Earthquakes, rattlesnakes and volcanic craters! Death Valley has so much to offer. We traveled up to the north end of the valley for a look at Ubehebe crater.
This 2000 year crater was created when a massive explosion sent rocks hurling 150 miles.
The main crater sits on a fault line. We hiked the mile and a half trail around it.
The trail...
Some people walked to the bottom sandy shady area but we were content to view it from the top.
We camped at a lonely campground called Mesquite Springs. Later that night there was a small earthquake (4.8). Chairs shook, little guy creaked and gravel fell from the top of the wash providing a quintessential California experience!
Our camp from across the wash. When we set up, we were warned that a sidewinder rattlesnake had been spotted there a week ago. We were vigilant in looking for it for a couple of days...
The we got comfortable and forgot about it. One afternoon as Shelly sat at the table I heard what sounded like a sprinkler coming on... Che che Che! A snake was coiled by his foot and rattling like crazy
Shelly jumped up, stepped on the snake who then flew away and hid under our camper. The campground host came with a grabber, fished him out and dropped him in the wash!
I especially like the end of the story!
I remember sidewinders and scorpions and dust storms and earth quakes and the desolate beauty
Reply
Joanne
2/22/2015 06:31:28 am
Nice photos, we were there too and saw our very first ancient looking horned lizard who shoots blood out of its eyes when spooked! The washes are really cool. We hiked Mosaic canyon, Darwin Falls, Salt creek to see the pupfish who burrow in the mud when creek is dry, and Fall canyon. As soon as you get out a mile , everyone else "vanishes" so we had the canyons all to ourselves. ENJOY the heat and sunshine; really cold again here tomorrow ... in the minus again... School has hardly been in session!
Joanne