Journey of Curiosity: Exploring Death Valley's Hidden Treasures with Rangers
Death Valley Views from Monarch Canyon
When we arrive at a national park, one of the first things we do (after hitting the bathrooms, of course) is to check out the ranger stations. Some of them are charming and have wonderful illustrations of the wildlife in the park, while others are all facts and formality about the park. Each comes with its own flavor. The Death Valley one seems to be about the terrain and how much water you needed to have with you while hiking.
While wandering the place, I did happen to notice this one small sign sitting on a random desk in the station, and I was curious about it immediately. It read:
“Death Valley Adventure Hike
Are you interested in:
Hiking off-trail with a ranger? (Hell yes! YES, I Am)
Seeing seldom-visited parts of the park? (Yes please!)
Challenging yourself in Death Valley’s wilderness? (Scary but yes!)
Learning about local plants, wildlife, history, and geology? (Learn about ROCKS?? YES, baby!!!)
Ask at the desk for more information!”
Tiny little sign that drew my attention!
So we did ask…. and the Ranger explained that it was an approx. a 6-mile round trip hike. Pack a lunch. Pack a min of 2 liters of water per person. Leaves at 8 a.m. Everyone meet outside the visitors center. Only 10 people allowed and only two spots left.
We immediately signed up.
I was excited and nervous as hell. I’d heard and read all kinds of stories about Death Valley. I read about the folks who don’t pack enough water or worse - those that dare to not wear SPF 1000 sunscreen! The harsh conditions in Death Valley can and have taken their toll on the unprepared. Sometimes leading to illness, madness, and ultimately death (insert dramatic music here.)
I had trouble sleeping that night. I was filled with expectations and anticipation. What would we see, learn, and who will we meet on this adventure?
In the morning we met the rangers at 8 a.m sharp. There was a group of 10 of us all standing around just quietly looking at one another. All ready to start our adventures for the day. We piled into our cars and followed the rangers for about 20 mins to a spot along one of the roadways. We trekked out and got our first lesson of the day, which was about alluvial fans. Our Ranger explained that this was an ancient mouth of a dried-up river. As the river once surged through the valley, carrying sediment known as alluvium, it spread out like a grand fan across the landscape, forming the remarkable alluvial fan we were about to explore. Turns out, alluvial fans are the most prominent landform type in Death Valley. They play a major role of “buffering” or “coupling” between the mountain catchments and downstream drainages.
We all showed enthusiasm, and we were eagerly anticipating this venturing into the alluvial fan before us. Rangers then asked us to try to spread out a bit, so we don’t create a single pathway through the terrain and to please do our best to not trample on any vegetation.
“If anyone sees anything interesting or has a question about something, please shout out to get everyone's attention, and we’ll gather to discuss.” said Ranger Matt.
One person pointed out a beautiful purple flower. Someone else pointed out an interesting cactus. Soon we were finding old tin cans and rusty pipes, presumably left over from mining operations. Old bottles and other rusty bits were discovered and pointed out. We stumbled on these little yellow balls. The Ranger explained these were called coyote melons. Everyone wanted to know if they tasted good? It turns out that the melons are not very tasty and really not good eating. I later looked them up and found out that they were used as soap by Native Americans. Sometimes their dried gourds were used as rattles in dances.
Interested in buying a print from our National Park Series? Check out this link: Death Valley Photography
This is why I love being part of a group like this. We all were full of curiosity. And not just about the rocks and melons. We asked questions about one another’s lives as well. I learned that one lady, was there hiking while hubby golfed. Two guys were students on break from a College in Santa Barbara and didn’t really like the boring nightlife in Santa Barbara and couldn’t wait to go off somewhere more interesting after school. Then there was Jim. Jim smiled and embraced his new nickname - the beast - he was donned this because he walked very fast and way- way ahead of us all. But he was also the first one helping us scramble and climb over the big rocks. He’d lend a hand to anyone who needed it. My impression was he liked being helpful. His lovely partner had what I called “eagle eyes” -as she kept finding lots of beautiful flowers, cool plants, and bits and pieces along the way.
Please click on images above to view an array of images from our day long hike.
Here’s the thing about Ranger walks.
They foster a sense of community among us curious park visitors. Participants have the chance to interact with fellow nature enthusiasts, share experiences, and form connections with like-minded individuals who share a passion for exploring and preserving our natural world.
Overall, ranger walks offer a safe, informative, and enriching way to experience the wonders of a place like Death Valley National Park, under the guidance of knowledgeable professionals. And that was Ranger Matt and Ranger Ben. These Rangers are skilled interpreters who can bring the park's landscapes and stories to life. They shared fascinating facts about the oldest rocks in the world, anecdotes about other hikes they have taken in the park, and created narratives that deepen all the hikers connection to Death Valley. Even if they were using a clipboard full of photocopies and badly printed photos. We all got the gist of what they were sharing. No boring PowerPoint presentations out there…
And these Rangers delivered a nice surprise bonus - after a hike of about 3 miles into the landscape, there was the very tall, very beautiful, very green- waterfall! No one was expecting that! It was such a delightful surprise.
We loved seeing the surprise waterfall!
On the hike back, as the sun began to dip in and out of the big white puffy clouds, we suddenly marveled at an amazing burst of rain. We all laughed in delight at the large, cooling drops from above. I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the day's adventure in the park. Our Ranger-led hike had been a delightful blend of exploration, learning, and camaraderie.
From marveling at the grandeur of alluvial fans to uncovering the secret of a hidden waterfall to learning about coyote melons, each moment was filled with wonder and curiosity. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect was the connections we forged with our fellow hikers and the skilled rangers who led us on this journey. Their passion for the park's natural wonders was contagious, and their guidance ensured a safe and enriching experience for all. As newcomers to national parks, we realized the immense value of ranger walks in fostering a deeper appreciation for our natural world while creating lasting memories and great photographs. We will certainly look for more chances to take a Ranger lead hike anywhere we can in the future. Cheers to many more adventures in the back country wilderness.
Our intrepid group of explorers on our way back from the canyon.
One last thing. While hiking in Marble Canyon, we marveled at the texture of the canyon walls surround us. The lines were formed by heat and cooling of the rocks over millions of years ago. We found them so beautiful and decided to create t-shirts from the patterns. We think that the rock lovers out there will understand!
Introducing our unique collection of National Park Rock Wall inspired t-shirts. This is where ancient history meets modern style! Created from photos of real rocks and patterns found in the heart of Death Valley’s natural wonders, each shirt is a wearable rock piece, boasting the intricate details of rocks dating back 100 billion years. Perfect for avid rock hounds, passionate geologists, and nature enthusiasts alike, these high-quality, one-of-a-kind rock tees are a true homage to the beauty of the canyon walls we encountered. Elevate your wardrobe with a touch of geological marvel and embark on a fashion journey unlike any other. Dive into the depths of time and style with our exclusive National Park rock-inspired t-shirts!
National Park Inspired Rock T-shirts!
