Pahrump, Tecopa and Death Vally Dec 17 2010

Weds we went to Pahrump to grocery shop, do laundry, and rent a carpet cleaner. Sucked carpet Weds night. Thurs we returned the carpet cleaner. The sun came out on the way back and it was beautiful.

the Nopah range outside of Shoshone, Ca

We went to Tecopa and sat in the hot springs. mmmmmmm.

Tecopa and the desert between here and there.

Today it rained. We went to Death Valley to hike to the lowest spot in Calif and the whole US. It is in the middle of the valley on the salt pan. John has been trying to get to the lowest spot in all the states.  We first thought it might be the beach, but the middle of DV is minus 282 feet below sea level.  Usually it is way to hot to hike out there. People who did not take enough water have died out there. It was my first time out that far. The salt formations were incredible. It was like the moon or nowhere I have experience. Being from Colorado it looked like ice and snow to us. John said he felt like he might fall thru any moment. We were the only people out there.

Rain on the way into the valley. Coyotes begging for food by the highway.

Bad water and the salt formationsHere is John hiking out on the valley floor.

skiing salt is not like skiing snow

This is John hiking up from the valley floor to artists palatte. Below that is artist palette.

this is my basket. It is coming along, it is only about 7 inches tall, it will be 12.