Photo Essay: On the Road in Death Valley

The drain is clogged and back flowing water begins to fill the shower floor. My first comprehensive hygiene in four days has proven too much for the plumbing; sand and dirt form a blockade impenetrable by the water. My skin tone fades as the water cleanses my skin and the layer of grime mistaken for a tan disappears in the muddy shower bed. My hair slackens and finally lays flat instead of straight up and down in every direction. As I wash the desert off myself, the memories, sights, laughs, and adventure remain unblemished, pure, and bright. Unlike my body, my mind needs no polishing – everything is spotless and orderly.

In accordance with most of my travels, the journey begins with a dreaded beeping alarm at 4am. Like the ghost towns we will tour later in the day, the streets are vacant as I race my circuit to grab everyone and head to the airport. With neatly organized luggage, clean clothes, and a lethargic pace we go through the flying formalities. A small flight delay and we are on our way.

After dodging the lights and lure of Las Vegas we make clockwork of our pre-road trip necessities; coffee, food, fuel, and In-N-Out. To Death Valley we head, connecting with the highway and setting the cruise control we conquer a few hundred mile of the flat miraging asphalt.

We descend down into Death Valley and continue to log miles as we head across the park. We accelerate by the colored rocks, mountains of sand, and slot canyons remaining focused on our first night's goal – sleeping on the dunes. As we exit the luxurious highway, we find ourselves bouncing uncontrollably as though we are on a Disneyland ride. The tortuous hopping of our rental car subsides as we reach the small turnout for our destination. The opening of car doors yields the desert warmth and the air conditioning cannot keep up. As we depart the car, with feet deep in sand and the sun broiling our faces, we tighten the boots, strap on the packs, and slug towards the outline of towering hills built of sediment that look black in the shadows of the bright light.

Death Valley - side mirror mountain_

Death Valley- titus canyon road with peak_

Death Valley- Zach on the canyon Rock_

Death Valley- titus can lookout view

Death Valley- natural bridge

Death Valley- titus canyon road looking up

Death Valley - friends below the natural bridege

At the peak of the dunes we establish our sand-made mattresses just as the sun drops below the mountains in the distance. Quickly our sunset fades and the sky turns to a canopy of speckling illuminations serving as our nightlight.

In the proceeding days we drive through a blinding sandstorm with our windows down, get lost on a pitch-black desert back road, navigate through a thin canyon, and walk among the painted hills of Death Valley National Park. With each day passing, our appearance became humiliating, our diet despicable, and our adventure more memorable. Although my exterior was tarnished, my mind needs no polishing – the memories are spotless and orderly.