On Shabbos we hung around camp, and at night I helped out with the Astronomy program.  Sunday morning, we opted for one of the interpretive hikes.  Here’s our fearless guide:

We talked primarily about all the special features the various plants we encountered have to allow them to thrive in the arid grasslands of Eastern Oregon.

We hiked to the top of the Palisades:

I opted for the “pioneering explorer” stance in this photo:

The contrast with the High Sierras was quite stark.  They’re both beautiful in my opinion:

Fossils abounded.  Did I mention that Hancock Field Station is entirely surrounded by the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument?

Hancock really is in the middle of nowhere:

More fossils:

B helped maintain the basketball court:

In the afternoon, I taught a photography class.  Only two people attended, but no-one died of boredom, so it wasn’t a complete failure.

At sunset, we partook of a guided hike to Red Hill:

So may memories are tied up in these hills:

I’ll be helping out with the Astronomy program tonight, hopefully we will bring out the 16” Dobsonian.