Death Valley

This weekend we finally had the chance to get out of town and go camping! I definitely needed some fresh air after how grueling work has been. I've been wanting to go to Death Valley, since it's the lowest place in the U.S. and since we live less then 2 hours away from it. So we get into the Valley, and I find myself looking around for something more awe-inspiring then just a big brown Valley. We pull up to BadWater Basin which is the lowest point in the Americas. It's definitely a site to see-salty flats with a small pool of water with crystallized salts.


Then we headed to our camp site and passed by the Sand Dunes as the sunset was setting-gorgeous. We found a spot at 4200ft, at the base of Telescope Peak, 11,000ft. So it was a nice campsite, secluded and perfect for our new 4-man tent. Lily did well in the tent-slept all night, but was a little too curious for our liking at the campsite, so we had to tie her up a whole bunch.


Next morning we drove up the road and ran into some Charcoal Klins. They were made in 1879! They were used for mining work. They were pretty amazing to see in the middle of no where.


Being that high up we could see over the mountains to the larger mountains beyond, the Sierra Nevadas. Now that was a site to see. Just to see so many mountains in so many different layers was pretty cool.

Next event was a hike to a waterfall-yep, there's a waterfall in Death Valley! I guess Death Valley does get some moisture, but it's so hot there that it evaporates. The waterfall was one of my favorite sites.



Next we spent some time at the Sandunes, just enough to get our feet in it and let Lily do a little digging. :) She loved digging in such loose soil!



Later we went to Ubehebe Crater...That's right- "You-be-Heeb-be" hehehe...I thought it was hilarious. The crater was huge!


Last place we visited was Scotty's Castle. It's an amazing 100yr old Castle, really in the the middle of no where funded by a rich man who lived in New York.


Over all, I would recommend Death Valley to those who do not already live in the desert, but to me, it was just more brown desert-not my favorite. At least now I can say I've been there and now know to only go back (if we ever go back) after we've lived away from the desert for a good long time!