First up, driving into DV from the South East, from the direction of China Lake NAS:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2336.jpg)
A couple general cool pics of DV from the Aguereberry Point area:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2359.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2362.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2377.jpg)
That night I decided to drive the famous Titus Canyon road at night, a one way dirt trail down a wash that at points is so narrow I could reach out the windows on either side and touch sheer rock walls hundreds of feet tall.
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2383.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2386.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2391.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2399.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2405.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2424.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2449.jpg)
This is a pic looking across DV at the dunes at Stovepipe Wells. My kids and I climbed these dunes two years ago. They are big, but nothing compared to what I was looking for on this day...
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2459.jpg)
First off you drive WAY north up Big Pine Road, which looking South in this picture is that wee thread of dirt leading off into the horizon:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2480.jpg)
Then you get to Crankshaft Crossing and turn West onto Hanging Rock Canyon road:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2478.jpg)
Along the way there's lots to explore:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2489.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2498.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2501.jpg)
And then at last you drive down Eureka Valley to the Eureka Dunes, easily the tallest dunes in California and around the tallest in North America, roughly 700 feet tall:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2522.jpg)
Around that time some Canadian flyboys visiting China Lake decided to buzz me:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2528.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2532.jpg)
This dune complex is massive in every way, but I tanked up with a lot of water, packed a lot more, plus an MRE and my Nikon (who's CCD needs cleaning, yes I noticed!
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2540.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2541.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2544.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2548.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2550.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2554.jpg)
The view looking South from the southern summit:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2555.jpg)
The opposite view looking north, the Pathfinder is behind the dune marked with the carrot:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2557.jpg)
Various cool dune shots:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2559.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2562.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2583.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2586.jpg)
The view from the Northern peak towards the parking area, the Pathfinder is right at the tip of the carrot:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2595.jpg)
The view from the Northern peak looking south along the ridge (I climbed the further Southern peak first because I could do it gradually, trying to climb directly up the Northern peak would be a colossal PITA):
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2596.jpg)
The hike down was a LOT more fun and relaxing, so I snapped a couple more interesting shots:
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2597.jpg)
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2601.jpg)
I then drove North through Eureka Valley, East through the Sylvania Mountains where I snapped this shot of the Pathfinder posing with some Joshua Trees, finally finding pavement again on 266 and then to 95 where I drove south directly to Las Vegas. Damn fun little detour!
![Image](https://www.thenissanpath.com/filelib/2006/SEMA-DV/DSC_2613.jpg)