Death Valley National Park; Weekend Jaunt!

"Sometimes, when I drive across the desert in the middle of the night, with no other cars around, I start imagining: What if there were no civilization out there? No cities, no factories, no people? And then I think, "No people or factories? Then who made this car? And this highway?" And I get so confused I have to stick my head out the window into the driving rain---unless there's lightning, because I could get struck on the head by a bolt."

~Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

A Vast crater!

Death Valley National Park, the name itself kind of scary, right? It  makes me think and ask why it’s called Death Valley. My husband, Mitch assured me the name came before the advent of Mini Mart's and bottled water. It's a national park in the U.S. states of California and Nevada located east of the Sierra Nevada, occupying an interface zone between the arid Great Basin and Mojave deserts in the United States. 

When I'm feeling stressed connecting with nature is the perfect cure. In this intense world of competition and technology communing with nature can help you get grounded quicker than anything!  And for that, we left the house as early as 5:30am to avoid the heat and hoping to experience sunrise along the way.

When we entered the park, we were greeted by two coyotes, my husband kept saying that it’s rare that these coyotes were not scared of humans they appeared to actually be welcoming us to the park. Perhaps I'm fooling myself and they are used to being fed by park visitors... It seems like when you enter this place, you feel like you are entering into the world of ALIENS! Literally Death Valley is a foreign landscape! Mitch and I are even arguing about aliens, hahaha He believes in it, I don’t. It’s in the middle of the dessert where only rocks, dunes and other non-living things connect. I can sum up Death valley in three words: Unique, Spectacular and Interesting!

Common throughout the park; often heard calling at night or begging along roadsides.

Badwater Basin

The Badwater is being quoted as the lowest point in North America, with an elevation of 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. The site itself consists of a small spring-fed pool of "bad water" next to the road in a sink; the accumulated salts of the surrounding basin make it undrinkable, thus giving it the name. The pool does have animal and plant life, including pickleweed, aquatic insects, and the Badwater snail.

I've always been a type of person who loves national parks and places that for me are historic and interesting. This park is massive and the long stretch of road is just amazing. The beautiful hills that, the likes of which, I've never seen in my life are spectacular! From canyons to dunes, salt flats and natural springs. The scenery was at times so gorgeous that at times I even forgot to take pictures! The beautiful landscape changes every few miles with different color and  form. Words and pictures can't do this place justice. You just need to see and feel it for yourself. I wonder how those rocks arrived here on earth! The different colors really amazed me. I am just in love with this park

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is the very first sand dunes that I have ever been. It's impressive! According to Mr. Google, The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are at the northern end of the valley floor and are nearly surrounded by mountains on all sides. Due to their easy access from the road and the overall proximity of Death Valley to Hollywood, these dunes have been used to film sand dune scenes for several movies including films in the Star Wars series. 

Artist Drive and  Palatte and  is one of my favorite part of Death Valley. The beautiful rocks formations with pastel colors look stunning and beautiful.  These colors are caused by the oxidation of different metals ( red, pink and yellow is from iron salts, green is from decomposing stuff derived mica, and manganese produces the purple. We took time to stop, kind of meditate and just feel the fresh air and it's serenity.

It may seem boring to those who are not into national parks. However, for myself and my husband it’s fantastic. Death Valley National Park is  relaxing, serene and helps us to just want to enjoy the beautiful non-materialistic things that this world has to offer.  Hiking and exploring places for what I called “The Road less traveled” is fulfilling and worth it.  Every point of interest makes me just want to live there away from the bustling noise of the city.  I always imagine the old world when I am in this kind of place.

 I  promise to come back very soon. I am grateful that God lead me to some amazing places I’d never know existed. My understanding of desert has changed. Trips to places like this makes me a better person, especially on the importance of  taking good care of  Mother Earth. I try to remind myself to always appreciate the little things in life and avoid indulging myself in material things, instead to be involved in how to help care for and preserve God's beautiful world. 

A must see attractions inside Death Valley and would definitely visit again!

• Charcola Kihns
• Dante's View
• Darwin Falls
• Mosaic Canyon
• Natural Bridge Canyon
• Racetrack Playa
• Red Cathedral
• Saratoga Springs