Death Valley Days

A few weeks ago, volunteers from my college were needed to drive geology students on a field trip to Death Valley. Having been curious about the place for some time, I took advantage of the opportunity. In exchange for driving, I got a free guided tour and camping trip to a place I hadn't experienced before. I'm glad I went.

The weather was great, the people were mostly fun and interesting, and Death Valley was very interesting itself, if not overly exciting. The geology of it is pretty amazing, and the overall environment there is very deserving of its name. It's largely barren of life, it's landscape is harsh and unforgiving, and at times it looks like how one might imagine Mars or some other planet to be. In fact, numerous Star Wars scenes were shot there.

I found the general history of the place more interesting than its geology, and wished there had been more time take in more of the historical landmarks. Maybe I'll go back someday to learn more about it, and see some things we didn't have time to visit. I'd also like to check out Trona, a small, desolate, mineral-mining town which we passed through on the way back home. Something about isolated, boondock (and sometimes impoverished) towns fascinates me, and Trona seems to have a weird, land-that-time-forgot quality. It looked a lot like Niland or Brawley, the towns I visited early this year around the Salton Sea.

This trip also renewed my itch to go camping, which I hope to do more of next year. I need a few more things to make up a basic set of camping gear, so hopefully I can go somewhere in the next couple of months, weather permitting.


My group- Chris, Sara, Lindsay and David. Good kids.


A vehicle fire on the 15 caused about a 20-minute delay on the way there.


A game of toss on the highway to pass the time.


Once camp was set up, it was burger time.




Furnace Creek Campground.


First stop on Saturday morning.














Our fearless leader, Dr. Hovantiz, professor of geology.


Zabriskie Point.




Death Valley Visitor Center museum. I liked the hand-painted lettering on this display.


The museum even had dioramas!


Badlands is 300 feet below sea level. I think this was our only water sighting.


Hiking to Natural Bridge Canyon.




Inside the canyon.






David's adventurous nature made Dr. Hovanitz a bit nervous.













Devil's Golf Course. Jagged, rock-hard salt deposits.




Artist's Palette. The colors are created by the oxidation of various salts and minerals.




Discussing an unusually-weathered rock.






Sunday started with a group photo at Harmony Borax Works.




Ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada.


The bottle house.






Train depot.




Ghost town of Leadfield, Nevada.




Friendly raven at our last stop (for gas)- Stovepipe Wells.