Taken from the top of a peak I have long admired.
Alluvial fans are so impressive to me and this one is gargantuan--the creosotes add an idea of the scale.
Alluvial fans are created by water. A LOT of water. Although scarce in the valley, precipitation occurs at higher elevations in the many mountain ranges that surround the park. As storms surge and rains flood the canyons, the the narrow passageways increase the speed and strength of the deluge, and debris of various sizes gets pushed downslope. Eventually the water, along with all the rock and debris it picked up along the way, exits the mouth of the canyon. As the water slows and loses its power, it drops the debris it had been carrying, leaving layers of rock and sediment in the fan. Each time it rains, water may take a new channel on its way to the valley floor, creating a braided system of rocky paths.
A pleasure to photograph...less of a pleasure to hike up.