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Death Valley

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Daniel McKeehan on December 9, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Looking to plan a trip to Death Valley although I am seeking advice on the best time of year to photograph Badwater and Racetrack. Also, the best time of day. Any help would be great
Posted by Hank Pennington on December 10, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Hey Dan,

There are discussions for you over at TPN and Luminous Landscape. Both include useful links that will answer some of your questions. Others here will also contribute useful info, so now you have three threads to monitor, plus links! :toast:
Posted by Doug Dolde on December 14, 2007 at 8:35 PM
This is a good time, Anytime up to around May when it gets unbearably hot. Badwater seems to be most photogenic at sunrise. Since you're fairly close watch the weather and wait til it's bad !
Posted by David Senesac on December 14, 2007 at 8:52 PM
Answer is rather easy. About a couple weeks to a month AFTER Death Valley receives any rare good soaking rains. That makes the dormant wildlfower seeds come alive and provides a rare color there...GREEN. Otherwise like Doug noted now is as good a dry time as any other time mid winter. Of course most years they only receive piddly rains that dampen the dust. And there is a heck of a lot of dust in DV if yuh don't know. And can it be windy windy windy. A lot of the time in the winter. Rain is most likely between December (like-a-now) and mid March. Unfortunately it is even more difficult now than before getting any solid precipitation data. They do report from a single station once a month. Here is one of my secret links to keeping on top of precipitation. ...David

http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/maps/current/index.php?action=update_daterange&daterange=6m
Posted by Guy Tal on December 14, 2007 at 10:57 PM
I made 2 trips to DV in August. Those were two of the most surreal and beautiful desert trips I ever made. I hauled over 20 gallons of water with me (3x 7-gallon containers), had my car checked and serviced the week before I went, and limited my activities to dawn/dusk/night. I haven't seen a single person the whole time I was there :smile:

Guy