2021-12-26, 05:38 PM
I'm embarrassed to say that even after all my drives by Golden Canyon coming and going along Badwater Road I never noticed the expansive ochre red formation until this December 2021 trip. I've examined closely the outcrop of ochre at the mouth of Golden Canyon just east of the parking lot but did not realize how this spread up and out so well along the southwestern face.
I believe it's because I've usually been driving by in brighter spring, summer, fall, sun which washes out color but this time the clear air with the December soft sunlight bathing the huge wall brought out the Timbisha Red. I was quite literally stunned and stopped to soak in the beauty and possible metaphor of the ochre "weeping" down the slope face like tears of a diminished people. I've tried to capture the experience in this video along with some other shots of the Indian Village closure which I assume is due to Covid.
I believe it's because I've usually been driving by in brighter spring, summer, fall, sun which washes out color but this time the clear air with the December soft sunlight bathing the huge wall brought out the Timbisha Red. I was quite literally stunned and stopped to soak in the beauty and possible metaphor of the ochre "weeping" down the slope face like tears of a diminished people. I've tried to capture the experience in this video along with some other shots of the Indian Village closure which I assume is due to Covid.
Life begins in Death Valley