The Ninth Gate of Hell

Well gentle readers, this has been a landmark weekend.  As most of you know, my lifetime goal is to visit all 63 National Parks. As a milestone on the way to this goal, I visited my final California National Park (California has the most National Parks at nine: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Redwood, Lassen Volcanic, Channel Islands, Pinnacles, and lastly Death Valley).  So yes, I took a much needed break from real life and went to Death Valley. 

What an over heated desolate desert environment.  In 1913, the hottest air tmeperature in the worlsd was recorded at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, 134 degrees. Although the temperature was only hovering around a whopping 108 degrees. when i got there It's a park of extremes, and I experienced several of those extremes in this small trip.  

My first stop in the park was Zabrinski Point, originally the impetus for the trip was because Rusty was joining his motorcycle group on a trip to Death Valley. Little did I realize that the whole purpose was to just ride the whole time and we wouldn't see each other at all. So, I decided to go regardless and now find myself at this point two days before Rusty...

Another shot a Zabrinski Point.  My favorite photo from this trip. 

Next a drive through Artist's Palette. Intense heat and sun even late in the day. 

A classic desert sunset.  Rather awe inspiring before night fell bringing the most intense star sighting I've experienced in years. 

The temperatures dropped on day two...to a reasonable 94 degrees at the below sea level sites. A quick stop at the Mesquite Sand Dunes...

Very impressive, acres and acres of sand...pictures do not provide the awesome sense of scale.

Growing up near. the ocean, it was odd to be on a beach without the cool ocean pay off. 

After the oceanless beach, I went to Dante's View (5,400 feet above sea level) and it was actually a little chilly in the AM and VERY windy! I hiked a few miles along the ridge of the mountains.  The hike afforded me excellent sweeping views of the salt flats and surrounding mountains. 

The trail along the ridge, lots of short hills going up and down. 

A view of the salt flats in the valley floor.

A geological marker along the trail.

More view of one of lowest spot in the Northern Hemisphere. This is also the spot of the highest air temperature in the World (134 degrees). Although this was recorded in 1913 and instruments were not as precise then. Regardless, fucking hot no matter how inaccurate the instruments were. 

Pretty impressive salt flats. 

This definitely looks like snow but it is salt deposits as far as the eye can see. 

The barely discernable small white sign that one can see from the flats so far up the canyon wall says "Sea Level" 

Very desolate but filled with an expansive beauty inspiring a sense of awe and wonder. 

As far as National Parks go this was definitely not even in my top ten. Although I did find beauty in many parts of the desert and appreciate the way these massive expanses produce a sense of humility and wonder. The desert does force one to confront mortality as reminders of extreme heat, flash floods, and the real potential to die from heat and dehydration are posted everywhere. As much as I appreciate this natural wonderland, for me the forests and wooded moiuntains are more my personal favorites. I'm glad I took a little time to see this final California park on my list. I look forward to the next park...