Desert's Pastel Memory
Death Valley National Park
You never really know what you'll find in Death Valley, especially after a good rain. The Mesquite dunes are usually so dry and shifting, but the recent floods had packed the sand down, making it firm under my boots. As the sun started to set, the light hitting the damp sand was just incredible. It wasn't the usual harsh desert light; it was soft, creating these deep purples in the hollows and a warm, almost peachy glow on the ridges. The wind and water had carved these delicate, repeating lines into the surface. It was completely silent out there, just me and these temporary patterns that I knew would be gone as soon as the desert heat returned.