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Solitude & Rejuvenation
Yes, we were staying in a campground and expected the usual noise and lights associated with close proximity to humans; the intrusion of city into the outdoors. But add the large screen TV to Bubba and his umbilical cord hooked to the generator and we needed a return of peace and solitude. We knew where we could find it. We’d be greatly surprised if we would encounter other hikers where we were off to. We left from camp with our full daypacks but still wearing the light hiking shoes.
After a section of cross-country travel, we intersected the Prospect Trail.
The trail climbs to a pass in the wonderful red Aztec sandstone of Valley of Fire.
Red is the classic color for this sandstone but we were looking for sandstone a bit more colorful.
We continued down the trail – in most places in a wash – until we found the sandstone changing.
We turned up a side canyon, off trail, climbed out, and entered a playground of beautiful rock.
Campground antics were quickly forgotten. We were again at peace and spent the day wandering in this remarkable wonderland.
It was a glorious day of solitude, the two of us completely alone.
Our route was a wide arc to the north and we looped back around to intersect the trail. We again ran into large gullies that cut through the bajada.
We climbed higher to go around and finally intersected with the trail.
Back at camp the TV screen was gone but Bubba’s generator still marked their territory – and all of ours too with its roar. We were growing tired of other campers complaining to us about it. It was our last night in Atlatl Campground and we were leaving in the morning. We again escaped the campground with a long night walk hoping, dear god, that the Bubbas turned in early and it would be quiet when we returned.
We discussed several options on where to head next. A remote spot in the backcountry of Death Valley National Park won. This place is hard to get to and takes determination to reach, including driving through miles of bottomless silt.
We were very impressed with how little dust intruded into the camper. We were perched on the crest of the mountain range with a view down into the heart of Death Valley.
The last light of the day was incredible as we wandered before making dinner.
We were perched on the very edge of a deep canyon. We’ve been here before and know the area well. We’ve climbed down into the canyon and walked it all the way down and out of the canyon. This is a special place.
The route down into the canyon is a steep use trail down to a prospect that hangs on the canyon wall. The trail was marked by the prospectors – years and years ago- with brush strokes of white paint. They don’t make paint like this anymore and I suspect the prospectors over marked their trail so they could easily find it in the dark.
We’d tackle the trail in the morning. Tonight, we enjoyed the evening.
It rained overnight. The ground was wet and dark around the camper in the morning. A strong clearing north wind blew.
We needed real boots to make the climb into the canyon. I laced up my high top boots for the first time since the fall. My left ankle was still tender. The Lady noticed my tentative steps as we started down and was concerned with my steadiness.
Besides the steep dangerous terrain, the hard gusts of wind was upsetting our balance and attempting to blow us off our feet. And the cold bit into us. We sadly, but wisely, aborted our climb to the bottom. Instead, we made a wide arc around the convoluted head of the canyon with so many side canyons draining into it.
The wind remained vicious. We both remarked, “You know, we can find someplace warmer.” We returned to the truck.
We had a wonderful warm place in mind that helped make the decision easier. After the long drive out, we overnighted at a familiar spot outside of Beatty. Here’s evening color along with Venus in the upper left over Daylight Pass.
Oh, what a wonderful and soothing warm place we found. Years dropped away along with cares and aches and pains. Rejuvenation enveloped us. Any thought of being “our age” vanished.
May we never wake from this dream.
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