dryfj.com / drycyclist.com (kevin cook)

48/48
Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Death Valley National Park bikepacking / Day 2: Tecopa Hot Springs to Greenwater Valley (upper Gold Valley Rd) /

Rising out of the burned area at dusk, I look for somewhere decent to set up camp for the night

ThumbnailsPreviousNext
Photo sizes slideshow
04917-burn-rising-out-550px.jpg Still rising slowly, I know for sure now that I won't make it over the mountains before darkThumbnailsStill rising slowly, I know for sure now that I won't make it over the mountains before darkThumbnailsStill rising slowly, I know for sure now that I won't make it over the mountains before darkThumbnailsStill rising slowly, I know for sure now that I won't make it over the mountains before darkThumbnailsStill rising slowly, I know for sure now that I won't make it over the mountains before darkThumbnails

I'm disappointed that I won't make it to Willow Spring tonight as hoped, and feel somewhat defeated and deflated. But I still feel much success in having made it this far into the mountains up above Death Valley. Camping out should be really nice up here at about 4700 feet.

I'm expecting almost no moon in the sky tonight, and therefore, near total darkness. Given that I've only seen one other vehicle since leaving the pavement of Highway 178 some seven hours ago, I'm expecting silence and a wilderness experience tonight, even though I'm camped out along a "road."

I set up camp quickly and decide not to bother preparing a meal. By the time I get to eat, it's already dark. I just eat lots of nuts and beef jerky and wash it down with a glass of wine, enjoying the silence and the darkness.