We departed our cottage in Panamint Springs at sunrise and
headed back to Stovepipe Wells Village, where we picked up breakfast at the
local general store. We then drove on to the entrance of Titus Canyon, at which point we hit the dirt track that
meanders down through this very remote region of Death Valley NP. The route
through the canyon is narrow, steep, and in places, very exposed, with very
sudden drop offs. Astrid however was up to the task, steering the AWD vehicle
with consummate skill. The scenery en route was spectacular, with the pastel hues of
the exposed stratigraphy spanning the entire visible spectrum.
On exiting the canyon we embarked on the long drive to
Zion NP. The route passes through four states – California, Nevada, Arizona and
Utah. The long straight roads, hot climate and bright sun made for tiring
driving conditions. We were, however, very sensible, with all three of us taking
turns at the wheel. We also stopped on
the outskirts of Las Vegas to refuel the car, body and mind. The landscape on
the final leg through Arizona and Utah gradually changed from flat desert to
high mountains, providing us a foretaste of the very dramatic scapes in Zion
NP. After dropping off our gear at the Hotel in the town of Huricane, we continued on Zion for an evening hike to the start of The Narrows, a stretch of the Virgin River at the head of the canyon that is listed as one of the top ten hikes in USA by National Geographic. On the bus ride back to the park entrance we also watched the sunset over the peaks that rise almost vertically for nearly 4000ft on either side of the canyon.
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