2. Nature

Death Valley Thanksgiving 2014

A visit to Racetrack Dry Lake and Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley National Park
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  • Almost ready to depart from our overnight campsite at Teakettle Junction. The Element was our compact House on Wheels; we slept inside.

    Almost ready to depart from our overnight campsite at Teakettle Junction. The Element was our compact House on Wheels; we slept inside.

  • Michèle with tea and cookies. The overnight temperature inside the Element went down to 37 degrees F, but we were very comfy.

    Michèle with tea and cookies. The overnight temperature inside the Element went down to 37 degrees F, but we were very comfy.

  • As the sign says: Teakettle Junction. Lots of travelers bring decorated and inscribed teakettles and hang them here, so many in fact that every year they are removed. The National Park had an employee who was collecting them in a Park storage area, but now that he's retired the fate of the teakettles is ambiguous. A Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/TeakettleJunction ) is attempting to store them, with mentions of a future museum somewhere. Not sure I'd be that interested in seeing thousands of old decorated teakettles…

    As the sign says: Teakettle Junction. Lots of travelers bring decorated and inscribed teakettles and hang them here, so many in fact that every year they are removed. The National Park had an employee who was collecting them in a Park storage area, but now that he's retired the fate of the teakettles is ambiguous. A Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/TeakettleJunction ) is attempting to store them, with mentions of a future museum somewhere. Not sure I'd be that interested in seeing thousands of old decorated teakettles…

  • The junction sign, and where we camped overnight. During the evening, a somewhat-scratched car had driven up, with three or four anxious kids inside wanting to know how to get to Panamint Springs, and also wondering if we had any spare gasoline. They took photos of our map with their cellphone!

    The junction sign, and where we camped overnight. During the evening, a somewhat-scratched car had driven up, with three or four anxious kids inside wanting to know how to get to Panamint Springs, and also wondering if we had any spare gasoline. They took photos of our map with their cellphone!

  • On Racetrack Playa, walking towards The Grandstand.

    On Racetrack Playa, walking towards The Grandstand.

  • Note two other people in photo, to get a sense of the size of The Grandstand.

    Note two other people in photo, to get a sense of the size of The Grandstand.

  • Untitled photo
  • From up in The Grandstand, looking southeast.

    From up in The Grandstand, looking southeast.

  • Michèle on The Racetrack. A magical place!

    Michèle on The Racetrack. A magical place!

  • The Racetrack is remarkably flat & smooth. There was no wind, though the building lenticular clouds promised the possibility of some wind later on.

    The Racetrack is remarkably flat & smooth. There was no wind, though the building lenticular clouds promised the possibility of some wind later on.

  • A remarkable place for solitude.

    A remarkable place for solitude.

  • Michèle decided to take some photos of me perched up on the rocks of The Grandstand.

    Michèle decided to take some photos of me perched up on the rocks of The Grandstand.

  • Feelin' pretty small up here…

    Feelin' pretty small up here…

  • Studying the map. Racetrack Playa is about 1 1/2 miles across and about 3 miles long.

    Studying the map. Racetrack Playa is about 1 1/2 miles across and about 3 miles long.

  • The rock of The Grandstand is remarkably rough and shot through with crystalline formations,

    The rock of The Grandstand is remarkably rough and shot through with crystalline formations,

  • Hi, there!

    Hi, there!

  • Catching up with Michèle. The main source of travelling stones is on the other end of the lake to the south, so there are basically no rocks out on the playa on this end. I suspect any few rocks that might have made it this far up the lake have been "harvested" by others.

    Catching up with Michèle. The main source of travelling stones is on the other end of the lake to the south, so there are basically no rocks out on the playa on this end. I suspect any few rocks that might have made it this far up the lake have been "harvested" by others.

  • The Grandstand from the east. Note the person, for scale.

    The Grandstand from the east. Note the person, for scale.

  • It had been completely calm, but then we saw some objects tumbling over the lakebed surface towards us. Swoosh, and suddenly the wind was blowing 20+ MPH!

    It had been completely calm, but then we saw some objects tumbling over the lakebed surface towards us. Swoosh, and suddenly the wind was blowing 20+ MPH!

  • Walking across the playa to the other side, with the wind before us.

    Walking across the playa to the other side, with the wind before us.

  • Walking toward the sun, and something magical was happening with M's shadow.

    Walking toward the sun, and something magical was happening with M's shadow.

  • Is that REALLY her shadow?

    Is that REALLY her shadow?

  • A magical expanse!

    A magical expanse!

  • Quite remarkable. If I had drawn her shadow that way, I'd not have thought it was correct, but instead fanciful.

    Quite remarkable. If I had drawn her shadow that way, I'd not have thought it was correct, but instead fanciful.

  • Mysterious shapes and vistas.

    Mysterious shapes and vistas.

  • The upper-left edge of the lennie was irridescent.

    The upper-left edge of the lennie was irridescent.

  • "Take me onboard their beautiful ship, I'd love to see it."

    "Take me onboard their beautiful ship, I'd love to see it."

  • Secrets of The Racetrack.

    Secrets of The Racetrack.

  • Our first sighting of a travelling rock. There were several trails that ended in a small depression, where I think someone had "harvested" a rock.

    Our first sighting of a travelling rock. There were several trails that ended in a small depression, where I think someone had "harvested" a rock.

  • A rather small example.

    A rather small example.

  • The bushes ahead had been viewable as enigmatic dark bumps on the lakebed surface from atop the Grandstand. (Notice that the lennie is morphing in shape, and definitely becoming more iridescent.)

    The bushes ahead had been viewable as enigmatic dark bumps on the lakebed surface from atop the Grandstand. (Notice that the lennie is morphing in shape, and definitely becoming more iridescent.)

  • Another travelling stone. Each example seems to have a different-shaped track.

    Another travelling stone. Each example seems to have a different-shaped track.

  • The dark "bumps" I'd seen were bushes clustered around a lower spot in the lakebed that gathers the first water. The soil in the depression glimmered as if it was wet, but it was quite dry.

    The dark "bumps" I'd seen were bushes clustered around a lower spot in the lakebed that gathers the first water. The soil in the depression glimmered as if it was wet, but it was quite dry.

  • We ate lunch nestled close to this bush, which provided welcome shelter from the wind.

    We ate lunch nestled close to this bush, which provided welcome shelter from the wind.

  • The scale of this place is quite wondrous.

    The scale of this place is quite wondrous.

  • The dark steep slope towards which Michèle is walking is the primary source of travelling stones.

    The dark steep slope towards which Michèle is walking is the primary source of travelling stones.

  • A larger rock with a well-defined path.

    A larger rock with a well-defined path.

  • Beautiful. Many of the rock tracks are a series of arcs.

    Beautiful. Many of the rock tracks are a series of arcs.

  • Another travelling stone, this one with two small companions.

    Another travelling stone, this one with two small companions.

  • As we approached the steep slope to the south, the wind started to abate.

    As we approached the steep slope to the south, the wind started to abate.

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