dv_day_2_ morning

Our first morning in Death Valley, we wakened early (4:15am) so we could drive to Dante's View for the sun rise and our first dramatic look at Death Valley. This mountain top overlook is more than 5,000 feet above the valley floor. We were not disappointed as you can see from these pictures.


The artistic shot.	The money shot.


See, we really are awake.	The valley is awesome.

Dante's View was used as the opening scene in the Star War's movie.

Zabriskie Point (2,625 feet)



This land was covered by water 9 million years ago. During several million years of the lake's existence, sediments were collecting at the bottom. After the lake dried up, subsequent widening and sinking of Death Valley and the additional uplift of today's Black Mountains tilted the area. This provided the necessary relief to accomplish the erosion from wind and rain seen above. The dark-colored material capping the badland ridges is lava from eruptions that occurred three to five million years ago. This hard lava cap has retarded erosion in many places.


The Golden Canyon trail starts at sea level.	We walked the 6.5 mile loop via Golden Canyon, Badlands trail and Gower Gulch.


	The parking lot at Golden Canyon was covered with crawling Sphinx Moth Caterpillars. I thought they were in a hurry to get across the hot asphalt. Later, we found out this was a banner year for the caterpillars and that sometimes they become so prolific the roads become slick with smashed caterpillars.

Commentary by Jill Wood
The reason the caterpillars aren't moving is because it was very cold on this day.


There used to be a road through this canyon. You can see the remains in this picture. Note the erosion.	It was hot today. We found out later it was 98º F. We were glad to find a little shade.


Looking up from the trail. The canyon walls were amazing.

Can you see the frog face? We aren't sure if this was due to natural erosion or man made.


Movement along the major faults in Death Valley have caused the earth crust to lift and expose the many layers of ancient sediment.


The Badlands Trail reminded me of the 1968 movie "Planet of the Aps"	Barbara and Jill fell behind on the trail.

Barbara couldn't resist her urge to yodel from the tallest hill.


The view at the top was breathtaking.	Soon we entered the Gower Gulch trail.

	picture by Jill Wood

There were many mines to explore. I suspect they were abandon gold prospecting test holes.


Walking down hill in the wash was a lot easier than climbing the hills on the Badlands Trail. But, by this time we were all getting overheated.


The gulch was very narrow in some places.


Finally, the end of the gulch where it washes out into the valley floor.