Photo Blog with Waterfalls, Hiking, Outdoors, and other Adventures
I didn’t sleep much due to high winds nearly blowing my tent over and temps rising 20 degrees after midnight making me sweat under my down quilt. News of my grandma passing gave uncertainty on how long my trip would last but I was here at it was time to DO IT NOW. Figured the services … Read more
Back at Texas Springs campground for one more night. Tomorrow I had planned to check out a backcountry campsite but as usual plans change (more on that later). Tent held up well until around midnight when the winds kicked up an started gusting to 40mph. I was only able to pound 6 stakes and my … Read more
One last stop today at Harmony Borax Works before getting back to the campground. This short interpretive trail led through ruins of what was once a famous borax mining operation in the late 19th century. Remnants of the large boiler and refining building stood atop a small hill. The Dial Corporation sold borax as a … Read more
The drive back south from Ubehebe Crater is a fantastic scenic cruise but there aren’t many attractions until you get back near Stovepipe Wells. Daylight was fading so I made the call to check out some of the smaller areas, one of which is the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail. This short trail covered by a … Read more
Back in Stovepipe Wells village, I topped off the gas tank and paused for some strategery. Knowing the roads marked for 4×4 only were aptly rated, I reluctantly crossed many destinations off the list (sorry Racetrack Playa, another time). But fear not, Death Valley has plenty to do without a monster truck! I took a … Read more
The day was young and my visit to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes left me near the geographic center of Death Valley. I studied the map and decided my best use of time would be to drive to Panamint Springs on the far west side. This would take considerable time but would allow me to … Read more
Awoke before sunrise ready to stretch my legs a bit. The park newspaper gave suggestions for ideal sunrise viewing and I chose Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Left the campground and started my drive. Mountains encapsulate the area in all directions like a bowl. Besides one couple, I was the only other early bird here. You can … Read more
Returned to camp after watching the sunset at Zabriskie Point. Hours of driving made me quite tired, but clear skies & views of the stars granted me a second wind. I wasn’t getting cell service anywhere in the park except at the campground, and even then it was like 2 bars of 3G. Still enough … Read more
After leaving Artists Drive I didn’t have much daylight left but it still felt too early to call it a day. What to do next? A quick read of the park’s newspaper pointed me to Zabriskie Point which they claim is the best place to watch both sunrise & sunset in all of Death Valley. … Read more
Generally when I take these last-minute trips where I’ve done little to no planning, my first destination is always something “easy” to get things started. Today that location was Artists Drive which is located only about 10 miles south from the campground. (Important: Don’t forget to click the photos for a full-size image!) Located in … Read more