The answer to the question posed in the title of this post is – greener than you might think! Green especially after a relatively wet winter and early spring. The rainfall in this deep valley surrounded by towering mountains is on average 2 inches per year and just in January and February this year it had received over half that amount – yes, that’s right over 1 inch! But apparently that one inch makes a big difference in the greening of Death Valley. In addition to foliage in several green shades in Death Valley you will also find that some of the rocks are shades of green due to the oxidation of different metals.
Not the typical spot you’d find picnic tables.
This area is called Artists Palette
But much of the color in this harsh landscape comes from an ever-changing pallet of browns and reds as the sun burns across the valley. In 1913, Death Valley achieved its record high – a blistering temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mars?
Our timing with the weather was a bit unfortunate (too hot to sleep) and so we only spent one night in the park but that included a stunning sunset and sunrise combo. The thermometer hit 102 in the early afternoon on the day of our arrival and was still in the high 80’s as we tried to sleep with only the aid of a couple of fans.
Stealth Lizard in Camo (click on the picture for a zoom in view)
But it’s a dry heat!
The Panamint Range (highest point at an elevation of 11,043 feet) and the Amargosa Range (highest point at an elevation of 8,738 feet) loom up over the valley and do their best to keep out the rain in one of the driest places on earth.
There is plenty to see over a wide geographical area that warrants a return visit for us some day. The park contains a few surprises – a waterfall, a natural bridge, petroglyphs, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Furnace Creek Oasis that contains a campsite, general store and a below sea level golf course where your golf ball flies less far than normal. Nearby is the The Inn at Furnace Creek with rooms that were a little out of our price range at a bargain price of $479 a night.
In the foreground is the Texas Spring campground where we stayed. Below that is the Sunset Campground which is even less appealing, and below that is the Furnace Creek campground which is the nicest in the area. The Panamint Range bathed in the morning sun is in the background.
Luxury in Death Valley – The Inn at Furnace Creek.
And if you are prepared there are several hikes and viewpoints to conquer – bring a hat and plenty of water!
Death Valley may not be everyone’s idea of the typical definition of beauty but it does have a unique, other-worldly, appeal to it that makes it worth a visit.