Death Valley Travel Guide

Death Valley is just as extraordinary as its name suggests - although less intimidating than it was then when many gold diggers met their deaths in this extremely tough place. My trip there was a geological dreams... alluvial fans out there in the distance, the snowy peaks 6000 feet above sea level, then zoom to the bottom of the valley floor covered with hardened salt - which traced the beginning of this place to a dried up ocean floor. There are caves, giant dead crater, sand dunes Arabia-style, and tufa the giant salt formation nearby at Mono Lake - on the way there we passed Manzanar, a place where US govt built a camp to hold their citizens of Japanese descent hostage around the World War II.

If you dare to take on the heat of Death Valley in August, you can get off-season rates at the Furnace Creek Inn.  Its understated luxury is elegant.  The large pool is even heated from a natural hot spring that lies underneath the slightly-historic hotel. Double dare by doing a short hike in one the washout canyons along the east side of the valley.  Hike before noon, bring pleanty of water, and putting ice cubes in your hat feels great!

Toffe lokatie, warm maar in een auto met airco best te doen. Belangrijk is toch goed je temperatuurmeter in je auto te checken om te zien of je auto niet overhit geraakt. Je zou toch niet willen stilstaan temidden van Death Valley?  Zie je de temperatuurmeter uitwijken - afsluiten en eventjes met vensters openrijden voor wat wind in je haren te voelen. Van zodra de meter weer uit de rode zone is kan je de airco weer aanzetten.