My friend Erica and I made our 2nd annual Spring trip to Death Valley. I don't think it ever got above 80F, but to us mountain folk, we were a sweatin!
I had read about this place called Salt Creek and the elusive Death Valley Pupfish. The water has a higher content of salt than the ocean and these guys were out to "Feed and Breed" because it is spring time. They were about an inch long.
This was a plump one! Maybe a hundred buns in the oven?
Salt Creek
This is the pool at Furnace Creek Inn, we enjoyed a plastic glass of wine by the pool (and check out the fireplace).
Some Alpen Glow in the Desert
The "Oasis" Garden at Furnace Creek Inn
Our campsite and Erica's new "Nemo" tent, very cool!
So....last year, we crashed the Furnace Creek "Ranch" pool, a little more low key than the Inn. We tried to sneak in this morning and got turned around....we (Thelma & Louise - AKA - Stacie & Erica) decided to go back to the expensive Inn and swim in their pool. 9am in the morning...pool - 80F-ish....outside - 70F-ish?? That's Erica in the pool.
After our morning swim, we decided to go for a hike Erica read about...a sort of slot canyon called Fall Canyon
We also decided that did enough talking about work the day before, so we "pinky sweared" that we wouldn't talk about work at all or else the person who mentioned it, had to buy the other a beer....no beer for either of us...YAY!!!
Desert Flowers
mmmmm...pretty
beauty! (5 spotted...Erica?)
When we got to the end of the hike (3 miles uphill in deep gravel), we came to the 18' waterfall wash...later we heard that if we would have gone around this and continued up higher, it got really tight and was a true slot canyon...next time.
Scotty's Castle, hadn't been there since I was about 9, right mom? Totally forgot (or wasn't paying attention) that it never belonged to a man named Scotty. His friend by the last name of Johnson owned it and Scotty pretended it was his and Johnson went along with it. Scotty is the only one buried there.
Our tour guide standing in front of Death Valley Ranch (Scotty's Castle)
After 32 miles of dirt road past Eureka Sand Dunes, we were on the road headed towards Big Pine and Erica said calmly..."Watch out for the cows". They were crossing the road (free range) and this one was wondering how we could be trespassing on his road!
Thanks for a great trip Erica, same time next year!
That furnace creek inn is beautiful!
ReplyDeletewhat a great spring break... it looks just gorgeous this time of year
I have lots of great memories of Springtime in Death Valley including almost slamming our rental van into a huge boulder, taking said van too far up a rocky wash just to find the wildflowers and exploring a canyon that was used in Star Wars for the scenes on Tattoine. The light, the flowers, sometimes view of snowy peaks. Lovely! I loved your shots of the flowers and it sounds like you had a grand time! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI have never been, but have only heard great things from my friends in Mammoth. Maybe next spring! T
ReplyDeletestack! can you take me before it gets too hot? -court
ReplyDeleteStacie, I remember our RV trip vividly. It leaked and of course it had to rain all over you in your bunk bed. You came home very sick. Can't remember where it rained. We went during the month of December. Dad drove some narrow passes where we could touch foliage on both sides of RV. Fun time. Your trip looked marvelous. Wish I were young again.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing adventure. I would like to do a spring trip there too! I have vivid memories of our RV Trip - the sign that said the road was too narrow and winds to high for RV's:) Go Dad! I love all of your pictures.
ReplyDeleteLove the flower shots and the pinky swear! What a cool trip Stace!
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