DEATH VALLEY--HOTTEST, DRIEST, LOWEST

Artist's Pallette

Death Valley is a land of extremes geologically and climate-wise.The landscape is truly unique. It's one of my favorite places here in California. Peaks topped with snow, sand dunes, alluvial fans, craters, rugged canyons, then the lowest point-the Badwater basin.

 Probably the best thing about visiting DV at this time of year is:

 THE WARM WEATHER!!

FLIP FLOPS!!  SHORTS!  SUNTAN LOTION!! 

Last month when the thermometer here at home was at the freezing point, Ernie got on the internet and made reservations for the "Valley". He couldn't have timed it better. 

Driving over, we traveled over the Sierra and dropped into 

IRON MAN IN "AFGANISTAN"

the Owens Valley. I feel like I am on a movie set with Mt Whitney as the backdrop and the Alabama Hills in the foreground.  Actually, I am in a movie set! The Alabama Hills are a popular filming location for television and movie productions, especially Westerns set in an archetypical "rugged" environment, including Django Unchained and Lone Ranger. When the boys were younger, they had a blast exploring movie road.

MOUNT WHITNEY

 This year, we were too early for the spring wildflower display.  However, we did manage to get it right on Spring break a few years past. It was truly amazing.  I couldn't stop taking pictures of the fields of flowers emerging from the sand and the rocks.

Returning home, we had to take the southern route to avoid any mountain passes THE WINTER STORM of the year that dumped a barrage of snow in the mountains, closing roads and stranding motorists for hours. 

Anyway, sure was nice being warm for a few days!

Hanging out at BADWATER