Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs

[Richard K.]

I'll have 2 to 3 days in each of Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs in early February, driving from one to the other. I would appreciate recommendations on where in those areas to visit with my WP and 7x11 cameras. Thank you! :)

[Curt]

Rhyolite is a up from the valley but is well worth the visit, you can photograph without restrictions, no one to tell you to get out and the like.

The artist's drive, Zabriskie Point, a trip to the North for a tour of Scotty's castle, really a history lesson there and the tour is fantastic. Others will of course tell you more places.

[jeroldharter]

I am going to some of those areas in December myself and I was at Death Valley in February 2009. For what it is worth, I would suggest that you spend all of that time in Death Valley with maybe 1 day in Joshua Tree +/- Salton Sea. Death Valley is one of the best places for B&W photography that I know of and February is wonderful weather there - 70's and sunny in the daytime and 50's at night.

[Vaughn]

Another vote for Artist Drive in Death Valley. Perhaps also Twenty Mule Team Canyon (on the way to Zabriskie Point). Most of the time it is a matter of just seeing an interesting place and deciding to explore it -- I had a good time working just off of Scotty's Castle Road, just north of the Junction over Daylight Pass. It is just an area of eroded ancient lake deposits, but I found an excellant image there. I also enjoyed wandering up the small canyons off of Artists Drive.

In the far northern end of the park is the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, but check with the rangers on the road conditions. Very long drive from Furnace Creek. Tallest sand dunes in North America, I think. They put the word Dune in Sand Dune -- all others are just are sand hills. Can be windy, early morning is best. But it probably would require too much of a time comittment to head that far north. The days are short in February!

Vaughn

[Brian Stein]

If in Palm Springs you could take the aerial tramway up to San Jacinto state park. Beautiful view over the valley and some nice formations (usual rocks and trees LF stuff!) Will probably be on the cold and snowy side up top in Feb though

[eric black]

Death Valley is huge- bigger than some states and a week there wont allow you to even scratch the surface of what it has to offer. February weather there is ideal- night time lows will be high 50's/low 60's and daytime temps last time I was there at that time were around 80. If you are lucky a nice wind storm will clean all of the footprints off the dunes and give you a nice clean pallete to shoot with. I second the motion above to max out your time there.

[brianam]

+1 for the Eureka Dunes. But it is pretty far north, and the road to it inside the Valley might eat your tires. And if you come in from Big Pine, the road crosses over a pretty high summit; that could be snowed-in, depending of course.

But it's an amazing place, especially if you think you've seen CA's sand dunes already. When I camped at Eureka two years ago, a fighter jet from Top Gun (across the state border in NV) performed an amazing 180 arc over the Eureka Valley, so pitched and low to the ground I could see the pilot right above me. ..for the shortest of moments... then the silence of the valley was shattered by the delayed jet noise. :-/

If you like Joshua Trees, Lee Flat--a short ways in on the Saline Valley road--has some of the tallest anywhere. Maybe not the "classic" forms, but impressively tall. (~30ft+).

[Hugo Zhang]

Richard,

The last time I visited Death Valley was many years ago with a 810 camera. I would say you need to spend at least 3-4 days there. Skip Palm Springs if you don't have too much time.

It's too early for me to plan my next year's photo trips, and I usually go to China in Feb for the Chinese New Year to be with my aging parents. But if I can make it, would you like to buddy up with me?

If I can make the trip, you can use my Ries J tripod and we can share my Chamonix WP camera. All you need to bring is your 7x11 gear. I have a jumbo Harrison film tent and 5 WP film holders. My main work horse will be the 16x20 camera with 14x17 reducing back and a 7x17 camera as a back up. We can lease a 4 wheel drive for the trip.

[Curt]

Hugo, have you taken people to China? I have no one there and have only been to Hong Kong, I could only stay a short time but short is better than not.

Curt

[Richard K.]

Richard,

The last time I visited Death Valley was many years ago with a 810 camera. I would say you need to spend at least 3-4 days there. Skip Palm Springs if you don't have too much time.

It's too early for me to plan my next year's photo trips, and I usually go to China in Feb for the Chinese New Year to be with my aging parents. But if I can make it, would you like to buddy up with me?

If I can make the trip, you can use my Ries J tripod and we can share my Chamonix WP camera. All you need to bring is your 7x11 gear. I have a jumbo Harrison film tent and 5 WP film holders.

Hugo, I would be delighted to team up with you in Death Valley. I have increased my stay there (on the advice of all the fine furry forum folk) to 5 days (arriving Feb. 7 and leaving for Joshua Tree morning of Feb. 12). I will PM you once I have all the details of itinerary and equipment logistics sorted out. The possibility of renting a 4 wheel drive and going to the Eureka Dunes or even Saline Valley is certainly tantalizing! I will definitely let you know my plans as soon as they're solidified. Anyone care to join us in DV for a coffee? :D


My main work horse will be the 16x20 camera with 14x17 reducing back and a 7x17 camera as a back up. We can lease a 4 wheel drive for the trip.

WOW!!!!! I think people would pay to see those cameras in action! :) So, if any of you are around at that time, come to the Valley and look for Hugo's big one!! :D

[Jim Noel]

"In the far northern end of the park is the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, but check with the rangers on the road conditions. Very long drive from Furnace Creek. Tallest sand dunes in North America, I think. They put the word Dune in Sand Dune -- all others are just are sand hills. Can be windy, early morning is best. But it probably would require too much of a time comittment to head that far north. The days are short in February!"

Beautiful and generally undisturbed in mid-winter, but not the tallest dunes in the U.S. That honor belongs to Kelso Dunes south of DV.
Someone mentioned decent weather in February with warm days, etc. It can also be extremely cold and with so much snow it is difficult to drive out in all but one direction. The weather in DV is very unpredictable during the winter. Check ahead on NOAA and carry chains.Driving over the mountains in untracked, unplowed snow is not fun even when you know the road well. Then there also can be heavy rains. I have been there when the rain was so heavy that the northern end of the valley was clsoed because of mud slides. Not too many years ago there was so much rain in the mountains around the valley that the some of the valley roads were washed away.

DV is one of the most beautiful places I know, and I know it rather well. But it can be dangerous - check ahead with NOAA and the rangers.

[Vaughn]

Beautiful and generally undisturbed in mid-winter, but not the tallest dunes in the U.S. That honor belongs to Kelso Dunes south of DV.

That is debatable, but not really worth one...LOL!

The info I read puts the Kelso Dunes as "over 600 feet" and the info for Eureka Valley Dunes is "about 680 feet". So both are tall and both fortunately both are ORV free! Great in the winter time when the freezing night temps can ice up the moisture along tops of the sand dune ridges.

I have been on top of the dunes looked down at the military jets buzzing around the dunes.

Vaughn

[jeroldharter]

Anybody know if Imperial Dunes are worth visiting for photography? They are relatively close to Palm Springs but they look like a big ORV hangout.

[roteague]

Anybody know if Imperial Dunes are worth visiting for photography? They are relatively close to Palm Springs but they look like a big ORV hangout.

According to the map I found (http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/elcentro/maps.Par.64812.File.dat/imperialdunesmap_8x11closures.pdf - big file) the northern area is closed off as a wilderness area. But, I couldn't find anything else about it.

[Richard K.]

Anybody know if Imperial Dunes are worth visiting for photography? They are relatively close to Palm Springs but they look like a big ORV hangout.

I tried to photograph there once but was put off by the Dune Vehicles. I guess I should have tried to find the closed off section...Kelso and Kelso dunes were interesting but I live in Etobicoke so what do I know! :)

[brianam]

by Imperial dunes do you mean the Algodones dunes in Imperial county?
If so, I've hiked in the northern, wilderness portion of that dune system. It's very pretty, but I wouldn't consider it the best for photography. the southern section --which yes is overrun with bikes and trucks-- is much taller, and probably would have made for better photography.

The dunes in DVNP are hard to top. (no, no pun intended.) That's the conclusion I've reached.
Though, next time I'm out that way I'm going to make another go at reaching the Ibex dunes, in southern DVNP. Kinda remote though.

[Jim Galli]

Hugo, I would be delighted to team up with you in Death Valley. So, if any of you are around at that time, come to the Valley and look for Hugo's big one!! :D

I could come down for a day perhaps. Too cheap to spend the night away from my own cozy warm bed though. Would love to shoot with Hugo and meet Richard. A visit to the Race Track (in D.V.) always seems to be worthwhile for me. Bring an old Tea Kettle to hang at Tea Kettle Junction.

http://www.sginn.com/journals/20100407-Death-Valley-Trip/images/P20100414132652-24-1DsMkIII.jpg

not my photo

[Erik Larsen]

.

In the far northern end of the park is the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, but check with the rangers on the road conditions. Very long drive from Furnace Creek. Tallest sand dunes in North America, I think. They put the word Dune in Sand Dune -- all others are just are sand hills.
Vaughn[/QUOTE]


Vaughn, not to nit pick:) I believe the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado are the tallest dunes in NA. 800 feet tall if I remember correctly.
erik

[dsphotog]

Any dune is hard to climb....
Even tougher with LF gear.

But sooo worth it.

[Brian Vuillemenot]

.

In the far northern end of the park is the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, but check with the rangers on the road conditions. Very long drive from Furnace Creek. Tallest sand dunes in North America, I think. They put the word Dune in Sand Dune -- all others are just are sand hills.
Vaughn


Vaughn, not to nit pick:) I believe the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado are the tallest dunes in NA. 800 feet tall if I remember correctly.
erik[/QUOTE]

I've been to at least four sand dune fields that claim to be the tallest in North America. Besides Death Valley, Kelso Dunes, and Great Sand Dunes, Bruneau Dunes in southern Idaho also makes that claim. Maybe it depends on how fast the wind is blowing... ;)

[Vaughn]

.Vaughn, not to nit pick:) I believe the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado are the tallest dunes in NA. 800 feet tall if I remember correctly.
erik

I guess that is why they call them "Great"! :p

Just check the GSD Nat Park website -- they say 750 feet tall. Thanks for the heads up!

vaughn