Titus Canyon
Sandstorm Outside Titus Canyon
Campsite 6, April 3 - When people come to a national park, or really any tourist spot, they bring their expectations. I find that my expectations or knowledge of an area lessens my experience. At Arches, you expect arches. If you had come upon them not knowing they were there, the element of surprise would imprint that first arch with a sense of wonder that would enhance the experience. If, by accident, you found that there are lots of arches, that would be an amazing find! Since you know they are there and hundreds of other people are there sitting, climbing, and posing all over them, it’s a bit like going to Disneyland and standing in line.
While Arches was beautiful and very interesting from a geological and photography prospective, there was not much surprise. That’s one reason, when I write about a place, I try not to write about the whole place. I want to leave something for the reader to discover.
Death Valley was not what I expected. For people who want to discover something, this might be the place. Spoiler alert: I have been considering the activities you can do here, in addition to the basic drive through tourist thing. Here is a list of the things I know of, after only a few days in the area.
Camp / Wheel with overland buddies
Watch both a sunrise and sunset without leaving your camp
Experience a sandstorm
Hike in an 80F salt flat while it’s snowing less than 5 miles away (it can get up to 130F on the Valley floor but probably won’t snow in the mountains on that day)
Photography (astro, landscape, macro, wildlife, aviation)
Hunt fossils and/or rocks
Study the geology
Visit volcanoes
Look for rare or endangered animals/plants (desert tortoises…)
Visit abandoned mining operations (borax, sulfur)
Look for wild burros
Rock climb
Practice tracking skills in sand
Watch for fighter jets practicing low altitude flying (you can only miss them if you’re a deaf)
Hike/ bike through a range of terrains
Meet people from all over the world
Astronomy (it’s a dark sky park)
Play golf (why would anyone come here for golf!)
Bird watch
Backpack
Soak in a hot spring (some are clothing optional)
Look for wildflowers
Meet native Americans (there is a reservation for the Timbisha Shoshone within the park)
Climb sand dunes (there are at least five dune areas)
Visit salt flats
Look for desert oases
See every possible camping configuration
I thought this was just a low dry spot. While it is that, the formation of the area and its historic use intertwine giving all the possible uses greater meaning.
Walking up a canyon you will notice the variety of colors in the rocks under your feet.
A Collection of Colored Rocks from the Trail
Then you begin to notice the layers of rock on the canyon walls.
Rock Layers in the Canyon Walls
Around a bend, the wall changes to a completely different rock.
The Two Canyon Walls are of Different Rock
Emerging from the walls are plants you would not find at home. How do they find water there?
As you wander you could find an old mine. (I forgot to take a photo of the mine in Titus Canyon, This photo is from the abandoned sulfur mine in the north part of the park. )
On the ground at your feet, you see movement. You lift your foot to find a lizard has taken shelter from the passing humans.
This lizard really did hide under a boot
You look up to see swallows flitting from one insect to the next. Hiking on, you emerge from the canyon to find a sandstorm.
On the way back to camp, you might see someone hiking through the storm. If you have the space, you can choose to give them a ride to a safe place and meet someone with a totally different perspective on this place.
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