Death Valley Days

By Anushree Samsi and Duronto Pablo

Alsion’s Middle School ventured to Death Valley National Park from March 20-25, 2022. The park is composed of vast geologic landscapes of which Alsion explored to varying degrees of success. Whether at the Ranch relaxing after a long day, or going out adventuring and discovering the beauty of the valley, or how much one hates it, it evoked a sense of wonder in all. Nonetheless, there were varying opinions on the best parts of the trip and the disliked aspects, which we will explore. Here are the highs and lows of Death Valley. 

The Highs

The Mesquite Sand Dunes

The Mesquite Sand Dunes are a must-visit in Death Valley. Even through the scorching heat and slippery sandy slopes, the possibilities for fun infinite. For people who want to relax and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains, high sand dunes are a perfect place to rest. For those who want to adventure onwards, the tallest dunes provide a hardy challenge. Once you reach the end, the dunes are up to a hundred feet high and invite you to run, roll or walk down. Most of Alsion’s group ventured onto the tallest dunes. Many people ran down the dunes and some had so much fun that they climbed back up and did it again! People had more fun because one tiny fact was omitted–the squiggly lines we saw in the sand dunes were actually sidewinder snake tracks. 

“My favorite part about the biome trip would be our trip to the Sand Dunes. Despite the Sand Dunes just being a desert, having the ability to run down them at a high speed made the trip very enjoyable.”

Artist’s Palette

Artists Palette was another popular site. The area was an intriguing mystery as the colors, such as green, purple and yellow, were unusual among the barren mountains. These colors, interestingly, were formed by when the rock went through major chemical changes. Specifically, the oxidation of iron, manganese, and mica together produced the colors witnessed on the mountaintops.We also got the opportunity to explore the area. The rock formations were steep but fun to climb. Some ventured to a high area where you could see the surrounding mountains from a vantage point. The idea was that we got to examine the site from different angles and perspectives–different elevations and even the parking lot allowed us to see the area in a different light. 

“My favorite part of the biome trip was Artist Palette. The rocks looked pretty cool and it was fun to walk around the area. I got to see more than what you could view from the parking lot and I liked that”

Ubehebe Crater

Those with a spirit of adventure and adequate shoes decided to make the trip down the steep side of Ubehebe Crater. The area inside the crater was beautiful and we got to examine the crater from a different perspective. The walls, surrounding us imposingly, were stunning. There were two paths on the way up–one steeper but shorter and the other longer but flatter. People who didn’t choose to participate in the hike either walked around the crater’s circumference or hung out near the parking lot. 

Sunrise at Zabriskie 

While the sunrise at Zabriskie was an optional event, it was unforgettable for those who went to see it. We took two cars there. Some went to the normal viewing point that we had visited on the first day while others who wanted an additional adventure hiked up the side of the cliff. We got to watch the sunrise from a rock up high, looking down on the viewpoint. It was cold and windy but nonetheless a pleasure to watch the light illuminate each mountain till the entire thing glowed a vibrant orange. 

Leisure Time 

Along with the several activities we did, everyone enjoyed the time we had to sit and kick back at the ranch. We got to play games, walk around, talk with people, and more. The ability to go where we pleased and not be under constant restriction was liberating. Furthermore, we would drive to the places we visited in our car groups. Most people noted that the car ride was actually one of the more enjoyable parts of the trip whether it was chatting, hanging out with friends, or listening to music while observing the landscape. 

“I also really liked how we stayed at a hotel because it made the trip even more fun as we were responsible for buying our own items and food there.”

“The adventuring was pretty cool, even the drives. The landscapes were very expansive and just interesting to stare at for the hour-long drives while thinking about how they were formed and, when even more bored, how one would stomach lunch.”

The Lows

The Food

The only central complaint that was shared by everyone was the utter distaste for the food. The breakfasts on each day were serviceable, being free with school coupons, but quickly became repetitive, with no variations on the dining whatsoever. The meal that people disliked the most was the lunch, which were dry sandwiches and wraps, with salted chips, a selected fruit, an oatmeal raisin cookie, and a bottle of water. Finally, the dinners were horribly expensive – $30 for a low-quality buffet meal. 

“I despised the lunch. I believe that no one, no matter how vile and heinous they are, should be subjected to eating such a meal.”

“My least favorite part of the biome trip was the food. None of the meals were that great at all. The lunch was the worse. The dinner was just really expensive and not worth the money.”

—

In all, Death Valley was an incredible experience for everyone, and although there were lows in the form of food, the resounding opinion is that Death Valley is a pretty great place to spend a week in. In the beginning, the desert seemed like a desolate environment where we would go to bake in the sun, but we’ve realized that it has so much more to offer. From the beauty of its land, to the fun we had together sitting under the stars at night…it’s a trip nobody’s going to forget.