It's no secret that my mom and I travel a lot. Generally, three to four times a year at least, with road trips in between when we have time. I've made it a personal goal to visit every U.S. National Park and she is always up for an adventure. However, this time around we chose to visit two places we'd already seen, but neither had we spent nearly enough time. This was a special trip for us, as it was the first trip we'd taken since I had fully recovered from my brain tumor resection in September. It was at my mom's suggestion, I believe one day while I was still in rehab in fact, that we visit Death Valley again. She told me later that she suggested the park because she could tell how enamored I was when we had visited eight months prior. The previous visit was in July 2025, and not only was the heat crushing, but I was also constantly having to rest and tend to headaches. This trip was a much more pleasant experience. 

Valley of Fire was a bonus addition due to its close proximity to Las Vegas. My mom and I had visited the small yet insanely beautiful state park some five years prior, but only had about three hours at the time. We were new to park hoping and grossly underestimated the time we would need, making hiking the trails not an option. We more than made up for it this time around, hiking six plus miles collectively out among the gorgeous sandstone formations. 

While preparing for this trip I decided to go film heavy, and brought along three cameras: a Canon r6 Mark II, my trustee vintage Canon A1, and a brand new (to me) vintage Yashica-A TLR. Lens wise I packed a standard 50mm and a 28mm. I always stick to very basic, inexpensive lenses for vacation photos. The Yashica turned out to be an absolute beast. Having never shot 120mm prior, I wasn't sure what to expect of the film, but was floored at how vibrant and detailed the images came out.

When I returned home I quickly realized this trip restored some part of myself that had remained traumatized after last September's events. Getting to see these parks during a more mild time of year, with newly restored health, and during a super bloom no less, was the exact kind of nervous system reset I needed after going through the hardest period of my life, thus far.

The Death Valley Super Bloom

When my mom was in her twenties she visited Yellowstone National Park and all the geysers in the upper basin went off one right after the other. It was a once in a lifetime occurrence, and she said she felt as if it happened just for her. Like the universe was smiling at her. Visiting Death Valley after a truly terrifying period of my life, only to stumble upon a record super bloom made me feel similarly. We didn't go to Death Valley with any knowledge of this rare event, we just showed up and there they were. Millions of desert sunflowers (geraea canescens) providing a blanket of gold across the desert floor. This year's super bloom is the largest bloom since 2016, and is expected to last through April. I feel incredibly special to have gotten to witness it for myself.

fURNACE cREEK, death Vallery National Park, ca

badwater rd, death valley national park, ca

Lake Manly at Badwater Basin

Speaking of unlikely things to witness: Lake Manly is a rare, ephemeral lake that forms in Death Valley's Badwater Basin. The lake appears as a result of heavy rainfall, and is actually a temporary version of an ancient ice lake that formed in the same location over a hundred thousand years ago. The water when we visited was ankle deep, yet at previous times has become deep enough to kayak. Regardless of depth, the lake transformed the basin into an  ethereal mirrored landscape, unlike anything I've ever seen.

badwater basin, death valley national park, ca

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns were a must see for me this trip. They require a long, scenic drive through a remote landscape lush with creosote bush, cacti, and desert holly. There was even a few lone palms. Completed in 1877, these beehive shaped kilns helped provide charcoal for local lead-silver mines until about 1900. The kilns remain in astonishing good condition for their age and are believed to be the best known surviving example of such kilns in the western United States. Situated at a much higher elevation than any place else we visited this trip, I was shocked to find the air slightly chilly upon arrival.

Wildrose, Death Valley National Park, ca

Other Death Valley Points of Interest

zabriskie point

golden canyon

The devil’s golfcourse

mosaic canyon

artists palette

Fire Canyon at Rainbow Vista

rainbow vista trail, valley of fire state park, NV

Fire Wave and the Sevens Wonders

Seven Wonders Trail was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever taken. From the Fire Wave to Pastel Canyon to the Kaolin Wash Narrows, this scenic loop very much lived up to the hype. I was hiking and enjoying the scenery for the most part, but managed to get a few film shots here and there. My favorite shot of the trip was taken here. A landscape with a mysterious red cloaked women in the center.

seven wonders trail, valley of fire state park, nv

Other Valley of Fire Points of Interest

Mouse’s tank

desert big horned sheep at valley of fire

We didn’t think we would actually get to see any big horned sheep this trip. However, as we were heading out on our final day here a herd was wandering the valley right off the highway. I had enough time to grab just a few shots before they dispersed.

birdcage evening primrose at valley of fire

I’m including this image solely for the story behind it. My mom and I had stopped at this turn out to take in the scenery and stumbled upon a small patch of flowers. A nearby sign indicated that they were Birdcage Evening Primrose. (By the time we found the sign I'd already taken this photograph.) The marker indicated that the 'birdcage' referred to the birdcage-like structure they curl into after death. My mom and I searched around trying to find a dead one and eventually gave up. When I got home I discovered this photo. On the left side of the image is the flower and on the right is the birdcage.

Personal | From the Super Bloom to the Fire Wave