Greg Campbell
EF5
Actually, there it plenty to do in DV. Sure, the summer heat pushes long afternoon hikes in the valley into the realm of 'nuts,' but there are numerous rewarding activities available in the area.
Try a pre-dawn hike into the Stovepipe dune field. Lit by a near-full moon, the scenery is stark and beautiful. Sunrise light spilling over the dunes is also very photogenic.
Before it gets too hot, charge up to Mosaic Canyon for a short hike. Interesting geology, and a fun, narrow, windy canyon to explore. Other early AM hikes are: Golden Cayon / Zabriskie point, the Artist Palette area, or Fall or Red-Wall canyon, in the northern region of the park.
Titus Canyon would make a a magnificent AM drive. It starts high in the rugged Grapevine (?) mountains west of Beaty, and slowly descends through a gorgeous valley that slowly transforms into 200 ft deep slot canyon. Very cool, IMO. The road in unpaved, but well maintained.
By mid-day, you'll want to be retreating to the higher country. There are several worthy destinations in the Panamint Mountains The ghost town of Skidoo, the Charcoal Kilns, Augerberry Point, and more. If you're camping, Widlrose and Mahogany Flat offer 6~8000 elevations and significant relief from the heat.
The notion that DV is nothing more than a scorched wasteland is absurd. Like any desert, there is beauty and life all around if only you will slow down and open your eyes. Nobody goes there to wander the salt flat at high noon... (Well, you see the German tourists doing dumb stuff like that on occasion....) If you look in the dozens of slot canyons that line the valley, you will find springs, plants, bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, wild burros, fossils, interesting geologic formations, native artifacts, ghost towns, and much more. I'll grant you that summer is hardly the ideal time to visit, but you can still experience a rewarding trip.
Check out the comprehensive book "Hiking Death Vally" by Digonnet. It's available in the visitor's center. While the focus is on canyon hikes, the author does a fantastic job of discussing the area's geology, biology, history, etc.
Driving in the heat shouldn't be a problem. Do keep an eye on the temp guage if you're leaving the valley - the long climb up any of the passes will stress the car's cooling system. Be prepared to turn off the AC and open the windows. If the car is still suffering, turn the heater on! Bring at least 10 gallons of water, to allow for one or two overheating episodes, and to keep you alive if car troubles strikes. The main roads are patrolled regularly,and even in the summer, there are plenty of tourists, so you're never alone. The summer heat can and will kill within hours, but unless you get real 'creative,' you'll have a hard time dying in the middle of nowhere. (If you want to go exploring the backcountry, go in the cooler months!)
-Greg
Try a pre-dawn hike into the Stovepipe dune field. Lit by a near-full moon, the scenery is stark and beautiful. Sunrise light spilling over the dunes is also very photogenic.
Before it gets too hot, charge up to Mosaic Canyon for a short hike. Interesting geology, and a fun, narrow, windy canyon to explore. Other early AM hikes are: Golden Cayon / Zabriskie point, the Artist Palette area, or Fall or Red-Wall canyon, in the northern region of the park.
Titus Canyon would make a a magnificent AM drive. It starts high in the rugged Grapevine (?) mountains west of Beaty, and slowly descends through a gorgeous valley that slowly transforms into 200 ft deep slot canyon. Very cool, IMO. The road in unpaved, but well maintained.
By mid-day, you'll want to be retreating to the higher country. There are several worthy destinations in the Panamint Mountains The ghost town of Skidoo, the Charcoal Kilns, Augerberry Point, and more. If you're camping, Widlrose and Mahogany Flat offer 6~8000 elevations and significant relief from the heat.
The notion that DV is nothing more than a scorched wasteland is absurd. Like any desert, there is beauty and life all around if only you will slow down and open your eyes. Nobody goes there to wander the salt flat at high noon... (Well, you see the German tourists doing dumb stuff like that on occasion....) If you look in the dozens of slot canyons that line the valley, you will find springs, plants, bighorn sheep, bobcats, coyotes, wild burros, fossils, interesting geologic formations, native artifacts, ghost towns, and much more. I'll grant you that summer is hardly the ideal time to visit, but you can still experience a rewarding trip.
Check out the comprehensive book "Hiking Death Vally" by Digonnet. It's available in the visitor's center. While the focus is on canyon hikes, the author does a fantastic job of discussing the area's geology, biology, history, etc.
Driving in the heat shouldn't be a problem. Do keep an eye on the temp guage if you're leaving the valley - the long climb up any of the passes will stress the car's cooling system. Be prepared to turn off the AC and open the windows. If the car is still suffering, turn the heater on! Bring at least 10 gallons of water, to allow for one or two overheating episodes, and to keep you alive if car troubles strikes. The main roads are patrolled regularly,and even in the summer, there are plenty of tourists, so you're never alone. The summer heat can and will kill within hours, but unless you get real 'creative,' you'll have a hard time dying in the middle of nowhere. (If you want to go exploring the backcountry, go in the cooler months!)
-Greg
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