It was a last minute decision to spend Christmas 2006 in the West (9 days). We flew to Las Vegas (picked-up our rental car at the airport) where we spent two days on short day-hikes (Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire) and evenings walking up and down the Strip (lost $5 each gambling and got trapped in an elevator trying to see the view from higher up in one of the hotels).
On the third day we headed to Death Valley for 4 days. Started in the North walking around Ubehebe Crater and visiting Scotty’s Castle, before settling in a motel in Stovepipe Wells Village, our Death Valley base. We then made our way South on day 2 and 3, with a bit longer hikes in Mosaic Canyon, on Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and in Titus Canyon. We explored Artist Palette area for a while. On the last day we watched sand storm in the valley from Dante’s Point (very windy and quite cold) and then spent the rest of the day hiking in the Badlands. It was really good time to visit Death Valley, sunny and warm (at most) – good for hiking and comfortable exploration.
Zabriskie Point and Badlands
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The next morning we were woken-up by beautiful peacocks in front of our windows at historic Amargosa Hotel. Kelso Dunes was our next destination, we spend several hours walking up and down the “booming” mounds (singing sand). A few short hikes in the Joshua Tree NP on day 8 (Hidden Valley, Baker Dam) and to Fortynine Palms Oasis.
Fortynine Palms Oasis
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On the last day we visited Hoover Dam and hiked down to Colorado River via White Rock Canyon. Quick drive to Las Vegas to drop-off our car and fly back home in Chicago just as the New Year was arriving. Unusual Christmas for us, but great experience.
White Rock Canyon
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