Wet and
Wild Death Valley, 2005
In
the spring of 2005, the family took a trip to Death Valley in central
California.
Usually Death Valley is one desolate place, but this
particular year they had received more rain than ever recorded before. Typical rainfall
for Death Valley is 2 inches per season, but this year they had 6 inches! (The
'100 year' event.) So here are some pictures of a wet and colorful Death
Valley, not to be seen again for another '100' years.
Death Valley, CA. Badwater - but not really. The
lake was 5 miles(!) long, but only a few feet deep at the most.
Death Valley, CA. 20 Mule Team Feed Wagon - Located
at intervals along the way to Mojave were these feed wagons. Note the loops on
the side.
Death Valley, CA. Carol and her new set of wheels.
Death Valley, CA. Borax Wagon - A twenty mule team wagan
train. The water tank at the end was for the mules on the long trek to railhead
at Mojave. Note the yellow flowers in the hill behind. (The white is evaporated
salt!)
Death Valley flowers
More flowers
and more flowers
Death Valley, CA. Carol finally hitting bottom.
Death Valley, CA. Apple Core - Carol saw this beside
the road. It use to be called the 'Mushroom' and was twice as wide, until a
group a scouts decided to get on it in the 70's and broke off the left side.
Ron relabled it as the 'Apple Core'. (Height about 8 feet.)
Death Valley, CA. Mona Lisa in Rock - Simon spotted this 'Mona Lisa' on the side of a mountain. Smile not included.
Death Valley, CA. Salt Creek - Pup Fish. The water
in Salt Creek is about as salty as the ocean. Over the ages, these little fish
adapted to the salty water.
Death Valley, CA. Telescope Peak - At 11,331 feet is
the highest point in Death Valley National Park. The picture was taken at near
sea level and about 17.5 miles away. (This is the greatest vertical rise in the
contiguous US.) What really is odd is the lake in front of it. A gift of the
'100 year' rain.