The main picture here is the setting sun at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level.
I kept thinking what a strangely beautiful place it was out there. Everyone wants to know how hot it was. Make no mistake, it felt like an oven and the boisterous wind only served to dry us to the bone. For the area though, it actually wasn’t too hot. When I checked, it was right around 102 degrees, the same as what we’ve been getting in Las Vegas.
Other than a wide, smooth path created by people walking, the basin wasn’t the flat, tile-shaped blocks of salt and earth that I expected. The ground was all rough and broken up. However, it is quite possible I was simply in the wrong area for those pristine shots of the honeycomb-shaped flats.
After walking out on the flats, my friends and I decided we should head out to the sand dunes. According to the National Park Service brochure, the dunes could reach as high as 120 feet. When we arrived the sun had already set. We walked the dunes barefoot, enjoying the warm sand. But we never found any big dunes and lacking flashlights we didn’t venture too far out.
The sky was stunning though, I may have seen more stars than when I lived in Kalispell, Montana.
If you ever get the opportunity, check out Death Valley National Park. It was a blast.
About TMoon
Did you see the mysterious Death Valley Sailing Stones?
No, unfortunately. If I go back to hike Telescope Peak, I want to see if I can find them. They’re a pretty neat phenomena. It’s strange that they have not been photographed or video taped actually moving.
Thanks for the great photos of Death Valley. We may have the opportunity to go there on our planned trip to the USA and Canada, so photos like these help to stir my interest to visit particular places.
I can’t even imagine what 120 degrees feels like! Bravo to you and your friends for getting out there. Your photos are stunningly beautiful.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.