LIFE & DEATH VALLEY

About once every year or two I remember that Death Valley is only about a four or five hour drive from my house, and feel like an idiot for not spending more time there. A couple of weeks ago was one of those times, and now I feel like an idiot for not staying longer. I expected nice spring weather. What I got was an epic wind /sand /dust storm that lasted about 36 hours. Sustained winds of 35-45 mph with gusts of 75 mph. I now know what's it's like to try to stand in 75 mph winds. It's not easy... or fun. And it doesn't do your cameras, or your face any good either. My final clue that I should probably pack it in for the day was when the glasses I was wearing took flight, never to be seen again. The good news is when the wind blows like that, there's no trace of footsteps left in the sand dunes the next morning, so with my spare glasses on, I made my way out to Mesquite Dunes for a great sunrise in the pristine sand. I couldn't have hoped for better conditions. Most of my short visit was between the dunes and Zabriskie Point. I spent the last night out on the Badlands salt flats underneath the stars. It may have been a rough time to go, but it's still one of the most amazing places I've visited. I just have to remember that it's close enough to visit more often.

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