocks National Park, right outside of their home in Las Vegas.