Death Valley Sampler and Manzanar by Cage

[BMWRockster]

Picture taken from Scotty's Castle Road looking to the west. Note the outline of the faint road coming down the mountain. That is Highway 190 coming from Panamint Springs.


The exit to Titus Canyon comes out on Scotty's Castle Road. The ranger said we could drive up to the exit of Titus Canyon and hike up the canyon. Since we could not make the 3 hour drive coming the other way from Beatty, NV we thought this would be the next best thing. I am glad we did this hike because we are sure we will do this drive in the truck the next time we come. The canyon walls are very steep and very high. The canyon width is only wide enough for one car. The trail is one way coming from the east to the west.


This is the exit of Titus Canyon. It does not look like much, but check out the views of Death Valley that would have seen if we were driving it west in the next picture.


Imagine driving 3 hours on dirt roads in the back country and then you get to exit into Death Valley with this view. I did not check my Zumo but I guess we were a few thousand feet up from the valley floor. Looking out was spectacular.

[BMWRockster]

Just another shot without Ayumi in it. I loved this view.


Hiking up the canyon.


Ayumi in the picture for contrast. The canyon walls were steep and tall. Same question, how much water and for how long did it have to flow to cut this canyon. Same as earlier canyons, walls were very smooth.

[BMWRockster]

This is an Alluvial Fan. Some Fans are millions of years old. This one according to the roadside sign said this one was only a few thousand years. Lots of Alluvial Fans throughout Death Valley.



We made it to Scotty's Castle. Definetly worth a tour. It was pretty cold at Scotty's Castle. Traveling north up the valley you gain elevation. At Scotty's Castle you are near 3000 ft. You can research the story about Scotty's Castle. Very similar in time and circumstance to Hearst Castle.

[BMWRockster]

There use to be a full service garage and gas station at the Castle


Some catus pictures



Ouch!

[BMWRockster]

Amazing that this was built in the 1920's. It is certainly a big piece of property.





That tower building was never finished. The owner Albert Johnson ran out of money as a result of the Great Depression. Don't ask why its called Scotty's Castle if it was owned by Albert Johnson. Just go on a tour...

The castle had one of the first electric power refrigerators that produced ice cubes. See the freezer on the left.

[BMWRockster]

Check out the 1920's electric toaster. There is a coil on the backside that looks just like this so you can toast two pieces at same time. Imagine that!


The main living room. They said on the hottest days in Death Valley 120 degrees, this room will stay a cool 90 degrees. The air conditioning is water dripping down a weeping wall supplied from the water spring up the mountain.


Coming down Grapevine Canyon. Check out what looks like ancient lava flows. Is there a geologist in the house?

[BMWRockster]

Now its off to Ubhebe Crater. This is a must see. The hole is huge created by volcanic eruption a few thousand years ago.


When we got there, the wind was blowing easily 40 knotts (take it from a avid windsurfer). I am guessing with the wind chill it felt like 40 degrees. There is a trail that goes down into the crater but it was too windy and cold to hike down so we wimped out.


For brief seconds Ayumi had much more forward lean than this in the gust. The wind was pretty impressive.


The road to Ubehebe Crater also leads to the entrance to Racetrack Road that goes to Racetrack Playa. We drove a few minutes of it and it is super washboarded out. Next time we will go to the Playa and check out the 700 pound rocks that have moved on the lake bed.


I have heard lots of tourist take 2 wheel drive rental cars all the way out to Race Track Playa and either make it no problem or get two flats and have to pay $2000 to get towed out.

[BMWRockster]

After finishing Ubehebe Crater we are going to head back to the South part of the park and hit Artist Drive and Nautral Bridges. On the drive back we got some nice afternoon sunshine so we snapped these pics on the way to Furnace Creek.


Looking to the south. Stove Pipe Wells is at the base of those mountains.


Mesquite Sand Dunes again, this time with some nice sunlight on them.


A portrait shot of Mesquite Sand Dunes. I like how the clouds allowed for sun
right on the dunes


Climbing up from the valley floor up Artist Drive looking Northwest.

[BMWRockster]

After an hour plus of driving, we get to Artist Drive. Its all paved so great for street bikes. A must do loop ride.



The first sight of color in the mountains on Artist Drive


I am hoping Land Rover will want to buy this picture from me Wishful thinking. Do you see the deal killer? I have a GoPro Hero mounted on the hood


The colors are getting better. I am hoping for more


Artist Drive looking south towards Badwater Basin.

[BMWRockster]

Ahh yes, thats more like it. Love the blue brown and pinks.







Artist drive decending back down into the valley


We wanted to hike over to the colors but ran out of time.