My solo camping trip to Death Valley

JoanJoan Registered Users Posts: 62 Big grins
edited December 5, 2006 in Journeys
The weekend before Thanksgiving I went to Death Valley (about a 6 hour drive from my home in the Santa Barbara area). Autumn is a fabulous time in the desert!

Enjoyed sunrise on the dunes:
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and a few moments later...

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Walking on the crests of the dunes was fun!

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Went up a side canyon off the well-traveled Golden Canyon:

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Discovered fascinating shapes of salt on Devil's Golf Course:

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Found a salt pool that the rangers measured to be about 11 feet deep. Inside I could see huge salt crystal structures (not seen in this photo):

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Another early morning walk on Cottonball Flats -- it's always a delight to find water on the salt flats:

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Cyty's Mill and cabin are interesting places to explore!

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Took a photo of my shadow on the inside of the cabin:

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What a great view Cyty had from the front door of his cabin!

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I was amazed to see a beavertail cactus blooming in November.

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End of a perfect trip:

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~ Joan

Photo gallery: http://jbarnett.smugmug.com

Comments

  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2006
    I went two years ago. It looks like you stopped at many of the same paces I did. I need to get back there!

    Sam
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,904 moderator
    edited December 2, 2006
    DV is a wonderful place in the fall and winter.

    Nice pictures!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • JoanJoan Registered Users Posts: 62 Big grins
    edited December 2, 2006
    Thank you both -- it is a pretty fascinating place.

    Joan
    ~ Joan

    Photo gallery: http://jbarnett.smugmug.com
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2006
    Very interesting series joan..thanks.
  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2006
    I lived so close to DV but never went. I'd love to see it in the future. Thanks for sharing. :):
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

    In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
  • pug8pug8 Registered Users Posts: 113 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2006
    Awesome place. I saw a program on TV about diving in the caves somewhere in Death Valley.
  • mgd_harveymgd_harvey Registered Users Posts: 73 Big grins
    edited December 4, 2006
    Lovely series, thanks for sharing.clap.gif

    I particular, I like the difference between the firs two. That ealy dawn light was amazing on the dunes :D
    Mark
    --
    So much has changed in our photo-world, and yet basically nothing's changed - It's still the pictures that really matter. David Noton
  • jpmac55jpmac55 Registered Users Posts: 24 Big grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    Hiking Alone....
    Joan,

    One thing I'll add to what has already been said: you're to be commended for hiking alone. There is something unnerving yet exhilarating about being in a place like that by yourself. Takes everything about it up a notch!



    John
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,680 moderator
    edited December 5, 2006
    Very nice series, Joan. And very cool that you did it solo. I'll bet it was nice not having anybody around so you could concentrate on your photography.

    Did you see much in the way of wildlife?

    Regards,
    -joel
  • JoanJoan Registered Users Posts: 62 Big grins
    edited December 5, 2006
    kdog wrote:
    Very nice series, Joan. And very cool that you did it solo. I'll bet it was nice not having anybody around so you could concentrate on your photography.

    Did you see much in the way of wildlife?

    Regards,
    -joel

    Just coyotes and ravens and a few lizards. Often in November I see tarantulas, but not this trip. Other trips I've seen snakes and scorpions (in my campsite), kangaroo rats, bighorn sheep, pupfish, burros (years ago), hawks, various other birds -- most surprising one I saw was a white-faced ibis:
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    It's a very interesting place, and yes, hiking alone is soul-refreshing and humbling -- it's huge, magnificent, beautiful country.
    ~ Joan

    Photo gallery: http://jbarnett.smugmug.com
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