Death Valley

Following a rather convoluted route to Death Valley, we finally began the long descent into the Valley. As we dropped steadily, a fog bank rolled up through the canyons and valleys. It made me think, appropriately, that we were descending into Dante's Inferno. We arrived soon after at Stovepipe Wells, a small collection of trailers, some buildings and a gravel campground at the north-west end of the valley. We went for a walk up a nearby canyon then set up camp on the gravel parking lot. Then the wind started and blew for a few hours with gusts that rocked the camper.

The next day we drove to Badwater, the lowest part of the valley, followed by some more hiking up various canyons. Although we hadsun, the temperature was between +10C and +15C and was quite comfortable. I just can't imagine being here in the summer!

That night we stayed at Furnace Creek, with a good view up the valley and across the valley to the mountains, including 11,000 ft Telescope Peak, with its covering of snow. Tuesday morning we were up early to enjoy the sunise on the desert and it was off towards Las Vegas.