Death Valley 2022/23

[Daymoth]

Oh man the first video of the eagle body slamming the owl is actually GREAT.

Ive seen owls fighting crows. And crows fighting falcons. And falcons fighting eagles. I allways assumed its territorial.

[DAW89446]

Just ask the larger midwestern couple that flew by me at about 55mph on Racetrack Rd in a Subaru with highway tires.  Lol.  They must have prayed hard to the God of steel belted radials to make it at those speeds without having to get the donut spare out.  Hahaha.

And obviously the Devil of Washboards made them do it. You were right when you quipped that the Racetrack road will be badly washboarded by next week. By yahoos like them. Speed creates washboards.

By the way, those videos were very clear.

[Kauri]

I do want to get some beefier tires sooner rather than later. 

At the risk of de-railing Beardilocks' thread... I really like the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires I have on my RAV4. I believe some of the 5th gen RAV4s have these from the factory. They were recommended highly by the folks at our local Toyota 4x4 shop, and they've been great, and have held up to quite a bit of abuse (including bashing sidewalls into numerous different objects). Heavier SUV tires can make a huge dent in your MPG so going for a crossover-oriented A/T tire is a good idea (the Toyo Open Countries I had previously on my RAV4 ensured I did not get great MPG, but I'm now getting very good MPG with the Wildpeak Trails). Also, others may differ, but I have heard repeated issues with BFG tires hydroplaning, so I personally don't recommend their tires.

[Daymoth]

Thanks Kauri!!!! Thats super useful!

[Brice]

Wow those obsidian points are huge! Very cool!

Very lucky to have spotted those birds going at it. I'm sure it was a territorial fight since they compete over the same resources and each is a danger to the other and their young. The eagle probably spotted the owl roosting nearby and decided to run them out of town while the sun was up and they have the advantage.

To me it looked like the owl was holding onto the eagle's talons and was only getting dragged around because it wouldn't let go. They are very strong birds.

[DAW89446]

I'll disclose the location of this one because there's nothing left to protect really.  I stopped by the Coville Rock Shelter in Lost Burro Gap.  It was excavated in the 1950's when the road was re-done to accommodate the growing motor-tourist industry in DEVA amongst fears that the sites would be looted by tourists/artifact hunters.  Dozens of other caves were also checked for signs of habitation and harvested of all artifacts.

Gee. And all the times I've passed by I had no knowledge of the significance of this place.

[DAW89446]

The Racetrack was flooded in spots and totally too wet to walk on.  Luckily it's my 5th or 6th time here so no biggie.

Beautiful photo. There ought to be some speedy stones on the playa this race season! 

[DAW89446]

Time for dinner. ... Great view of Hidden Valley for sunset.

Beautiful. I miss tailgate cooking and eating in wide open spaces in the late afternoon and evening light.

Love your home on wheels. I've camped in the back of my various 4x4 pickups over the decades, though simple and no way as elaborate or complete as I can see you've accomplished with yours. No matter if it's a can of tuna, a cup of soup, or peanuts (with a glass of my ever present Carlo Rossi Paisano table wine), such times were soothing and magic.

Two of my most memorable DV region camp suppers were on consecutive evenings. The first was at the Inyo Mine, where myself and two others were camping in early May, 2000. It was largely overcast all afternoon. As I was sitting on my tailgate eating I began to realize the mine camp had began to brighten up in pre-sunset sunshine. The colors were intense on the weathered wood cabins and mountainsides. I forgot about my supper and picked up my video camera and my first digital camera and began shooting. The following evening found us three camped at the headframe above the mill foundations at Stateline ghost town, in upper Oriental Wash just inside Nevada and south of Gold Point. The evening colors as the sun set over the distant Sierra Nevada was breathtaking and the colors of Gold Mountain and the Slate Range intense.

Man I miss it. Thanks for letting me and others here live vicariously through your efforts.

[Beardilocks]

Interesting cloud inversion in DV today.  As seen from Harry Wade looking North.

[GowerGulch42]

Great stuff! Glad you keep it coming!