It is impossible to capture in a single photo the essence of Death Valley. Here is Stovepipe Wells viewed from the nearby sand dunes.

Have been in Death Valley for about a week and half. It is good to see that there are people in our world that have an adventurous spirit. In Stovepipe Wells (Death Valley), seen people that stay in the hotel, people who use their RV's, and people who tent camp, even when the weather makes it a challenge. Like two sand storms in 4 days. These people take the time to explore DV, each according to ...

Have been playing in Death Valley with friend from college days, John Irwin and his family, and 3 other family friends of John. We were 15 in all, included teens and kids.

The teens, Chad, Jeanne and Annie.

We were: Scott, Jane and daughter (3); Dave, Candace and daughter Annie, Hansons's (3); John, Cathy, daughter Jeanne and son Chad, Irwin's (4); Matt, Tracey and son Ryan, Hacker's (3); Roy Leidy (1).

To play well in Death Valley one really needs 4-wheel drive (with high clearance is better) to manage the back country, and a thirst for historical trivia about early 19th century hardy characters that ventured into DV. The geology (vulcanism and other forces of nature) and history in Death Death Valley are fascinating.

This is a rare site in Death Valley.

The characters who in the mid 1800 traveled to, thru and lived in DV where strong people and probably shunned the normal civilized ways. They explored this "Valley" not just to cross the dessert looking for path to greener pastures (California gold) to the west, but lived in DV prospecting for their small fortune, gold, silver, copper, lead and other stuff. The canyons, the mines and the springs often named after them can be read in the myriad of books written about DV.

John and his friends have been visiting DV yearly for about a decade, and at least one as much as 30 yrs. They have spent lots of time reading about DV, and exploring the locations in the many canyons where this characters mined and or lived and died.

Where we went with 4-wheel drive vehicles:

1. • Thur. - Warm Spring Cyn, Anvil Spring, Emmett's Place, Stella's Place, BBQ dinner in Grotto Cyn.

2. • Fri.  - Wildrose Cyn, Charcoal Kilns and hike, Christmas Mine, Argenta Mine, Wood Cyn, BBQ dinner in Grotto Cyn.

3. • Sat.  - Tucki Cyn, Natural Arch, Telephone Cyn, Upper Emmigrant Spring, Lower Emmigrant Spring, BBQ dinner in front of hotel.

4. • Sun.  - Johnson Cyn, Hungry Bill's Ranch hike, Miko's rescue, Furnace Creek dinner

5. • Mon.  - I went to Beatty NV to find dessert to go with dinner; BBQ dinner in Grotto Cyn.

One day we performed a good deed, we encountered a "character", his name is Miko, who said he was from Norway. He drove a newly bought chevy malibu up Johnson Canyon, which is a 4-wheel drive high clearance only access road. Yes, he trashed the malibu, ripped a hole in the oil pan, kept on going up into the canyon, till he could not go any further, then started driving back (no oil), when we encountered him. About 5 hours later, as we were exiting the canyon we encountered him again as we knew we would. By then he had flatted two tires, and a front rim was without the tire and literally bent to a square shape. He was only about 40 miles from helpful civilization. Yap, we gave him a ride under suspicion and reluctance, not knowing what kind of character we assisted. After all, remember the Manson "family", they lived here in DV before and after their gruesome deed(s).

Probably not a rare site at the Sand Dunes, as seen from Stovepipe Wells.

John go ahead, go into the old mine. Not a chance, very, very  dangerous to explore into the old mines. Best to stay out and explore around the mines.

Relaxing after BBQ dinner in Grotto Cyn and watching the stars.