Choose your own adventure

A split squad day this afternoon: Amy & Ari visited the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, while Greg rented an e-Bike.

One of the highlights of previous trips to Death Valley was going to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It’s the beach without the water! Ari and Amy decided to hike the dunes. After leaving the rocks just past the parking lot, we both took off our shoes to get the feel of sand between our toes. That allowed us to be more aware of the sand.

On a prior visit, a park ranger told us that most people head straight, or north. By turning right (east), we got away from other people and their footprints. It was fascinating to notice the different sands on different dunes. We saw some animal prints, though it wasn’t clear if most of them were coyote or just dogs. Some of the sand was more coarse, some more fine. Some was hard like dirt, and some our feet sank in a few inches. Climbing up could be a challenge - at least for Amy. Ari was patient.

Ari climbed to the peak of the tallest dune, and we met back near the parking lot. Two hours of hiking the dunes and we were done.

While Amy & Ari were at the sand dunes, Greg rented an e-Bike at Furnace Creek. Last time in Death Valley, the rental office told Greg he couldn’t use an e-Bike outside the Furnace Creek area. This time, Greg was told he could ride anywhere that is paved, so long as he returned the bike by 4pm. He asked whether he could visit Badwater, and the clerk said that would be fine: there was both enough time and power to make the round trip. After getting fitted and testing the bike, he took off for Badwater Basin. No sweat, literally: the relatively flat road was easy to ride with the bike on the second-from-lowest power setting.

Better judgment did not prevail, as Greg decided to return via Artist Drive. He cranked the bike up to its maximum setting so that he could climb the hills. Greg and the bike handled the hills easily.

The downhills were especially fun, as Greg reached over 30 mph, though he had to brake on the curves. Time was getting tight, but he exited Artist Drive and was still on schedule for the 4pm return. Soon after returning to the main road, the e-Bike battery was empty. No sweat no more: without electric assist, the e-Bike was heavy to pedal and the road didn’t feel flat anymore. Greg pushed until he reached the main park road, then coasted on the final descent back to Furnace Creek. He returned to the bike rental shop at 3:56 pm: 4 entire minutes to spare!

The clerk asked how the bike was, and Greg said it was fine until it ran out of battery. The clerk asked where Greg rode, and he said that he went to Badwater Basin. The clerk said that was a long ride, then Greg said that he returned via Artist Drive. The clerk did a double-take and said, ”Wait, you know that is a 2500 foot elevation gain”. Greg had to correct the record: 40.5 miles, 2878 feet of elevation gain.

If Greg winds up buying an e-Bike, a spare battery seems like a good idea.