Saline Valley Road

[bluedigger]

I took the Saline Valley Road out of Big Pines, CA/Inyo National Forest and into Death Valley National Park yesterday.



It's an 84 mile long gravel road through nowhere.



I got started late, 3:30 or so, and it got dark halfway through, but I got some fun shots along the first half.








I got back to pavement about six hours later, and drove another hour to Furnace Creek Campground.:hi:

[trusty elf]

1. Starkly beautiful!

Hostile, yet inviting!

Saying these were cool would hardly be appropriate! How hot was it there at this time of year?

[bluedigger]

4. The temps were up and down.

I think it was about 80 at the start, and then went up as I descended into the valley. They were up into the high 90s by sunset, and stayed there all the way into Furnace Creek. When I woke up yesterday it was 71 at 7am. I'm in Las Vegas now and it's hot as hell. I think I heard "record-breaking" on the radio...

[Callalily]

2. Photo #3 certainly shows/tells

us just how lonely that road is.

Mountain shots always intrigue me, b/c we don't have any mountains here, so I think they are extraordinarily beautiful.

But I really do the like sign, in all it's weathered glory.

[bluedigger]

5. I liked the sign, too, obviously.

It speaks to a certain sense of "laissez-faire" maintenance. Which I found to be somewhat true. All the washouts had been repaired, but about 80% of the trip the road was so washboarded that I was doing about 15 mph. Several boulders were in the roadway down at the climb out of the south end, and had to maneuvered around, but it was too dark for pics, and I was busy.:rofl:

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. really nice pictures

I had to look on Google maps to find Saline Valley Road. I kept zooming in, not seeing the road. It finally appeared at a high level of magnification. I see what you mean about the road being in the middle of nowhere. But it's beautiful, austere. I especially like the 2nd shot, with the different dark values in the different shadows. You nailed the exposure.

[bluedigger]

6. Thanks very much!

I have to credit Nikon and Photoshop for anything that works, though. I just see it and shoot it.

I read somewhere that the Saline Valley is considered the most remote place in California. I met one other vehicle going the other way an hour in to the trip. Didn't even see anyone else until I got to Pagosa Springs.

[JeffR]

7. What a treat! I just got back from Vienna courtesy of trusty elf

and now I get to hang around in the desert for a while. And all without leaving my desk.

Nice job!