We have been here in Pahrump for about a week. Most of the time spent getting settled and exploring the town. Boring day to day things. Pahrump is kind of a funny name, and besides the fact that it is a known mecca for legal Brothels and Casinos, it is an Indigenous name meaning(Pah-rimpi) meaning Water Rock because there are abundant Artesian Wells in this valley! One day this week we decided to go to Death Valley before the temps get unbearable. It is most often the hottest place in North America because of the low elevation and the fact that there are mountains enclosing the valley, keeping the heat from dissipating at night. We are forecast to hit triple digits today and it got really close yesterday here. The day we went, it was 102 at the bottom of the Valley. 
We started travelling west on Hwy 273 and took a side trip through the Ash Meadow Wildlife Refuge. Lots of miles of quiet roads and trails and a reservoir to watch for wildlife. We hiked up to one Phenomenon called "Devils Hole" which is an underground spring. The story at the Visitor's Center is that a while back,
some divers broke in through the fence and when down into the spring...two came back out and went for help when the others didn't appear. They were never recovered! The video of that water moving and causing waves enough to displace catwalks in the aftermath of a recent Mexican Earthquake is pretty awesome. We are a long ways from the southern tip of Mexico! Don't know how that happens! Bodies of water in the Preserve also holds the Amargosa Pup fish...an endangered and protected species and it is the only place on earth that they reside.
We headed out continuing on to the west and north through the Twenty Mule Team Canyon and were close to the Borax Mine, however, everyone else was hiking to the peak and an overlook, and the signs said no dogs, so we chose not to go! KayCee was along, and it was too hot to leave her in the car! The mountains and hills around that area were very colorful. Onward to Furnace Creek by noon, we stopped beside the Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and Golf Course to have our lunch and share a little with the resident birds!
They were really beggars! After lunch, we pulled into the Furnace Creek Visitors Center looking for more information and since
Earth Day was being observed, the National Park Fire Department had a couple of trucks out and their rescue Equipment for all to see.
DH had a great time visiting with the Firemen and Rescue Personnel and admiring their trucks. We headed south through Golden Canyon, past the Devils Golf Course to the Badwater Basin, which is the lowest elevation in the U.S. 282 ft. Below Sea Level. 
Temps there were 102 degrees and I was feeling a little enclosed then and wanting to be on the way. We began travelling back up, rising over 2000 feet through the town of Shoshone and back to the home base. There's other trips through that National Park that would be interesting, but I don't think it is a summer activity!
Even this female coyote was begging for cool! This week the admittance to all National Parks is free! If you have one near, it is a wonderful way to spend some time. I am spending my Sunday grilling stuffed Pheasant breasts for lunch, along with other great sides for our dinner. It helps to have some left over pheasant from the last fall hunt in the freezer and a wonderful outdoor kitchen! A new recipe and I will see if it's worth repeating! We are liking the Nevada Treasure RV Resort. Pool is excellent and gym is all anybody could want for and more! I am spoiled.
We started travelling west on Hwy 273 and took a side trip through the Ash Meadow Wildlife Refuge. Lots of miles of quiet roads and trails and a reservoir to watch for wildlife. We hiked up to one Phenomenon called "Devils Hole" which is an underground spring. The story at the Visitor's Center is that a while back, some divers broke in through the fence and when down into the spring...two came back out and went for help when the others didn't appear. They were never recovered! The video of that water moving and causing waves enough to displace catwalks in the aftermath of a recent Mexican Earthquake is pretty awesome. We are a long ways from the southern tip of Mexico! Don't know how that happens! Bodies of water in the Preserve also holds the Amargosa Pup fish...an endangered and protected species and it is the only place on earth that they reside. We headed out continuing on to the west and north through the Twenty Mule Team Canyon and were close to the Borax Mine, however, everyone else was hiking to the peak and an overlook, and the signs said no dogs, so we chose not to go! KayCee was along, and it was too hot to leave her in the car! The mountains and hills around that area were very colorful. Onward to Furnace Creek by noon, we stopped beside the Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and Golf Course to have our lunch and share a little with the resident birds! They were really beggars! After lunch, we pulled into the Furnace Creek Visitors Center looking for more information and since Earth Day was being observed, the National Park Fire Department had a couple of trucks out and their rescue Equipment for all to see. DH had a great time visiting with the Firemen and Rescue Personnel and admiring their trucks. We headed south through Golden Canyon, past the Devils Golf Course to the Badwater Basin, which is the lowest elevation in the U.S. 282 ft. Below Sea Level. Temps there were 102 degrees and I was feeling a little enclosed then and wanting to be on the way. We began travelling back up, rising over 2000 feet through the town of Shoshone and back to the home base. There's other trips through that National Park that would be interesting, but I don't think it is a summer activity! Even this female coyote was begging for cool! This week the admittance to all National Parks is free! If you have one near, it is a wonderful way to spend some time. I am spending my Sunday grilling stuffed Pheasant breasts for lunch, along with other great sides for our dinner. It helps to have some left over pheasant from the last fall hunt in the freezer and a wonderful outdoor kitchen! A new recipe and I will see if it's worth repeating! We are liking the Nevada Treasure RV Resort. Pool is excellent and gym is all anybody could want for and more! I am spoiled. 
You can keep the heat. Honestly, we would rather have rain and cool temperatures than 102*. Pheasant ? tastes like chicken, right?
ReplyDeleteWell, it didn't get to triple digits today after all... was a glorious Sunday! Pheasant has a little different texture than chicken, but all in all...it definitely tastes like fowl!My recipe turned out awesome, however, I think I'll tweek it a bit before I use it at home!
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