Death Valley was the goal for Friday, February 24, 2012. How to get there from Las Vegas was the question. We hopped in the car and headed out from the strip looking for an escape from the high rise casinos that dominate the area. Traveling through the desert we came upon Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Devil’s Hole. From there we dropped into the southeastern entrance to Death Valley. My father said it best. Wow. We traveled through the valley stopping off at Zabriskie Point, the Devil’s Cornfield and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. As the sun set we put miles on the car to Beatty, Nevada to stop for gas and stock up on supplies. The plan to drive back through the park and come out on the other side heading towards Yosemite. As we reached the cornfield again we pulled over. For the first time in numerous years I saw the Milky Way and stars that twinkled. Planets were visible to the naked eye. It was beautiful. By the end of the night we wound up in Bishop, California and are making our way to Yosemite.
A yucca tree grows in the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A cactus grows amongst sage brush in the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Yucca trees grow in the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada streams by the window on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Sage brush grows along the desert floor outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Sage brush grows along the desert floor outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Sage brush grows along the desert floor outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Sage brush grows along the desert floor outside of Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Devil's Hole in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Highway 190 cuts through Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Desert flowers start to bloom in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A view of Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A view of Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A view of Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Hikers climb a ridge overlooking Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A view of Zabriskie Point overlooking the borax deposits in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A self portrait as I walk down from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The sun starts to set over Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Devil's Cornfield in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The sun starts to set over the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Visitors to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park play as the sun sets on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Patches of sunshine kiss sections of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
A photographer prepares to take his final snapshots of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes as the sun sets over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The sun starts to set over the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes inside Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The sun sets over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The sun sets over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
The moon falls behind the mountains in Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Stars can be seen in the sky over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Stars can be seen in the sky over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.
Stars can be seen in the sky over Death Valley National Park on Friday, February 24, 2012.