DV Digest

To summarize the AWESOMENESS that was Death Valley, I will briefly outline the activities:

(1/7) Artist Drive Bike Ride = 26 miles of smiles.  Brought two water bottles, two POWER NUGGETS, and a Clif bar.  And my camera, of course.  The rolling hills and one long climb were amazing, surprising, and challenging.  The twists and turns were technical, I learned that one should look into the turn, actually at the mountain you are going around, when descending.  Thanks, Swiftie!

(1/8) Marble Canyon Hike = 10k of solid rock.  Brought 2 L in Camelback (Cloud Walker Day Pack) plus two water bottles.  Ate apple and two Clif bars.  Not sure exactly how long this hike was or how long we took.  This was my experiment at a low-tech hike.  Even though I was wearing my Columbia Daypack Hiking Boots, I kind of turned an ankle while running to catch up with my fellows after snapping more photos.  I guessed it was God's way of saying "Just slow down and enjoy the views, why are you hurrying?"

(1/9) Zabriskie Point Hike = 10k of Gorge-ous.  Brought 2 L in Camelback (Cloudwalker Day Pack) plus two water bottles.  Ate hummus and pita, cucumber, sprouts, bell pepper, oranges, sports beans, Clif bars.  This hike took 4 hours 17 minutes, we stopped for a meditation at 5.5 miles.  I remember facing directly into the sun and a hot wind and came to the realization that "we all had fucked-up complicated parents, we are all fucked-up complicated parents, we will all be fucked-up complicated parents, because no human being is perfect."

(1/10) Furnace Creek Run = 5k in the desert.  I took two 500 mL water bottles, an apple, and my ID / credit card / health insurance card.  I watched a 20 minute video at the Visitor's Center about DV NP and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe.  They mentioned something about DV knowing you and welcoming you, that it isn't a forbidding land but a heart-opening and enveloping wilderness that embraces you.  This run was mostly flat with total elevation change of 81 ft.  This run burned about 300 kcal.

I could have stayed longer, we had the campsite reserved another night, but it wasn't the same being there alone.  I did get to attend a couple of guided activities.  The tour of Badwater Basin by Ranger Jess was about Salt, Salt and More Salt.  She explained that the colors on display in the basin and the hexagonal structures in the salt deposits are a result of the differences in solubility of the minerals found there.  The last time the basin contained water was 2004.

I also attended a night lecture about the Night Sky.  Death Valley is quite dark at night, compared with urban environments such as Los Angeles.  Projections estimate that by 2075, LA residents will not even be able to see the big dipper.  As it is now, we can see only about 100 stars.  Ranger Jess told us a story about the galaxy we are a part of, and how our galaxy is only one of MANY, and if we can't see all the other stars in the sky, then it makes sense that we would develop a feeling of self-importance and lose sight of our sense of wonder and scientific curiosity.  Walking back to my campsite after the talk, I gazed at my own moonshadow and tried to remember to appreciate the stars whenever possible.

(1/11) Fireside Yoga = 20 minutes of unifiying the body, breath, and mind.  I packed up my tent and all my clothes/gear and set everything on the picnic table.  I set up a nice warm fire and before eating breakfast went through Practice 1 from https://sites.google.com/site/kaiserwellnesscenter/home/fitness-awareness/finding-balance/the-heart-of-yoga which set me in balance with my goal of getting back to Los Angeles sometime around 2pm.

~Google+ Auto Awesome Created This Panorama For Me~

What I would bring next time: Duct Tape (there is a hole in my tent), Air Mattress, Ace Bandage, More Silverware, Dish Drying Rack, MORE Instant Coffee, LESS food, FEWER clothes, my running belt, MORE Butter.  I would have worried less about the ice melting in my cooler.  I still had 1.5 bags of ice left when I arrived at home.  But at a different time of year that could be more of a problem.   AND I would have brought a sun hat with a 360 degree brim rather than a small visor, even though it was fun reppin' CSUN.

Videos Here and Here.  Photos Here.