“Only the Devil could play golf here.” 1934 National Park guide book.
Peggy and I are playing hooky, extending our seemingly endless time away from home. One would think that backpacking the PCT, visiting Puerto Vallarta, and spending over a month with our kids in Florida and North Carolina would satisfy our wandering needs for a while. But no, here we are in Las Vegas, or Lost Wages, as I like to call it, ensconced in a comfortable suite at the very southern tip of Las Vegas Boulevard, the infamous Strip. Or is that famous?
Few people who visit this city venture outside of its mecca of gambling and entertainment pleasure palaces. Peggy and I always do. There is much to see and do. There is a desert on its doorstep, and it is a desert of rare beauty. Death Valley National Park is a prime example. It is a mere two hours away and Peggy and I drove out there on Sunday. To us, it’s like seeing an old friend; we have been there many times.
It is a geologist’s dream— there are rocks everywhere, and the rocks all have stories to tell. It’s a story of ancient seas and lakes and volcanic activities and clashing, mountain-building plates. Death Valley is a rift valley, or a graben in technical terms, formed along a fault zone between two mountain ranges. As the mountains were thrust up by tectonic forces, the valley dropped between them, several thousand feet. The two mountain ranges have since filled the valley up with eroded debris.
The shallow Lake Manly filled the basin a few thousand years ago. As the climate of the area changed and became more desert like, the lake dried up. Its briny waters left a deep deposit of salt behind, which brings us to today’s post. The Devil’s Golf Course is located a short 10 miles away from Bad Water Basin, which, at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point on the North American continent. Water that drains into the Basin melts the salt and becomes undrinkable, thus the name. The Devil’s Golf Course is several feet higher and avoids the melting water. Instead, capillary action pulls salty subsurface water up creating the crystalline structures that the area is famous for.
Peggy and I caught the area at a particularly good time for photography, which surprised me, given the location of the overhead sun. Anyway, here are the results.
NEXT POST: A ghostly reminder of Death Valley’s past, and more.
Wandering through Time and Place 
It is amazing how people find such an inhospitable place… inviting. 🙂 It’s like Mother Nature is saying, “What do I have to do to get a little peace?” 🙂
Laughing. I think the answer, Craig, might be to not have so much drop-dead beautiful scenery. She takes her revenge in the summer however when temperatures can climb over 120 F. –Curt
Great shots. Pass the golf balls!
Thanks Peggy. I think the proverbial needle in a haystack applies here! –Curt
Is that where the name ‘rock salt’ comes from? It looks very hot up there.
The answer is yes, Gerard. Rock salt can be found in deposits around the world. Australia must have its share. 🙂
It can get hot in the summer. World records have been set. But the desert can get cold in the winter. I think it was in the high 50s/low 60s F. Quite comfortable. –Curt
Ghostly reminder! Can’t wait 🙂 Love the pictures – I have to visit there one of these days. Have fun in “Lost Wages” haha!
We are working on the ‘lost wages’ part, M.B. 🙂
I mentioned that Death Valley is a geologist’s dream. It is also a photographer’s dream. Thanks. Peggy and I highly recommend that people visit Death Valley and do so in the spring, winter, or fall. –Curt
Such an amazing place. I like how Peggy’s photographs capture the expansiveness of this rock salt landscape as well as the topography.
Peggy says thank you, Arati. Interesting topography, wide-open spaces, and rare beauty are a good summary of Death Valley. We had a lot of fun with our cameras. –Curt
Very nice
Thank you. –Curt
In 1995 I took a coach tour of the National Parks and enjoyed every stop. Yellowstone, Arches, Mesa Verde, Zion etc. The tour ended in Las Vegas and I hated every moment of it. I put it down to the sudden culture shock and the fact that I went home with food poisoning from a dodgy hotel buffet.
There certainly is a contrast, Andrew. We enjoy the “Pleasure Palaces,” if for no other reason than to admire the fantasies they create. They come at an expensive price tag, however. Las Vegas does make a convenient location to enjoy the surrounding area. You might even find a UFO or two lurking in the area. 🙂 –Curt
I especially like the nearby nuclear test site stories.
Lot’s of them for sure Andrew. Including one of the Indiana Jone’s movies. Peggy and I got ‘busted’ when we tried to visit. It was by an iconic guy driving a black SUV and wearing dark glasses. –Curt
Ha ha ha — that’s the kind of golf course I’d have a chance of getting a ball in a hole. Now, finding it…
Yep. You might have just a wee bit of a problem retrieving balls, AC! 🙂 –Curt
I imagine Hollywood has used this site for many a sci-fi film of what it’s like on other planets?
It would be a good one, G! 🙂 Don’t know how much the Devil’s Golf Course has been used, but a number of sic-fi and westerns have been filmed in the area. –Curt
I figured they must have!
I’ll have to add Death Valley National Park to our list of side trips on our way to or from the Phoenix area!
It’s an easy side trip if you are in the area, Margy, and ever so worth it. Best avoided in the summer however! 🙂 –Curt
I’m both awed and slightly unnerved by this barren alien landscape … I’ve never imagined a desert like this. It looks nearly impossible to wander out over the rough ground.Thanks for sharing the superb photos and some of the history … and have a great trip! 😀
Imagine, Annika, being an early pioneer and coming upon Death Valley as something you had to get across! By stepping carefully, you can walk out among the salt pillars. Care is called for, however. Nasty cuts are a possibility! And thank you. We are enjoying our little escape. –Curt
Perhaps we’ll be heading to the SW as you think about resting from all this wandering. No solid schedule set just yet, but we have a hankering for the Bosque del Apache… Lovely rain here (finally). Hoping this storm sticks around for awhile.
We have a three week trip planned for the Taos area in May. 🙂
Wonderful shots! My folks have told us stories of great park locations they’ve reached by driving from Las Vegas- about the only thing that could lure me to stay there I think 😉 Thanks for sharing!
I have heard of course about Death Valley and its heath, but this was new to me. Very interesting post and gorgeous pics which I enjoyed. Thank You.
Have a good day!
There are places in the world that make you wonder if you’ve gone to another planet. Were you able to see Death Valley in other than midday light?
It was getting later in the day when we drove through Twenty Mule Team Canyon, Dave. So, there is more color on the post that is up now. I’ve been to Death Valley numerous times over the years and have enjoyed it at all times of the day. I’ve even been there in a snow storm. 🙂
These photos are really good. It’s hard to take photos there sometimes, because it gets so bright and everything around you is pale and lacks contrast. I have enjoyed only two visits to Death Valley, but have never seen this spot.
Another fave place to go is Red Rock Canyon. Have you two hiked out there? I loved it.
We’ve been to Death Valley a number of times over the years, Crystal, but I am still finding places to explore. As for Red Rock Canyon, an absolute delight. I’ve even done posts on it. Here’s one: https://wandering-through-time-and-place.com/2014/06/18/