Death Valley Days, Racetrack Playa

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Day 3


On our first day in the park, a ranger at the visitor center had told us that the Racetrack Playa was closed due to mud. Today the ranger said it was open so we four decided that this was something we should see. It took us almost three hours to get there and 35 miles was on dirt road. We drove through pretty Joshua Tree forests and stopped at Teakettle Junction for photos. Racetrack Playa is a giant dry lake bed where rocks (some of them 700 pounds) have somehow made their way across the lake bed forming tracks as they move. We were fascinated with the various directions and distances these rocks have moved. Some seemed to have traveled in simple straight lines while others would make circular tracks, or run in a zig-zag pattern, or even take an abrupt right-angle turn. No human has ever seen the rocks move, which makes this place a bit mysterious. Lunch was sandwiches from our ice chest. Back at Furnace Creek, Bob and Carol provided steaks that Joe and Bob cooked over the same grill in much pleasanter conditions than last night.

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Comments

[Domey]

Fascinating on the Racetrack rocks!

[Connie]

That is unbelievable; do the rangers have any theory about the rocks? I can see why the tracks are permanent, but...