Death Valley 11/13

Move camp to Mesquite Springs,

Water top off,

Hiked Titus Canyon,

There used to be a road here- that's tight! It was washed out, but is still technically a road, so Ginger can hike here too :). She seemed to like that. No pictures, it was beautiful, but not picturesque.

It's warm and sunny- that feels great.

Ubehube Crater hike at sunset. Interesting crater- felt a lot like we were on Mt. St. Helens.

Ubehebe crater, Death Valley N.P.

Death Valley from Ubehebe Crater

Closing out our chapter on Death Valley- it's a bit superlative, but the pictures just don't do it justice.

Maybe that's why I didn't take photos of Titus canyon?

Geology on a grand scale-uplift of mountains past 11,000 feet next to valleys that are -282 feet. Cosmic erosion patterns and colors, salt crystals that form hexagons on the desert floor. I enjoyed the sand dunes, and the clues that they revealed of the hidden life that comes out when we can't see it, in the form of footsteps and tracks in the sand.

Death Valley National Park, Mosaic Canyon, Dunes 11/11

Rainbow Canyon overlook was more impressive than I expected. There was a grand view into the Panamint Valley, and of course the narrow canyon where they occasionally fly jets. It's famous for that. None today- it's a holiday.

But we did get a walk in, with Ginger, on the road to the overlook.

Panamint springs for a beer and lunch.

Mosaic Canyon was very interesting as the rocks embedded in the rocks really did look like a mosaic on the walls of the canyon. The narrows were fairly close to the start of the hike.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes- I enjoyed an hour of exploring and wandering the sandscape looking for the right lines, and undisturbed (footprints) sections of sand.

We're beginning to see the photographic challenge of Death Valley National Park- the photos don't seem to do it justice. The experience has so much more of a wow factor, but in 2 dimensions it lacks the impact.