I hiked a couple of miles out into the Badwater salt flats early this morning, sat down in the snow-white crystals of a dried up salt pool, and the desolation was glorious.
After a good night’s rest the morning featured some sunrise photography, a hike through the Badwater salt flats, and a delicious burger for a hungry boy. Post-burger the itinerary included a visit to the yellow formations of Zabriskie Point, and a drive up to Dante’s View. I thought I’d been to this overlook before, but I don’t remember it, and it’s a memorable spot with a five thousand foot sheer drop down to the valley floor and a ridiculously great view of the awesome geology of the surrounding landscape – since that’s three superlatives, odds are that my memory is faulty and this is a spot that has not been on a past trip itinerary.
After leaving Dante’s View the trail led towards home via the eastern Sierra, with a brief stop to enjoy the Milky Way, and the current stop to try to get a journal entry written before it gets too late (aka 9PM) and my brain starts getting mushier than normal. Tonight will be spent in a real bed as this end-of-year trip sadly comes to its end.
I’m not sure if you are a better photographer now or if you have better camera equipment but I give you credit for the bottom photo here. Also, if you become John Muir that would be awesome.
I don’t know what you think, Ryan, but I think you got a great shot of the cranes!
I like all of these compliments very much. Now we need to get Aaron using a SLR, then we can all go take photos and make fun of each other when we take pictures of pelicans flying and chop off the heads, or see a flock of cranes and then accidentally set the focus on the background.
Ryan, one of the things I look forward to in a New Year is your post about predictions and last year’s scorecard. Get on it, will you? :D. I had made a prediction too and I didn’t miss it by much. The guy I predicted to win the Olympic gold in table tennis Singles was not even selected to play in the singles event by China.
You also scared the crap out of my brother by predicting the DOW would go to 6000. Predictions are coming, but these things can’t be rushed if I’m to maintain my sterling record of incorrect prognostication.