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What a day! It started normally with an early 7:30 departure from the campsite and heading to the trails. The weather was hot to start and it wasn’t long before it climbed over 100F, but the perpetual wind kept it bearable. We hiked around and into a crater in the Northern part of the desert. Created by a volcano, 1000’s of years ago and still dramatically beautiful. As we drove down to our next stop, a lookout over the whole of the Death Valley salt flats, we noticed that the whole valley seemed to be in a haze, as though the wind was picking up the salt. We hiked again at a high point overlooking the whole valley and while up there received a National Weather Service alert about a dust storm warning. Well, it was interesting from there – the wind was relentless, and the sand it whipped up started to obliterate the mountains across the valley. After a delicious dinner at a restaurant we headed back to the campers, about an hour drive. The mountains had completely disappeared across the valley and the drive was a bit like driving in a snow storm whiteout, without the icy road. There were times where we couldn’t see more than a couple of feet ahead and had to rely on the lines on the road. We made it back safely and with a film of sand over the whole car.
Footnote:
It’s now the next morning and it was a fitful night, with the wind buffeting the camper, until about 3am when it quieted down a little. Everything is coated with dust, inside and out, but no real issues and what an adventure we had!
-Sally
