February 21, 2020, Death Valley, California

75 and sunny.

Sand Verbena, yellow evening primroses. Big hairy scorpion.  The book says these are 4 inches long, but I think that is with their tails up over their backs, this one was at least 6 inches long. Cryptantha, portulaca and white flowers. 

Yellow flower, evening primrose. Dirt patterns by the river. Desert star, mohavae, desert chicory, phacelia and yellow flower. Desert golds. 

Pygmy poppies, red branches  and green growing up through seat springs. We hiked up the unnamed canyon on Mormon point on the way back to the campground. Looking back onto the valley floor at the mouth of the canyon. 

Looking back down at the valley from one of the many slot canyons off this canyon. It is unnamed, but John decided to name it Slots of Fun. Cool clouds at the beginning of the canyon. 

Another slot canyon. Me walking up one of the slot canyons.

John walking up a slot canyon. 

Me with this formation I decided to name Satan's Fist, John thought it should be the trochanter because it looks like a bone. The canyon walls had all these wild colorful lines. 

Drippy, holey and painted rocks. John took this of me in front of one of the few smooth canyon walls. 

Two rock mushrooms, These two black ravens were chasing off this white hawk. Double alcove on the canyon wall. Hoo doos and evening primrose.

Slots of Fun. Me at the end of a narrow spot and John at the other end.  

John trying to climb though a big boulder jam at the mouth of one of the slots. John trying to climb up a blocked fall at the end of another slot. We didn't make it through either of them. Curvy canyon walls.

This side canyon did not go any farther than this. Cool lines on the canyon walls.

Me blocked by big rocks. Painted curves and lines. 

John nearing the end of the main canyon. Looking out another side slot canyon. 

Looking into another side slot canyon. John in the main canyon. 

Looking back up from the mouth of the canyon. Furnace Creek Inn near the campground. Judy and Judy will stay there at the end of their hike. We will join them around the pool and for dinners.  

A view of the packed campground from the top of our bus. The Dark Sky festival was going on this new moon weekend at the visitors center. I attended some lectures on astro photography.  Our neighbor in the campground spent some time with me trying to figure out how to shoot star photos with my point and shoot camera. I may have it sort of figured out. Next Dark Sky festival I will attend all the lectures, they were really interesting.