I’m beyond disgusted to learn that one of my favorite locations, the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park, has been vandalized by someone[s] joy-riding a vehicle across the beautifully textured lakebed. The selfish wastes of oxygen managed to leave over ten miles of tire tracks and scarring to the unique desert environment. They even drove over many of the distinctive stone trails which make this location famous. The sailing stones are the result of a rare phenomenon requiring perfect conditions of water, temperature and wind. Because of the lack of rain and dry conditions, it’s likely these tire tracks will last for years, possibly decades before nature can return it to the way it was. Driving a vehicle over the surface is illegal. While it’s okay to *walk* on when dry, if there’s any notion of wet mud, please keep off the lakebed otherwise shoe prints can create long-lasting marks. It’s these pathetic individuals who ruin these incredible places for everyone else.
This image is captured from a time before this recent vandalism, but if you look closely, you can see footprints from someone who disregarded the wet surface warning signs.
For those interested in seeing some of the latest damage:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/water-environment/illegal-tire-tracks-mar-death-valley-dry-lake-famous-mysterious-moving-rocks
View Print Options
