Busy Day in Death Valley

Today was nonstop day. Just outside the borders of Death Valley is the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada. Its demise is attributed The Panic of 1907, a six week run on New York City banks and banks in other major cities impelled by the San Francisco earthquake that drew gold from the world's major money centers. By 1916 the mines were playing out and the residents left the once prosperous town.

One house still stands; its construction materials include over 10,000 beer bottles.

The bank building is rumored to have cost $90,000 to build.

On it's outskirts is the Goldwell Open Air Museum created by the late Albert Szukalski and Belgian artists who created seven large sculptures displayed throughout the property.

Titus Canyon

Rugged mountains and diverse rock formations juxtaposed with spectacular vistas made for an incredible day drive through the canyon. 

Scotty’s Castle

After our drive through Titus Canyon, we wound our way to Scotty’s Castle, named after Walter Scott, a braggart who hoodwinked Albert Johnson into grubstaking his gold mining expeditions.

No gold never materialized but Death Valley captured the hearts of Johnson and his wife.  Scotty set up his a part-time residence in the two-million dollar home and claimed it as his own -built with the profits from his gold mine.

The National Park Service owns it now and daily tours are available year round. Our tour was conducted by an overly enthusiastic guide perfect for elementary age students.

Ubehebe Crater

Our last stop for the day took us to the Ubehebe Crater, created by a steam eruption at least 2000 years ago when magma and an underground lake met. The early morning light or evening light emphasizes the colors and contours of the crater and we hit it perfectly. 

On the way "home"

Death Valley

January 2014


My brother-in-law mentioned his visit to Death Valley during the Christmas visit-otherwise we would not have thought about stopping en route to Southern California. Desperately needing a break from the Las Vegas City lights, we arrived just before the Park office closed for the night.

Most of the campgrounds in Death Valley provide access to a water source and bathroom facilities but there are no direct hookups for power. Fortunately, there is plenty of sun and our solar panels performed admirably. 

Although temperatures regularly rise past 115 degrees in the summer, we enjoyed 45 degree nights and mid-70s during the day. Although it is comfortable in the more open areas, the narrow canyons increase the temperature substantially, and we discovered it is better to hike a little earlier in the morning.

Las Vegas

Driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas winds you through the Joshua Tree Forest with a backdrop of the Hualapai Mountains and the Aquarius Cliffs. According to the National Park website, legend claims that in the mid 19th century, Morman immigrants named the tree after the biblical figure, Joshua when they were crossing the Colorado River drainage. The travelers viewed the limbs of the trees as their guides to the west; arms outstretched in supplication.

I have been to Las Vegas several times and the neon lights and miles of pavement are quite a jolt. It was fun to reconnect with old friends and make new ones as well as enjoy world class rugby, but I was ready to leave when the festivities ended. 

Joshua Trees

Hoover Dam

Great View from the Stands

Rugby Fans from Around the World

Tucker and I decided to take the day off from rugby and walk around a salt water marsh a half a mile from the the stadium. It was near dusk leaving little time for wandering but the scenery was spectacular.   I had no idea that Las Vegas, Nevada offered these hidden treasures.

Friend and Family

One of the many benefits of traveling for an extended period of time is the opportunity to visit more frequently with family and friends. Marshall lives near Phoenix and he and his Dad practiced their cribbage skills and checked out a couple football games. 

Sister Ellen and Montana friend, Tom Deveny, discussed the merits of the New Year's Eve wine and pronounced it "drinkable".

Arizona Abodes

December 12- January 23

Most of our time in Arizona was spent in our friend's home in Surprise, Arizona. Toward the end of our stay we camped in two different  campgrounds- one near Tucson and the other north of Phoenix-both with easy access to hiking and biking.

Surprise 

Every morning we enjoyed fresh orange juice or grapefruit juice from the trees just outside our house. Quail were regular visitors and a coyote surprised Sister Ellen when she was soaking in some rays. Bike riding is convenient and allowed on sidewalks. If I decided to take a bike ride into unknown territory, I would put my iPad in my backpack, select the destination and turn up the volume so I could listen to the directions. 

Catalina State Park

When we arrived at the campground all the spaces were full but for a change we had booked ahead. Staying here also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with some college friends over dinner at a nearby restaurant.

View outside our window

One of the few hikes where Tucker could wade

 Cave Creek Regional Park

An oasis in the suburbs, Cave Creek Campground and its trails offer saguaro forests and upland Sonoran Desert habitat. I loved hiking in Arizona and look forward to a return visit.

A couple hundred yards from our campsite was a trail that wound past the entrance to Clay Mine and magnificent views.