Death Valley’s Remote Eureka Dunes

After my visit to Racetrack Playa, I motored over  more rough roads for 45 miles to Eureka Dunes. It’s in a remote part of Death Valley National Park so not many people go there. The dunes are 700 feet tall, amongst the tallest in North America. Low hanging clouds, a few sprinkles and a beautiful rainbow made for good photos.

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Rainbow

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Joshua Tree

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

 

Death Valley Eureka Dunes

Surf’s Up! The only things missing were a surfboard, an ocean and Spicoli’s van!

I was able to secure a permit for The Wave at Coyote Buttes North!  I showed up last Friday at the BLM office in Kanab, Utah to enter the dreaded lottery. During winter months when the BLM office is closed on weekends, they conduct the lottery on Friday for Saturday, Sunday and Monday permits This is the BEST TIME of the year to get a permit. If anyone is interested in going to The Wave, let me know and I’ll try to score one for you during these winter months. I plan to go back a few more times as I continously find more exotic things to shoot out there. All the permits for Saturday, Sunday and most of Monday were selected until they finally picked my number 15.  A group of six jumped up and down and screamed when their number was picked for Sunday. It turns out this was their 3rd day in a row of trying and they were  justly rewarded for their patience. I ended taking about 1,000 exposures so I will present the images in 4 posts. This post is an introduction and shows images of me surfing even though I was about 500 miles from the nearest ocean.

Wave Permit_0453
Do NOT attempt to reproduce this permit!

 

Coyote Buttes North
Teepees on the trail out to The Wave

 

Coyote Buttes Abstract_9606
Natural art seen along the trail

 

Coyote Buttes Abstract_9648
More abstract art.

 

Coyote Buttes The Wave Area_9537
Approaching The Wave along with its twisted hoodoos and various teepees.

 

Coyote Buttes Wave Hoodoos_9540
Getting closer

 

Coyote Buttes Wave Area_9543

 

Coyote Buttes me Surfing_9798
Hang ten!

 

Coyote Buttes Me Surfing_0423
Shooting the curl

 

Coyote Buttes me Surfing_0446
The only things missing were a surfboard, an ocean and Spicoli’s van!