White Mountain looms over Eureka Valley, with a cloud of dust from a passing car hanging in the rapidly-cooling air.
Ryan on an abandoned tractor that must be 60+ years old at an abandoned talc mine high up in the Inyo Mountains.
Ryan backlit on the playa, showing the typical hexagonal mud crack saucers.
Tracks on the ridges cause little avalanches. The Eureka Dunes are known as "singing" dunes because when dry, the sand hums and booms during these mini-avalanches.
Looking southwest.
Ryan nearing the final push to the top of the big dune, a 700' ascent. The sand was very firm compared to other times, probably owing to moisture and the cold temperatures.
Dune ridge and Saline Mountains.
B&W edit looking west towards Saline Mountains and the setting moon.
Looking west towards the Saline Mountains and the setting moon.
Ryan sets off up the big dune, temperature 29 degrees.
Some intrepid campers and their dog set off in freezing temperatures for an early morning hike up the dunes.
Our campsite. This shot was taken while Ryan walked in circles with his red headlamp.
Stars, car, airplane and campfire.
Milky Way Galaxy, some passing airplanes, the Last Chance Range and Eureka Dunes, taken with a 77-second exposure.
Striated rock formations in the Last Chance Range.
Paths leading down from the highest dune, which we would climb the next morning (after a frigid night camping in 13-degree weather).
Eureka Dunes and the Last Chance Range.
Curves on the dunes.
Foot paths through the dunes.
Same patterns, but in full color, in the afternoon sun.
Curvaceous dune patterns -- to me evocative of the female form. Or maybe I just missed Carmen.
Eureka Dunes and the Last Chance Range
Eureka Dunes and the Last Chance Range behind
Sinuous patterns in the Eureka Dunes.
