Red Cathedral over Zabriskie Point

I find Death Valley's Zabriskie Point more interesting to take pictures of, rather than from.

I've been to the park twice in recent weeks and the days are very comfortable for hiking right now, with temperatures in the 50s to mid 60s, but the nights can be cold, 30s or even 20s or less, especially at any altitude.  I camp in Yosemite Valley every Winter, but last week in Death Valley, even 1000 feet higher than Furnace Creek was bitterly cold, so we retreated down to sea level.  The snow level has been right around the 5000 foot vicinity in recent weeks, and it appeared to go right down to pass leading to The Racetrack (itself up at 4500 feet).  

It looks like it could be a decent wildflower season this year, but that may only be true in places which received just the right amount and timing for rain.  The park is massive, nearly 3.4 million acres, and rain in Death Valley averages 1.9 inches, while the many surrounding mountain ranges receive greater amounts depending upon how the individual storms interacted with them.  I've already seen wildflowers in some places and plants starting to pop up in others, but you'll have to hunt around to find them, and both high clearance and 4WD may be necessary to reach the best rainfall locations tucked up in the mountains.  Those locations will also bloom later, due to their altitude.

One particular storm last August washed out many of the park's dirt roads (2/3 of the road miles in the park), so if you're heading to the park check carefully for road closures, and call as well… don't trust the daily condition reports (for example the road from Scotty's Castle to Eureka Valley remains closed, but the printed and online park reports don't always reflect that).  Even the Visitor Center staff had trouble giving a straight answer on the road's status… we weren't sure it was still closed until we drove right up to it a few days ago.

Photographically, most of the park's nearly 1 million visitors go to the highlights such as Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Flat Dunes.  The Racetrack is recommended for high clearance 4WD vehicles only, and even then the park recommends that visitors carry two spare tires.  Consider that advice carefully.  I have experienced punctures even in all terrain tires on that road, and I have gotten two flat tires at once on the adjacent road to Eureka Valley.  I didn't visit The Racetrack on my recent park visits; it'll be much more comfortable up there a few months from now.

If I get enough interest I'll lead a Death Valley workshop this coming March.  Contact me for details.

Google+: Reshared 34 times
Google+: View post on Google+