Planning yet another trip to Death Valley...

This time I plan on being out there for 4 days and 3 nights! Of all of the desert locations I have seen around the Las Vegas area, Death Valley is my favorite. From the sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells, to the drive through Artist's loop, and just the complete serenity at night when the sands shift with a gentle song and every star visible in the sky is there it seems... just for me. Waking up before dawn to capture the sunrise at Zibriskie Point is just as breathtaking as watching the sunset at Dante's View overlooking the entire valley below. This year I have invited members from the Nevada Camera Club to come out and share in the beauty. What I think will make this trip exceptional has to do with the amounts of rain that has fallen in Death Valley in the last few months. If predicted correctly, there should be an amazing bloom of wildflowers this year and hopefully they will be in full bloom during our four day visit. The reports from the Ranger's station say it should be a great year to capture fields and fields of wildflowers throughout the park and in the surrounding area! I have gone to the park many times in the last few years, but this year I am hoping to see parts that I haven't visited before. Instead of camping at Furnace Creek, I intend to camp at Stovepipe Wells so I can explore the Panamint Mining area and hopefully trek out to the Racetrack and other spots on the opposite side of the park. Of course, no trip is complete without a visit to Scotty's Castle and the closeby Ubehebe Crater. This Death Valley trip is a journey for me, a time to just reflect on life and enjoy all of its beauty. The peaceful and often desolate surroundings are a way for me to find a "moment of clarity". Seeing the night sky keeps me reaching for the stars... Seeing the jagged crystals that make up Devil's Golf Course reminds me of how fragile life is... and staying in the park, if only as a visitor for a short time, is the ultimate life experience for this Photographer. Until next time...

Glenn Brogan
Beyond Pairadice Studios