Death Valley

Mark and Brenda post mail at the Death Valley Post Office. It was at an altitude of 178ft below sea level. We were amused by altitude signs reading "Sea Level" or "5 ft". We viewed the salt flat and the Funeral Mountains. We had bought gas at Furnace Creek. Most of the place names involved some black humor about the nature of Death Valley. August 11, 1982.

Salt Flats and Funeral Mountains

This is a view along the road in Death Valley. In the foreground you can just see the white of the salt flats and in the background the Funeral Mountains. The strength of the sun can be seen from the sharpness of the shadow of the van on the roadside. August 11, 1982.

Devil's Haystacks

These strange plants in Death Valley are called Devil's Haystacks. August 11, 1982.

Jeff in Dunes of Death Valley

Jeff and Rod walked out to some sand dunes. We expected some snake evidence - but there were snake tracks everywhere on the dunes. In one case a snake track came from one direction, mouse tracks from another and then there was a wallowed out place of struggle. August 11, 1982.

Struggle in the Dunes

This appears to tell the following story: two snakes approach from the top, there is a mighty struggle, and one snake leaves toward the bottom. The tracks in the dunes tell stories about what happens there at night, and it is often violent. Jeff and Rod walked out to some sand dunes. We expected some snake evidence - but there were snake tracks everywhere, as well as tracks of various types of rodents. August 11, 1982.

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