Cool fact - Death Valley, the beginning point of my solo adventure is the lowest point in North America. Mount McKinley on the John Muir Trail, the ending point of my adventure is the highest point in the contiguous US. They are only 100 miles apart.
My first full day at Death Valley began just after dawn at Badwater Basin, the very lowest point in North America (pic1). The sky was perfect and the crowds were absent this early. I hiked into the salt flat for thirty minutes and back. I then drove up a rutted dirt road (additional bungee cord added after everything fell down:) to hike to a natural bridge--a section of rock forming a bridge, and made myself some coffee in a canyon. I then drove up a scenic, paved! road to the artists pallette, a series of pastel colored hills. Where most people park and take photos is where I park, strap on my day pack with water, food and emergency supplies and hike in. Pic 2 shows a panorama (zoom in) from inside the pallette.
Next stop was the Devil's Golf Course, unusually photogenic salt formations in the middle of the valley(pic3). I then went back to the golden canyon badlands and hiked the northern part of the trail that I didn't have time to complete the previous night. Pic 4 shows me at the high point of the climb overlooking Martian-looking landscapes and the valley floor.
All this by 330pm. Not done yet I drove up to Dante's View, a 5500 foot high point overlooking the valley. Twenty degrees cooler and windy and an awesomely clear sky and angelicly-colored valley vista stretching as far as the eye can see made for a highlight of the day (pic 5).
Exhausted, disgusting and hungry, I drove into Furnace Creek town and had a half pound burger and fries. I bought a cold beer and drove to Salt Creek (pic6) just in time for a final beer and sunset short walk. I drove up the road ten miles to an official campground, bought a $4-felt like $400 shower, and went to bed.
My first full day at Death Valley began just after dawn at Badwater Basin, the very lowest point in North America (pic1). The sky was perfect and the crowds were absent this early. I hiked into the salt flat for thirty minutes and back. I then drove up a rutted dirt road (additional bungee cord added after everything fell down:) to hike to a natural bridge--a section of rock forming a bridge, and made myself some coffee in a canyon. I then drove up a scenic, paved! road to the artists pallette, a series of pastel colored hills. Where most people park and take photos is where I park, strap on my day pack with water, food and emergency supplies and hike in. Pic 2 shows a panorama (zoom in) from inside the pallette.
Next stop was the Devil's Golf Course, unusually photogenic salt formations in the middle of the valley(pic3). I then went back to the golden canyon badlands and hiked the northern part of the trail that I didn't have time to complete the previous night. Pic 4 shows me at the high point of the climb overlooking Martian-looking landscapes and the valley floor.
All this by 330pm. Not done yet I drove up to Dante's View, a 5500 foot high point overlooking the valley. Twenty degrees cooler and windy and an awesomely clear sky and angelicly-colored valley vista stretching as far as the eye can see made for a highlight of the day (pic 5).
Exhausted, disgusting and hungry, I drove into Furnace Creek town and had a half pound burger and fries. I bought a cold beer and drove to Salt Creek (pic6) just in time for a final beer and sunset short walk. I drove up the road ten miles to an official campground, bought a $4-felt like $400 shower, and went to bed.
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