Death Valley Field Trip

[Dragoon]

I recently returned from a five day Geology Field Trip to Death Valley.

The amount of water in the Valley this year is most unusual and people tell me they have never seen it like this before.

If you have ever wanted to see this astounding region, right now is the time.

The only other place I've ever been to which can supersede this region for those interested in geology is Lake Natron in East Africa, but Death Valley is much more accessible to most of us.

If you have a broad band connection and want to see dozens of pictures of the region and the field trip, click on this: Death Valley Field Trip (http://www.fieldstudy.com/DValley/DVSpr2005/day1/photos/index.html) Click on a day and then click on Photos.

Devil's Golf Course - water hazzard

[JoeP]

It looks amazing. But think how much more amazing it would look with 1,000,000 flamingos...

[livius drusus]

Amazing pictures indeed, Dragoon. I drove through Death Valley 15 years or so ago and absolutely loved it. Heat so hot it made me shiver, gorgeous desert, and best of all, Scotty's Castle just sitting there waiting for me to move in.

Seeing so much water there just blows me away. Thank you kindly for posting, Dragoon. :bow:

[viscousmemories]

Beautiful pics, Dragoon. Thanks for posting them. :1thumbup:

[Dragoon]

It looks amazing. But think how much more amazing it would look with 1,000,000 flamingos...

Man, you got it!!

That and the Masaai's "Mountain of God" with his snow white lava "beard" flanking the north slope at the south end of the lake. Not to mention all the other 9,000 + ft. volcanoes and fields of cinder cones and the hundreds of hot springs and the absolute remoteness of the place.

Because our horses lost shoes on the long ride out there and the Safari people didn't have any spares or tools, we had to ride in the lake where the footing was softer. I was sure scared, but what an adventure!

Here's the lake, drop in sometime and Oldoinyo Lengai, the "Mountain of God" with it's white beard.
I realized that that the original picture was a rather poor shot of Lengai, so I've included one I took at dawn.

[Dingfod]

Anytime you can go to Death Valley and have to wear a jacket of some kind is the right time to visit Death Valley.

[Dragoon]

Anytime you can go to Death Valley and have to wear a jacket of some kind is the right time to visit Death Valley.

Right!

The weather was perfect and we were too hot only when going down gravel roads with the windows closed (the airconditioning wasn't working). Camping the third night, the temperatures got down below freezing out on that dry lake bed and many of the people with ordinary sleeping bags didn't get any sleep.

Yes indeed, NOW is the time to visit that region - Wild flowers are still out (but fading fast), water's in the saline flats and bearable temperatures.

Oh yeah, thank you livius drusus and vicousmemories, the pleasure was all mine. :wave:

[viscousmemories]

I've never been to Death Valley, but when I moved from Michigan to California a few years ago my van broke down somewhere between Vegas and Baker, and I ended up spending three days in Baker until someone could wire me money for a Greyhound out.

[Dragoon]

Ah, the sweet memories of youth!!

Lord, isn't that the worst feeling in the world - being broke and broke down?

It sure motivated me to do all in my power so that would never happen to me again and I hope it never does.

What time of year did your "desert detainment" occur? Too bad you couldn't have used that time to take a tour north through the Valley.

Of course, being in a group where all we talked about was the fantastic geology seen out there made the trip many, many times more interesting than a simple drive through.

[viscousmemories]

What time of year did your "desert detainment" occur?
June. :D

[Ensign Steve]

:yup:

I've taken the same trip twice, once with my mom's class when I was four and again with my friend's class when we were 24. Enjoyed the hell out of Death Valley both times!

Glad you enjoyed yourself, and I LOVE the pictures. Nothing like the real thing, though, huh?