Camping on the edge

[Shadow Catcher]

I am watching a special on the effects of global warning on Death Vally. In our early BC (before kids) in tents days, one of our favorite places to camp was Death Vally. I was introduced to it by a Historical Geology class field trip. It is unique on earth and the hottest place on earth. It is also unique in plants and animals.
I have always been fascinated by marginal environments and ecosystems.
One personal connection may be that one of my Great Uncles was a shyster lawyer in Rhyolite.

[indycamper]

I always figured it would be too hot to do much of anything there, including camp. What time of year were you going? And what were the temperatures?

[Lgboro]

I spent several night in different deserts on a cross country this summer. My favorite was about an hour and a half out of Yuma. It does get a little hot and dusty if the wind blows.

[Vedette]

Thought you were going to say you had been to Uclulet B.C.
Google it! They even have T shirts?????
It is a very cool place to Visit if you are ever on Vancouver Island.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Vedette]

New Avitar Picture SHARON?

[atahoekid]

Sorry but not me... I just don't care for desert camping. I live only a short way from the Nevada desert and not too far from Death Valley and never go camping there. I did try it a couple time but found it way too dusty, even if the wind doesn't kick up it seems to get everywhere and in everything. Just not my idea of fun. For me camping is the coast or the mountains. Either one, love 'em both.

[S. Heisley]

About a decade ago, I took a tour of Death Valley in April. It was quite nice at that time of the year. You even needed a light jacket in the evening and early morning hours. Forget about going there in the summer, though!

[nevadatear]

Yes, we did a natural history tour there in early spring. On day with the wind it was frank cold. I really is quite builtiful with lots to see. And lots of birds on the golf course to id! Saw our first roadrunner and phanopeplia there! Camped at a place with both a pool and showers, an unusual luxury for us.

[Scooter]

Wife and I went this past May, daytime temps reached 110F, and we both agreed it was more comfortable than a sopping wet 90F in TN. We were simply astounded and amazed at the place.

[Scooter]

Does anyone have pics

Always been a sucker for blue skies. We didn't camp this trip, but hope to in the future.

Captiva in Death Valley by skooterpics, on Flickr

[mkitchen]

We have only camped there once and already it is one of our favorite parks. We spent Thanksgiving there in 2011. We spent most of our time on the back roads so we took our off road set up, but a vehicle with some ground clearance would be all that is needed for most of the dirt roads. I have also ridden my motorcycle through there in June (that was a warm one) and driven through in July, on our way to the northwest.

Not what you would imagine for an entrance to a national park. This is where we came into the park after seeing Ryolite.



Some wild horses that we saw in the park.



Yes it can get cold in the park.



Be prepard for some very big vistas





A fellow could spend a week in the park very easily, and not see all there is to see. There is great hiking and motor travel within the park. Death Valley has it's own beauty. Go spend some time there and let it rub off on you.

Mikey

[Dean in Ct.]

Wow! Looks beautiful! (In it's own way)

[Scooter]

There's a couple backcountry sites by "The Racetrack" which is 26 miles off pavement, IIRC. THAT'S where I'd love to camp in order to catch stark sunrise/sunset shadows across the rocks. This pic was made approx 9:30am, but we had left Furnace Creek about an hour before sunrise, which is REAL early that time of year. It was the trip of a lifetime.

(An aside: Mikey, we were also smitten with the town of Kingman, just the right size, and we'd sure love to move there one day.)


Jeep to the playa by skooterpics, on Flickr

rock party by skooterpics, on Flickr

[Scooter]

Excellent video; highly recommend: http://livewellnetwork.com/motion/episodes/complete-episode-death-valley-racetrack/8126999

[CarlLaFong]

We've camped at Furnace Creek several times at Thanksgiving. The weather is very nice in November. Tee shirts during the day and a sweat shirt at night. Lot's to see. Scotty's Castle is very interesting