Death Valley National Park

We got up at our usual 6:00 a.m. and sat outside enjoying the quiet and coolness of the morning.  Today we spent the entire day driving through canyons and taking short hikes.  We had only been here one other time and that was in the summer.  We basically just drove through the park because it was so hot.  Today, we really explored the park.

Sunrise over the mountains.  Death Valley has mountains.

It was another clear, sunny day.  

We drove through Mustard Canyon.  The road twisted and turned through the canyon.  The rock on the canyon walls was mustard colored; thus, the name Mustard Canyon.

Men hunting for riches in gold and silver never found it but, the real mineral was borax

For five years in the 1880's borax was processed in several different areas in Death Valley.  Chinese worker did most of the manual labor along with the mules that hauled the borax out of the valley.

The mules will pull these wagons filled with nearly 36 ton of borax and 1200 gallons of water.  These two wagons, water wagon, and the twenty mules were nearly 100 feet long.

This guy is much braver than I am.  In my young days, I would have climbed up there but not today.

Another canyon we drove through was called "Twenty-mule Team Canyon.  This is part of the road through that canyon.

Twenty-mule Team Canyon.

Twenty-mule Team Canyon.

We drove to the top of Dante's View.  The last quarter of a mile had a 15 percent grade but it was worth the view.

This was taken from Dante's View.  This is Death Valley stretching for miles.

In this valley, salt deposits are abundant and the lowest elevation in the Americas is located.

Later we took the road in this picture to "Badwater Basin" where the elevation is 282 feet below sea level.

Dante's View is at the top of Coffin Mountain.  There is a short hike that follows the crest of the mountain.  We walked it a little distance.  Carol is nearing the top.

This oasis contains Furnace Creek Inn.  This area contains a gas station, post office, lodging and campground.  Unfortunately, we had to get gas at the station.  Gas was $5.19 a gallon.  We put $30 in the car which was enough for us to finish the day.  It puts in perspective what we pay for gas in Decatur.  Gas in Decatur is cheap!!

Along the road there were several signs showing where sea level was.

This is called "Devil's Golf Course."  These rocks are covered with salt crystals.  

In the pictures above and below show the salt crystals.

This is "Bad Water."

Salt is the cause of bad water.  You can walk on this salt trail for a mile out into the valley.

This sign indicates where sea level is located.

At the top of this pictures, the "sea level" sign can be seen.

Another canyon we drove through contained "Artist's Palette."

Look at the shape of the dark rock on the side of this canyon wall.  I think it looks like a dog head.   What do you think?

Artist's Palette.  

Artist's Palette

Artist's Palette.

Artist's Palette

Artist's Palette

This area is called "Devil's Corn Field.

We had a beautiful sunset to end what was a beautiful day.

The moon rose over the an eastern mountain.

Death Valley is definitely a park to which we would return.  There are roads we didn't drive down and canyons left to explore.  Furnace Creek campground if a great place to stay.  We enjoyed being up early and staying up late sitting outside watching the moon and sky.  Tomorrow we leave this peaceful place for Las Vegan.  I am sure our experience there will be quite different.