Start time: 0700
Start odometer: 27522
Weather: Partly sunny with scattered clouds, temperature 50 degrees F.
A great day today, with many interesting discoveries! Had a great night at the camp, though stars could not be seen due to the bright waning moon. Overcast clouds greeted me this morning, but a break to the north spread as the morning progressed, and it turned out to be a spectacular day. I even had some rain around 0500 this morning, in the driest place in this country! It makes a nice sound on the tent!
Highlights:
Started the morning with a drive up to Dante's Peak, which allows a view of Death Valley from 6000 feet, east of the valley. What an incredible view!
While hiking around the top of the peak, I began being pelted by ice pellets projected by thirty knot winds! I decided to head back down the mountain!
At 1000, a Ranger walk was scheduled on the salt flats, which interested me greatly! At Badwater, near the lowest point in the western hemisphere, Ranger Alan gathered a group of eight people, and we drove about a mile south. The Badwater area, while a nice place to meet, has been trampled by many visitors. Ranger Alan took us to an area not visited very often.
We walked out about a half of a mile, stopping many times to listen and learn about the salt flats, as well as history about the park. Alan also pointed out wildlife on the salt flat that tried, but failed, to survive.
After the hike, I walked out about another half mile. The incredible desolation was fascinating! And you gain a great perspective of the size of the valley!
One difference from my previous visits was the wind. Before, it was absolutely still, and the silence was amazing. This time, very strong winds were whipping through the valley, providing a new effect for me!
I drove though other areas of the park, including the Devil's Golf Course and Artist's Palette. The temperature got up to 76 degrees, which made it nice to open the sunroof again!
I exited the park along the Emigrant Pass Road, another new section for me. More spectacular views were visible, and as I drove down to Ridgecrest, I got to see a magnificent sunset!
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My first morning stop. |
Looking north into Death Valley, the views were grand! |
Looking more towards the west. |
This is the view from Dantes, looking south. |
This is the only active mine in the park. They are getting borax from a vein several hundred feet below the surface. |
Another dirt road leading to wonderful views. |
Ranger Alan giving the salt flat interpretive tour. |
Many different shapes and colors, these provided by mud, are seen on the flat. |
This weather station was about a half mile away from the parking area. It is being used to measure evaporation. |
This area had rain more recently than the area with the mud. |
A dragonfly in the salt. Many animals that get stuck and die here are preserved after the salt absorbs the moisture. |
Looking north, a view of me from salt flat level. It was windy, and I need a haircut! |
The size of the place is incredible, and walking out a distance give you a good impression of the massive size! |
Looking east, barely visible is the weather station. Beyond, two people are walking back to the parking area, and our cars are way off in the distance! |
The clouds provided an interesting backdrop to the salt flats. |
Another interesting formation. It was strange walking in the surface, as it looked like ice. It took some time before my fear of slipping on it went away! |
Another dragonfly. I never realized any wildlife would be out here. |
Back near the parking area, looking west to where I walked. |
The Devil's Golf Course, with much rougher formations. |
The Artist's Palette. |
Another view of the Artists Palette, where minerals created these beautiful colors! |
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center. |
Leaving Death Valley, looking east at the enormous valley. |
More gravel roads leading to interesting places on the west side of the park. |
Interesting rock formations while exiting west. |
More fascinating rock formations and cloud shadows. |
Heading south towards Ridgecrest, the road beckons me to return to the valley soon! |
In the morning, I will head up Route 395 for a short distance to revisit some areas, then south towards San Diego. I hope to get to the southwestern most point of the U.S. on Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by!
Routes traveled today: Ca 190 - Death Valley National Park Roads - Ca 178
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