Death Valley National Park

7/31/18  A spontaneous trip to the Mt. Whitney area gave me a chance to head over to Death Valley for the first time. Topping out at 127 degrees F, it was a very hot, but fascinating day in this huge National Park.
DSC00691 After picking-up the permit for my Whitney summit attempt the following day, I made the 2 hour drive out to Death Valley National Park. Shortly after entering...
After picking-up the permit for my Whitney summit attempt the following day, I made the 2 hour drive out to Death Valley National Park. Shortly after entering…
DSC00692 Next stop was the Mesquite Flat sand dunes. These warning signs are all over the park. I can only imagine how many Search and Rescue operations they must have...
Next stop was the Mesquite Flat sand dunes. These warning signs are all over the park. I can only imagine how many Search and Rescue operations they must have…
DSC00694 The sand dunes. This is where the backdrops of Tatooine were filmed for Star Wars. How awesome is that!? I decided to take a little excursion and get closer to...
The sand dunes. This is where the backdrops of Tatooine were filmed for Star Wars. How awesome is that!? I decided to take a little excursion and get closer to…
DSC00702 Getting closer. Even more than the heat, the dryness just sucks the water out of you. And distances are really deceiving out here. Those dunes are a lot further...
Getting closer. Even more than the heat, the dryness just sucks the water out of you. And distances are really deceiving out here. Those dunes are a lot further…
DSC00707 I probably only went about 1/2 mile out. If I had more time, and had more water on me, I would have kept going. But I liked the view here. You can picture Luke...
I probably only went about 1/2 mile out. If I had more time, and had more water on me, I would have kept going. But I liked the view here. You can picture Luke…
DSC00718 Next stop was the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. In less than an hour, the temperature and gone from 95 to 116. I was hoping for higher, but would be content if...
Next stop was the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. In less than an hour, the temperature and gone from 95 to 116. I was hoping for higher, but would be content if…
DSC00723 Next stop was the Devil's Golf Course. It's a rugged ancient lake bed covered in crystallized salt that continues to deposit here from the occasional flood....
Next stop was the Devil's Golf Course. It's a rugged ancient lake bed covered in crystallized salt that continues to deposit here from the occasional flood.…
DSC00727 Looking the other direction across the Devil's Golf Course. The mountains surrounding Death Valley reach as high as 11,000', making for an amazing contrast in...
Looking the other direction across the Devil's Golf Course. The mountains surrounding Death Valley reach as high as 11,000', making for an amazing contrast in…
DSC00750 Next stop Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. It's also the start of the infamous Badwater Ultra that runs along the...
Next stop Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. It's also the start of the infamous Badwater Ultra that runs along the…
DSC00731 The springs at Badwater. Crazy to see water here in 117 degree heat and 282 feet below sea level. The water emerging here right now started as rain or snow...
The springs at Badwater. Crazy to see water here in 117 degree heat and 282 feet below sea level. The water emerging here right now started as rain or snow…
DSC00741 No, it's not a white paved road, it's part of the huge Badwater salt flat. The minerals get deposited here from flood waters that wash down the local mountains....
No, it's not a white paved road, it's part of the huge Badwater salt flat. The minerals get deposited here from flood waters that wash down the local mountains.…
DSC00737 From a distance the flats look smooth, but up close they're quite rough and covered in crystalline salt formations.
From a distance the flats look smooth, but up close they're quite rough and covered in crystalline salt formations.
DSC00760 After Badwater Basin, I head out to the Artist's Drive loop. There are some great viewpoints along the way.
After Badwater Basin, I head out to the Artist's Drive loop. There are some great viewpoints along the way.
DSC00757 It almost looks like a tractor has smoothed the ground and formed huge dirt piles, but it's the result of floods.
It almost looks like a tractor has smoothed the ground and formed huge dirt piles, but it's the result of floods.
DSC00765 About halfway around the loop, you come to the Artist's Palette. There's an amazing array of greens, pinks, purples, and reds that are the result of different...
About halfway around the loop, you come to the Artist's Palette. There's an amazing array of greens, pinks, purples, and reds that are the result of different…
DSC00771 Next stop, Golden Canyon. There was actually once a paved road here leading up to Zabriskie Point. Now it's a wide trail, the most popular trail in the park.
Next stop, Golden Canyon. There was actually once a paved road here leading up to Zabriskie Point. Now it's a wide trail, the most popular trail in the park.
DSC00778 There are fault lines running all over the place here, and it's super easy to see the direction of upheaval of the various rock layers. I went a 1/2 mile or so...
There are fault lines running all over the place here, and it's super easy to see the direction of upheaval of the various rock layers. I went a 1/2 mile or so…
DSC00781 Another famous Star Wars location. Imagine the Jawa's sand crawler capturing R2-D2 right there!
Another famous Star Wars location. Imagine the Jawa's sand crawler capturing R2-D2 right there!
DSC00788 This trip was completely unplanned, so I had zero itinerary. I was just trying to hit as many of the top spots as possible. So far, every one had been great, so...
This trip was completely unplanned, so I had zero itinerary. I was just trying to hit as many of the top spots as possible. So far, every one had been great, so…
DSC00787 It looks like someone painted some of the peaks. This was once the bottom of a giant lake bed, and the sharp color constrast is the result of lava that oozed...
It looks like someone painted some of the peaks. This was once the bottom of a giant lake bed, and the sharp color constrast is the result of lava that oozed…