When we arrived in Death Valley I was surprised how hot it was (+30c). I realize this is the hottest place in the US, but it was November. I don't imagine it was as hot in nearby Las Vegas (judging by previous winter climbing trips to Red Rocks.)
From Tonopah we had planned to drive through the park on some new (to us) roads. But most of the roads in the park were closed from flood damage from a storm several months ago. We had the same problem leaving - we planned to drive south and go through Mojave next, but that road was also closed.
We ate our lunch in a pull off beside the road where there were picnic tables in the shade. Surprisingly, there was a stream of water in the ditch - from the resort I assume. But where there's water, there's life and Variegated Meadowhawk dragonflies were staking out their perches and chasing off intruders. (Their habit of returning to the same perch is very helpful for photography,)
I was also surprised how many grasshoppers were around. Even on our hike, with no vegetation in sight there would be grasshoppers jumping up from your feet. They were well camouflaged and just about impossible to spot until you disturbed them and they moved. The occasional bush was almost certain to contain multiple grasshoppers on the leaves.
Despite the heat we did a nice hike (Golden Canyon Loop). It helped that we went later in the day (slightly cooler and more shade), although the early winter sunset (4:30) meant we got back just as the sun went down. This loop goes up one drainage then across and back down a different drainage.
There wasn't much flora or fauna. I spotted one lizard but it disappeared before I could photograph it. In addition to the grasshoppers I spotted this Assassin bug in one of the rare bushes.
There was even some fun mild scrambling in the drainage that we descended by.
We camped at Texas Springs campground at Furnace Creek. Desert campgrounds can resemble parking lots, but this one at least had a few bushes and trees. And thankfully the dry desert and clear skies cool off quickly at night making camping quite pleasant.
The next morning, on our way out of the park we stopped at Zabriskie Point, one of the most visited (and photographed) viewpoints. I'm sure these photographs have been taken many times before.
The two tiny hikers in the photo below are on the trail we did the day before (starting from the flats in the background.
See also Shelley's post
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