The Nomadic Journey Begins! Death Valley National Park, CA. (January 18th -- 22nd)

 

Not realizing it was a holiday weekend, I was somewhat dismayed to see 'my' beloved sand dunes crawling with people... oh well, the scenery that greeted my eyes upon arriving in Death Valley was still quite lovely. 

 My new nomadic journey officially began on Saturday, January 18th. I left Sacramento with my Kia Niro Hybrid stuffed to the gills with everything I figured I would be needing for months on the road: Clothes, food, camping gear, cooking gear, my cushy mattress for sleeping in the car, a basic "pantry" of food, cold stuff in a small cooler, toiletries. In short, more than I would take for international travels-- I have the "luxury" of a car, after all!-- but still living as a minimalist.  AND... it is STILL too much! 

Early morning fog in Sacramento as I prepare to depart in Dharmini, Saturday the 18th

Yep, pretty stuffed, my little Kia Niro!

A semblance of organization is essential for the nomad! 

The biggest challenge I have faced so far is maintaining some semblance of organization, finding things when I need them, and clearing enough space to sleep on my mattress (in my warm down sleeping bag) when camped. It is quite the puzzle, but so far I have succeeded! Still... I have a new nickname for my Kia Dharmini, which is "VanEnvy"! Truly speaking, there is a reason why the thousands of nomads traversing the U.S.A. are in vans, and NOT in cars! It just really isn't practical over the long haul. But...more about that later. 

I DO have a tent, but Death Valley--though warmer than Sacramento and pleasant during the day--was still cold, and often windy, by night. Hence, the necessity of sleeping INSIDE my car for protection. My greatest challenge at night is the necessity to eliminate the quantities of water I drink throughout the day... oy! Stepping outside the car has one advantage: gazing up at the beautiful stars and/or moon! But...it is a pain...awkward, and cold. One does what one must, eh?!

In any event, Death Valley has always been one of my favorite places on earth--it doesn't disappoint! It is the most spectacularly diverse and beautiful expanse of desert I have ever seen. I got in a great deal of hiking over the 4 and a half days I spent there. Hope you enjoy this exposé of my favorite photos!

January 19th, Sunday: My first hike...going up grotto canyon. It was a long slog to get to the mouth of the canyon, because a bad flash flood had washed out the road leading up to its mouth.   Then, after only a short distance in,  a large boulder blocked the way, making further hiking deeper into the canyon impossible. Disappointing, as this hike has always been a favorite of mine. Still, the beauty of the rock formations was gratifying... as was watching an expert female rock climber (and another solo hiker) make their way up a dry "waterfall" in the canyon!

January 20th, Monday: hiking up Golden Canyon to the red Cathedral Rocks... about 8 miles round trip, and positively magnificent! I was so relieved that the bad L.A. fires---and subsequent smoke-- had not reached Death Valley, which is due east of that city. As you can see, the skies were a deep and beautiful blue, and the air quite clean. It was a truly magnificent hiking day... reaching the low 60's... perfect for a desert romp!

The late afternoon sun shines on the rocks of these hills, making them especially "golden"--hence, the canyon's name. 

January 21st, Tuesday: A hodgepodge of other hikes and explorations... cannot now recall specific names. But of course views were spectacular! Another magnificent day which passed all too quickly, beginning with a gorgeous sunrise over the campground and ending with a magnificent sunset... 

January 22nd, Wednesday, and final half-day in Death Valley: Zabriskie Point, famous for the vastly different, colored rock formations and rippled patterns... 

Sadly, with reluctance, I had to depart midday and make my way to my next destination of Tucson, AZ.  However, better to move on than stay until the desert claimed me, as it did this poor guy, trying fruitlessly to make a phone call in a long-since defunct phone booth!!!!