Death Valley

A trip to and possibly through Death Valley was my other "Bucket List" check-off item on this trip home. It really isn't that far from Las Vegas in miles, and with just one more overnight stay while on the road, Death Valley was added to the list.

After some research as to what would be the Must See places versus all the geocaches, we opted to go as far as Furnace Creek CA. I'd say this is maybe the heart of Death Valley as the most popular stops are south of this area. There is more Death Valley north of there, but from what we saw today, we saw the best places. Our original thought was to drive to Bishop CA, a MUCH longer distance, and probably not realistic with all we thought we could see (and geocache).

I am not certain what I expected at Death Valley, other than a white, salt covered dry lake bed. It is a valley, so I guess mountain ranges would be part of the scenery. I wasn't expecting the mountain ranges we did see.

I am not going to post a lot of commentary. You all are capable of looking up info on Death Valley. I will share tidbits on a few of the photos. I really will try to pair down the photos to a manageable number.

FINALLY

the white, salt covered dry lake bed

area called Devil's Golf Course

we were asked to use one of our senses at this stop

which do you think we used first?

hearing

on some occasions, you can hear the salt crystals shift

called pinnacles, the salt crystals are rugged & sharp

brown colored because of blowing dirt & dust

this area, because of elevation never floods

tastes like salt, cause we tasted it

down the road aways is what I think of as Death Valley

I am standing below a sign on the side of the mountain

it is a white mark near the top of the photo,

a little off center to the left

can you see it?

that's what it says

cool, huh?

the sign says 282' below sea level

the GPS said -305'

it was 80º at 2:45 PM, Monday April 11

not as 'rough' as Devil's Golf Course,

but certainly not smooth

the white smoother area is from people walking out to

the center of the dry lake bed

there really is water at Bad Water,

the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

the ancient aquifer pool

quote on the 1934 record high temp day in Death Valley

a lone purple flower

the abundant blooming flowers are no more

some stragglers

mountains to the east of Death Valley

Amargosa Range

Artist's Palette

beautiful colors because of:

iron, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, and other minerals

narrow one-way road

Salt Creek

Pupfish in Salt Creek

more remnants of abundant flowers last month

More from Death Valley later...