The Racetrack

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The Racetrack is one of the more intriguing areas in Death Valley. You get there by a long bumpy dirt/gravel road. It does pass through some Joshua Tree stands. (It seems too strange to call these groves out in the middle of the desert.) The Racetrack is large dry lake bed (playa). The surface is cracked, dry mud. The main attractions are the rocks that move and leave tracks. For more information on how this happens follow this link. As we set off on our long drive the sky was totally overcast and looked more and more like we would have no sunset at all. But, being the true optomists that landscape photographers have to be, we kept going. We not only found some rock trails, but some color in the sky as well. It was certainly worth the drive.

Click on images for enlarged view.

Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100

Moving Rock

This was the best rock trail we found. This rock was about 10-12 inches in diameter. There are some rocks up to 700 lbs. that have made tracks as well.

Canon D60, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L, ISO 100

Gloomy Sunset at the Racetrack

The contrasts in these bands of clouds looked like it might be the only "color" we would get.

Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100

The Rock Stopped Here

As the time for sunset got closer and closer we were rewarded with a bit of color. You can see this rock's trail coming from the lower right corner of the image.

Canon D60, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L, ISO 100

Sunset at the Racetrack

Good things come to those who wait (in the right spot). After official sunset the clouds lit up and reflected a nice orange-pink glow on the playa surface as well.