K: Well, it is safe to say that I now am an experienced camper. After leaving Las Vegas on Tuesday (and $150 richer thanks to a lucky run at the Blackjack table), we arrived in Death Valley in the afternoon. It is a vast expanse of a national park with such great diversity: the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level, rocks, canyons, sand dunes, oases and a massive salt basin. All of this is surrounded by some of the highest mountain peaks in the US, including Mt. Whitney.
We set up camp on the desert floor, and the wind continued to pick up throughout the night with gusts that had to have reached nearly 50mph. I am still amazed that we weren't airborn and that the tent stayed on the ground despite shaking violently all night long. While the tent withstood the wind (despite a couple of bent tent poles), it did fill with sand. There is nothing like waking up with sand everywhere. Unbeknownst to us, the western pacific was suffering one of the worst storms in decades with some places near San Francisco getting 20 inches of rain and in the Sierra Nevadas, several inches of snow. Apparently Mammoth Mountain is going to open for skiing on Friday!
V: My ears still ringing from the non-stop slot machine dinging and neon lights glowing (yes, I can hear the neon lights of Vegas), I was excited to return to Death Valley. I recall fondly my brother and I driving through Death Valley in my 1973 Plymouth Fury, my left arm out the driver's window and his right arm out the passenger window, both severely sun burned. I am still amazed at the number of people out here camping in mid-October. It wasn't ideal, but Karen found a nice campsite for us.
V: My ears still ringing from the non-stop slot machine dinging and neon lights glowing (yes, I can hear the neon lights of Vegas), I was excited to return to Death Valley. I recall fondly my brother and I driving through Death Valley in my 1973 Plymouth Fury, my left arm out the driver's window and his right arm out the passenger window, both severely sun burned. I am still amazed at the number of people out here camping in mid-October. It wasn't ideal, but Karen found a nice campsite for us.
Then the wind picked up. I could not even pitch the tent by myself; we could barely pitch it together. And the wind just did not stop. It is the most severe wind that I have ever camped in. Yes, a little gritty sand got blown into the tent, into our sleeping bags, into our nose, ears, eyes and throat. But we both survived the night, and Karen has officially her camping merit badge.
Highlights:
Sips: Corbett Canyon Merlot (in a box, of course)
Sips: Corbett Canyon Merlot (in a box, of course)
Bites: Spanish omelette and corned beef hash at the Totem Cafe in Lone Pine, CA (delicious)
Sites: Death Valley National Park
We found you! We lost your email (of course), but google karen viggo camping and voila, here you are! I send a few friends to your blog to see wedding pics as mine were sparse and poorly shot.
ReplyDeleteWe have not yet had been forced to do box wine, but hear it is just fine on the camp site. Ross can grill a mean lamb chop riverside next time you swing this way should the stars align and the waters be flowing. Shoot me your email and I'll share some links of our fav Texas rivers so far.
Great to see you! Ciao! Amy and Ross
adase@paiarch.com