Death Valley
April 2005
Reports that the heavy rains
in Death Valley this spring would result in the best wildflower season
in 50 years convinced
us to make a trip there. We spent the week of April 4th and had quite
an adventure.
The first night was spent in Mojave, where we had a cold strong wind.
The next morning was calm and we drove north
through red Rock Canyon SP, Ridgecrest, across Panamint Valley and
turned up Wildrose Canyon. Then we went over Emmigrant Pass into death
Valley. The flowers in Emmigrant Pass were great. (Photos)
The next day we drove south past Badwater and took a dirt road,
Westside Road, back north. (Photos)
Wednesday, we drove part way up Daylight Pass, where again there were
beautiful flowers. Next we went to the Sand Dunes, only getting to the
far eastern edge as the old road into the
dunes is now closed. By this time, the wind was really blowing sand
everywhere. We made a quick trip to Salt Creek and back to Furnace
Creek Ranch to hole up during a wild
sand storm. (Photos)
After a night with no power, we got an early start home. Stopping for
breakfast at Panamint Springs. We continued over the Inyo Mountains and
with only two more mountain passes to cross (two down by then) we made
tracks for San Jose. (Photos)