Continued from C8
A volcanic eruption 50 miles away cre-
ated the Ubehebe Crater, a half-mile bowl
surrounded by striated cliffs. When the
rains came, the water etched fantastical pat-
terns into the sides of the 400 foot depres-
sion. The beauty is impossible to miss, but
so is the reality of time and place – from
time immemorial, the universe has thrown
hardballs.
Native Americans lived in these val-
leys and canyons and left petroglyphs. For
thousands of years, they survived in this
untamed land – they continue to live here
today and write new stories.
In the center of the valley lies the Mes-
quite Sand Dunes, which we explored on
foot in the early dawn, Caswell’s favor-
ite time to shoot with his big box cam-
era. The man is patient. On a good day, he
might take only a couple of photographs.
The landscape is inspirational. What part of
this hothouse isn’t? But capturing all that
on fi lm or canvas is the artist’s perpetual
challenge.
Back to the sea
At home, it continues to rain. Lightning
fl ashes, followed inevitably by thunder. The
rain falls harder now, and the sandy ground
gathers up the sky’s tears, drinking them in
like the thirsty humans I imagine wandering
the parched oasis, Death Valley.
There is a price to pay for undisturbed
beauty, for the privilege of viewing a harsh,
stunning landscape. We were lucky. Death
Valley offered up its best. So far from
home, we opened our eyes to a rare and
harsh wilderness and were rewarded – our
thirst for adventure quenched in one of the
driest places on Earth.
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CLOCKWISE, FROM UPPER LEFT Wood on the
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David Campiche photos
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 // 9