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Hey guys,
We are back to cold and greyish weather here at home… Just what was needed to emphasize what I’ve been crying for the last three days: I WANNA GO BAAAACKKKK!! Thank god for memories…
So after a few hours drive, we arrived in Beatty too late to be able to speak to the ranger as the station apparently close up at 5h00 pm. Maps of the park are available for passer by. We just didn’t see them at the time. So we stacked up on food and water at the local convenience store, filled up the gas tank and decided to keep on going none the less, relying only on our little (bad) photocopied map of the park. We had food, water, sleeping bags, nothing could go THAT wrong.
Entering Death Valley is the easiest thing I ever had to do: from Beatty, you simply follow road 374 right to the park. The park doesn’t really ‘close’ at any time so you can go in and out very freely. Visitors are however to pay their fee at one of the many information station you can find throughout the park. The fee is minimal: 20$ per car, which allows you to stay in the park for up to a week. Considering the quality of the road maintenance and services available throughout the park, this is more then a bargain.
The first miles in the park offer the same scenery then what we had seen on our way there. You have to wait until you reach the first information station for your first glimpse at the immensity of the park. And what a view! At just a little below 4000ft, the desert plains lay there before you, surrounded by majestic mountains that were slowly turning red, thanks for the setting sun.
Our goal was to reach the sand dunes for sunset. At this time, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to make it sine our map was very unclear. We started driving in that direction none the less only to see them appearing after the second turn. What a sight! At that time, our excitement reached a peak as we realised we were indeed going to make it time. We pumped up the music as we drove Gazhala (yes, we did give a nickname to our SUV) towards the dunes. H.
Well, it's now official: Death Valley it is.... Can't wait to go there!! ;-) It's a little last minute to make plans but a little backcountry camping never anyone.
While researching our destination, I did a lot of research on what has been taken there before and was amaze by the variety of scenery I saw. But more importantly, I stumble across a few darn good photographers, most of who’s work can be seen on Flickr.
What a fun website this is! I just join recently and can't seem to get enough of it. It is fun and somewhat educational to have to opportunity to compare work with photographers from all around the world. And it raises the bar too, which is always a good thing. Just go to the website and do a search on 'death valley'... Sure works my anticipation!!
Well, that's it for now, see you soon!H.
Good evening everyone!
It’s official, am leaving for Vegas in about a week! YAY! While the many attraction in the city are more then appealing – if you embrace the ‘fakeness’ of it, which I totally intend to do - am also excited about my first encounter with the South West USA area.
Although I can’t wait to see the bright shiny lights, the natural wonders of the area are also calling my name. But since am short on time, I’ll only be able to visit one of the many natural parks on the area.
While Grand Canyon seems an obvious choice, my buddy and I are extremely torn between Zion Park and Death Valley. Both offer photographic dreamscape opportunity but there is something about Death Valley… The idea of getting back in touch with the desert – I previously and an intimate encounter last October of which I’ll tell you all about it soon – seems like an amazing opportunity. Am curious : what would you choose? But with any opportunity come some challenges. Some of the best landscape photographers have shot both these locations so the stakes are high… I think it will be interesting to compare how I saw the Great West to what other have seen. Like this amazing shot of Red Rock Canyon taken by my buddy. I know am looking forward to it! H.
Hey guys,
Entering Death Valley is the easiest thing I ever had to do: from Beatty, you simply follow road 374 right to the park. The park doesn’t really ‘close’ at any time so you can go in and out very freely. Visitors are however to pay their fee at one of the many information station you can find throughout the park. The fee is minimal: 20$ per car, which allows you to stay in the park for up to a week. Considering the quality of the road maintenance and services available throughout the park, this is more then a bargain.
Our goal was to reach the sand dunes for sunset. At this time, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to make it sine our map was very unclear. We started driving in that direction none the less only to see them appearing after the second turn. What a sight! At that time, our excitement reached a peak as we realised we were indeed going to make it time. We pumped up the music as we drove Gazhala (yes, we did give a nickname to our SUV) towards the dunes. H.
