Day 4: Unexpected Pleasures

First, let me just say that I was thinking about titling this post something like, "Wait, am I back in Iceland?" because (1) today was incredibly windy, just like it was in Iceland and (2) one of my stops today involved a volcano (more on that later), of which Iceland has several.  However, the more I thought about it, this day was really more about unexpected pleasures.  Yesterday I thought today might be a bust since the extreme winds (which tend to hamper photo taking) were supposed to continue, but while it was indeed windy, the day was far from a bust!

Yesterday I received a text from my sister-in-law Patty informing me that her daughter's (Nicole's) mother and father-in-law, Jim & Doreen Brisch, were coincidentally visiting Death Valley.  She gave them my number and suggested they contact me.  I had met Jim & Doreen a couple times, and while they are very nice people, I honestly wasn't too keen on meeting up with anyone at the moment because of  my grumpy mood.  Nonetheless, when Doreen called a while later, we agreed to meet and watch the sun come up over Mesquite Dunes at 5:45 am.  I was doubtful things would work out since I expected a virtual sandstorm on the dunes, and all I could think about were sand particles pummeling my camera and lens at 50 mph!  But, I prepared for the worst and drove off to meet them early this morning.

To my surprise, the wind had died down considerably and there was only a mild breeze across the dunes (in other words, no PSP's, or Pummeling Sand Particles).  The sky was completely clear (a few clouds might have been nice, though), and we watched the sun rise above the Black Mountains and bathe the mountains to the west, and the dunes themselves, in a beautiful golden light.  Stunning!  To top it off, the winds overnight had completely obliterated the countless footprints of visitors, leaving behind a pristine landscape with intersting ripples in the sand.  This was definitely something I was hoping to capture but was not very optimistic about it.  Serendipitous!

Next, Jim and Doreen invited me back to their RV for breakfast.  We enjoyed home cooked bacon, eggs, English muffins, avocado and fresh coffee (which was very welcome since I didn't have time to grab any when I left the hotel), over some very delightful conversation.  What a treat!

As Jim and Doreen are avid hikers, we decided to do a hike together.  They had one they were thinking about but I suggested the Ubehebe Crater (don't ask me where that name comes from or even how to say it).  Friends of ours, who are also big hikers, had just visited Death Valley a few weeks prior, and they said the hike around the crater was a "must do".  So off we went.

Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater 600 feet deep and a half mile across, and there is a smaller, sister crater called "Little Hebe" right next to it.  Ubehebe is of course dormant, but it may have been active as recent as 300 years ago.  The hike around the rim is about 1-1/2 miles, offering tremendous views of the crater interior and the surrounding mountains.  The wind was ferocious as we hiked around the crater, exactly as I experienced in Iceland.  There was also lots of coarse, black volcanic sand reminiscent of the black sand found everywhere in Iceland.  Consequently, it brought back some memories.  I had thought about visiting the crater, but it wasn't high on my list based on the blase photos I had seen on line.  However, my expectations were definitely exceeded (the online photos don't do it justice).  It was a fantastic hike, and it was so much fun doing it with Jim and Doreen.  An unexpected pleasure for sure!

Below are some photos from today.  I will be checking out of the Atomic Inn tomorrow but have the better part of the day open, so I plan to go back to the park to catch some last photos, including sunrise at Zabriskie Point from my "secret" vantage point.  I'm also hoping to do some night photography yet tonight so look for these in the next post.

Oh, and in keeping with the volcano theme: https://youtu.be/IjGHwGkFIFw

Jim & Doreen atop the Mesquite Dunes before sunrise

Doreen patiently waiting for the sun to come up

Two morning hikers on Mesquite Dunes

Sand ridge

Footprints in the dunes

Sand ridges in black and white

Vegetation and ridges

Another "self-portrait"

Ubehebe Volcano Crater

Erosion on interior wall of crater (converted to black and white except for yellow flowers)

"Little Hebe"

Ridges of coarse, black volcanic sand around the crater rim

Flowers that were everywhere around (and in) the craters.  I think the yellow ones are poppies, but I don't know about the little pink ones.  There were also tons of small butterflies around.  Amazing (and how could they fly in the strong wind?  Or were they really just going backwards?)

My best bud Al.  I don't know his last name, but it's Ian or something.

The Atomic Inn!  The bomb at lower left and the name itself is in recognition of the proximity of Beatty to Mercury, NV where the first above-ground atomic bomb tests were conducted.  (And the alien figures are because Beatty is close to Area 51).