Sam's new Grand Cherokee at base of mountains along eastern edge of Saline Valley in western Death Valley National Park. Time stamps in all photos are one hour too far ahead (forgot to reset camera time from pesky Daylight Savings Time.) Saline Valley playa and Inyo Mountains in distance. See my personal web page at: http://bryanlallen.googlepages.com
Looking back at Sam's Cherokee. Short section of Lippincott Mine road to where we parked is quite rough, definitely high-clearance 4WD only.
Sam Duran.
Old boundary sign for DV National Monument; National Park boundary is now about 8-10 miles further west.
Climbing up the road towards Lippincott Mine & Homestake, looking back. Saline Valley playa in distance.
Climbing ever upward on the road; rather steep in places.
Moonrise over the mountains west of Homestake.
Next AM departing just west of Lippincott Mine area. Notice snow on Inyo mountains to west (yes, it was fairly chilly.) Somewhat overcast; overnight temperature was below freezing.
Sam Duran getting ready to walk onward.
At the southern edge of Racetrack Playa, looking north.
At the edge of the lake.
Photos & lunch were in order. Clouds from earlier in the AM had mostly dissipated.
Sam at the Racetrack.
One of the renowned "moving rocks."
Another rock with its track; notice that its track is a series of curves.
A rock which has moved; direction is from right to left. There is a dried "wave" of mud at the left edge of the rock, and a "wake" of dried mud on either side.
This is the same rock as in the previous photo; note the nice smooth curves the track makes, and the kink where the rock paused on its travels.
Up on the hillside which provides the source of the rocks, looking northwest.
Looking north with various rocks preparing for departure, and other rocks on their way. An island-like feature called "The Grandstand" is in the distance about two miles away towards the northern end of the playa.
Looking northerly along the eastern edge of Racetrack playa. Lots of rocks out there going places.
On the slope with the source rocks; note the fresh rock fall out on the lake surface.
Panorama taken from hillside at southeast corner of The Racetrack, where the rocks tumble down onto the playa surface and begin their wanderings.
A travelling rock and its track. This rock was only about three inches tall and was the lowest-profile rock we saw which had left a track. Once again note that the track is a series of "parking places" with the tracks in between being mostly curved segments.
A fairly small moving rock. It's interesting to me that each rock's track seemed unique and did not much resemble the tracks of its neighbors in terms of directions or lengths of segments.
Sam, the rock source, and lots of tracks & rocks.
Out on the playa, with lennies developing in the distance.
Out walking on the playa. The road is along the western edge.
