Sunday, March 13, 2016

Dante’s View and Artist Drive

 

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As soon as we got out of the car I remembered why we didn’t drive up to Dante’s View the first time we visited Death Valley. At 5,475’ it was 20 degrees cooler than the valley, and with a very strong breeze blowing. There are a couple of trails that take you out along ridges with spectacular views of the park and beyond. On clear days Mount Whitney, the highest point in the US, and Badwater Basin, the lowest, can be seen at the same time, but not the day we were there.

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My imagination made me think I was looking at ocean waves rather than salt flats.

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The trail gets quite close to the edge. Jim looked back at me at one point and said “Didn’t that bother you?” I guess I was so busy looking out at the scenery I didn’t think about it. Until we came back down that is.

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Since it was late afternoon by then we detoured off to Artist Drive, a 9 mile paved one way road that takes you through multi-hued hills. It’s really a beautiful drive.

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Artist’s Palette.

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That morning before we headed out I was walking to the trash and saw a large tow truck driving through the campground. He backed into a site and began working on hooking up this RV. Now there’s the reason why we have Coach Net. It’s got to be a long and expensive tow out of Death Valley. That really must have ruined their day!

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8 comments:

  1. Ambitious hike, but such rewarding views. It's not just the cost of being towed, but that's their home that is now unusable. I've been towed twice, and that's the worst even tho both tows were short and repairs quick. Enjoy the wild flowers!

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  2. Oh yea, that wind was vicious. We went there first thing in the morning at the coldest time. But those views are to freeze for. And the surreal colors of Artists Palette blew me away, without the wind. Nice to still see flowers. Hope they have road care.

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  3. We had one of those days up on Dante's View. We took lunch and planned to hike to the peak and enjoy the view. Well, with 40 degrees and terrible winds, lunch was in the car. I only got out long enough to take a few photos...another time! Love Artists Palette. One really must see it in person to truly appreciate the beauty.

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  4. Thanks for the pictures...I was headed there last Sunday..All loaded and ready to go..Then the storms hit the West Coast...My road had three slides and the weather just looked.."BAD"...Maybe another time, the flowers will probably be gone next month....Oh well....
    At least you got to enjoy the valley...
    I checked yesterday and many of the campgrounds were full-up.
    Take Care,
    Upriver

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    1. Glad we only had one day of bad weather in Death Valley. Even the big parking lot campgrounds were packed last week. Probably a combination of the media hype on the super bloom, spring break time, and a couple of events in the park.

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  5. I am guessing that photos don't do Artist's Palette justice, although yours are lovely. Many of those shots of the salt flats do look like waves on the ocean. Definitely have got to get to Death Valley.

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  6. We love Death Valley. Cant get enough of it. And yes we also had a wind storm and dust storm while there.

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  7. We love Death Valley. Cant get enough of it. And yes we also had a wind storm and dust storm while there.

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