My boss made a comment during a meeting before my coworker and I took a group out to Death Valley for fhe weekend. She thought we were crazy for driving such a long way for a weekend in the National Park. In response to my boss Nancy, After driving 7 hours, in a car that is not my own, down windy roads, late in the night, that offer no glimpses of the landscape, we finally reached our campsite, tucked in the back of Panamint springs. We take a step outside and a little light switches on in all of our heads, ahh this is what we are meant to see. Way above our heads the stars glimmer brighter then any of us have seen. At that moment I know the weekend was going to flood us with beauty and wonder. I lay awake in my sleeping bag with dreamy eyes watching shooting stars and the crescent moon rising. I awoke at dawn, it was Valentine's Day. The love of new friendships filled the campsite. The day was spent under the warm Death Valley heat and amongst towering rocky trails. With every step, a new landscape unfolded and a new appreciation for the vast land around us. After spending hours on the trail we found rejuvenation playing at Badwater salt flats, elevation -282. We started to chase the sunset as we made or way to our last destination of the day- a beautiful spring and waterfall. As the last light hit the springs, we all jumped in the chilly pool, awakened by the shock and the thrill of the closing day. Dinner, the campfire, and another unbelievable night sky brought closure to the night. I slept more sound then all the nights at home, the gentle reminder of the benefits of a enjoyable day in the outdoors. Although we knew the drive home was just hours away, we made the most of the morning by hiking to Panamint Dunes. After three miles of blistering heat, we were rewarded with the unique landscape of the dunes. Mountainous yet so fragile in appearance. We ranjumpedrolled with joy. The moment is infinite. I walked along a sand valley with my coworker, my close friend and laughed- who would have guessed this was our normal? This is what we get to share with others and enjoy for ourselves! We ran and met the groups, and they beamed as they said this was their new favorite trip.
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AshleyEnjoys playing outside. Archives
January 2017
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