While this year wasn't as picturesque as last year with all the flowers, this was an interesting chapter for the GTS Touring Society. Riding in the rain isn't so unusual, but it IS in Death Valley. Most of the weekend was dry enough, but we did get poured on with what seemed like ice water. It even turned to snow for a short time!Doug Kirk and I got there early again this year, and we rode our dirt bikes down a number of dirt roads. Due to all the rain the previous year, these roads were a LOT more difficult to negotiate. The road through "Hole in the Wall" to the Red Amphitheatre was much more gravelly than usual, and it was quite a challenge keeping the bikes vertical at times. We managed, however. One of the most notable experiences this year was seeing an open spring in Devil's Golf Course. While I knew that water pushes the salt up into strange and craggy formations, I had no idea there was so much water beneath the salt! As I left Death Valley to the west on Sunday morning, I was treated to a view of snow on the Panamint mountains that I'd never before seen. The cold rain had turned to snow above 4000 feet, leaving the mountains looking like something out of an alpine ski area brochure. |
 Panamint Valley west of Death Valley |  Panamint Valley west of Death Valley |  Our campsite |  Our campsite |  Visiting Roadrunners |  Visiting Roadrunners |
 West Side Road |  West Side Road |  Doug at Eagle Borax Works |  Ruins of Eagle Borax Works |  Kelly at Eagle Borax Works |  Sun setting over Panamint Mts. |
 Grave at Eagle Borax Works |  Grave at Eagle Borax Works |  Sun setting over Panamint Mts. |  Evening sun on Black Mts. |  Evening sun on Black Mts. |  Evening sun on Black Mts. |
 Evening sun on Black Mts. |  West Side Road |  Evening sun on Black Mts. |  Evening sun on Black Mts. |  West Side Road |  West Side Road |
 Evening sun on Black Mts. |  Here comes Doug! |  There he goes... |  Evening's orange glow |  Nice campfire |  Doug with beer and stogie |
 Teakettle Junction |  Bikes at T.K.J. |  Kelly by the sign |  The Racetrack |  Playa - Dry lakebed |  Racing rocks: See the trails? |
 Playa |  360 degree video BIG- 48MB!! |  "The Grandstand" Rock formatation |  How it works |  Racetrack Valley |  Racetrack Valley |
 Racetrack Valley |  Rock Trails |  Rock Trails |  Rock Trails |  Racetrack Valley |  Kelly on the playa |
 The Grandstand |  The Grandstand |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |
 Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  Colorful rocks by Scotty's Castle |  A true oasis! |  Ornate Gate |  Ornate Gate |
 Scotty's Castle |  Roadrunners are back |  Roadrunners are back |  Devil's Golfcourse |  Devil's Golfcourse |  Devil's Golfcourse |
 Devil's Golfcourse |  Devil's Golfcourse |  Doug in the rough |  Devil's Golfcourse |  A cold spring opened up! |  VERY unusual- Rarely seen! |
 Quite deep! |  Amazing salt crystals |  Amazing salt crystals |  Amazing salt crystals |  Amazing salt crystals |  Snow and Salt |
 This was FLAT last year. |  Underground water pushes salt up |  Not quite Morton's Salt |  Bikes with scenic backdrop |  Bikes with scenic backdrop |  Rugged beauty |
 Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Downhill of Zabriski Point |  A few flowers peeking out |
 Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Downhill of Zabriski Point |  Hole in the Wall road- Wicked gravel! |  Doug and bikes at a gap |  Heading down steep decline |  Isolated Scenery |
 Doug heads to Red Amphitheatre |  Red Amphitheatre |  My KLR at Red Amphitheatre |  Last 100yds on trail. Too tough! |  20 Mule Team Canyon |  20 Mule Team Canyon |
 Vid of Doug riding- 21MB!! |  20 Mule Team Canyon |  20 Mule Team Canyon |  Storm brewing in the 'Valley |  RAIN in Death Valley! |  GTS crew at Scottie's Castle |
 GTS crew at Scottie's Castle |  GTS crew at Scottie's Castle |  Shawn Pearsall |  Dierdre Pearsall |  Doug Kirk |  Miguel |
 The crew |  Paula McLeod |  Bob Johnson |  name? |  Paula & Doug McLeod and Doug Kirk |  Bob Johnson |
 Jan Johnson |  At Furnace Creek Inn restaurant |  At Zabriski Pt. |  At Zabriski Pt. |  Artist's Palette with unusual light |  Artist's Palette with unusual light |
 Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |
 Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |  Panamint Valley after big snow |
 Panamint Valley after big snow |