Winter is a great time to visit Death Valley, though I have to admit I am VERY glad I am in an RV instead of camping in a tent. While daytime temps are not too bad, it has been dropping into the low 40s at night. However, it can get colder. I was here several years ago and took a photo of ice on Furnace Creek which goes past the campground. That was a big too cold then, especially since there was a strong wind blowing.
I went for a walk in the late afternoon, and just watching campers with tents made me feel a lot colder. I am cozy in my little home, however, with two electric heaters and my rear furnace going all night. Plus, I am well supplied with a good down comforter!
I am only here for a few days and next am heading to Northern California. I was planning to spend longer, but half of the roads and places to see are still closed here because the heavy flooding that took place last summer. In any case, the sky has been incredibly blue with clear skies and little wind. Overall, this is a nice place to spend a few relaxing days.
The sites in the Furnace Creek campground with electric hookups are pretty much full, but the majority have no hookups at all, and I'd guess that maybe only 20% of those are occupied right now. Most of the tenters seem to be staying only one or two days. Those of us in nice, warm RVs tend to be staying longer.
This is the view from the campground, looking over the highway to the mountains on the east side of the valley.
I made a stop at the visitor center to pick up some postcards and a couple of small books. The sign on the right shows the current temp of 62 degrees, but look at how blue the sky is way out here far away from civilization!
A couple of photos inside the visitor center museum.
There is a big hotel at Furnace Creek if you prefer luxuries like a full-service restaurant and a large bedroom with a big shower. The reason it is here, by the way, is because part of this area is private land from before this was a national park.
Another empty road!! Love traveling at less busy times of year.
No traffic jams here this time of year.
Notice the signs of occasional heavy rains in these mountains. In addition, notice that the area close to the road is made up entirely of larger stones, with the sand and smaller pebbles having been washed away. Had the 49ers who got stuck in the snow in the mountains in the northwest of the valley had been here on a rainy day, they most likely would have drowned instead of starved to death!!
This mountain is darker and made up of very soft rocks, as can be seen in the deep furrows caused by eons of rain. Did you know that the valley was once twice as deep as it is now? Over thousands and millions of years, it has filled up with sand and rubble.
You have to look closely, but there is a red arrow in this photo that points to a sign placed on the side of the mountain indicating sea level.
Lots of good parking for my motorhome.
I walked only part way to the end of this trail--about as far as you can see--though it does go farther.
Some of the bad water which gives this place its name. The whole area occasionally fills up with rainwater, which then dries up, leaving strange-looking salt formations.
Hard to tell, but most of these sharp formations are 6-12" tall. You are required to stick to the flat trail and not walk on these.
This shows how far I walked. You can see my rig way in the distance, and there is a tiny red arrow showing the sea level sign on the mountain.
Looking north up the valley.
Heading back north to the campground. It is pretty barren around here, but the colors and shapes of the mountains give it some beauty.
Beautiful day today, and supposed to be nice all week. Plus, this time of year you do not have to worry about carrying a couple of gallons of water or drying out so much. And of course, no crowds.
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