The Desert

Away from the glitzy lights of the strip; away from the crowds, designer shops and fine dining lies a world filled with quiet - a remote and rugged landscape that lures with its beauty and rewards those brave enough to venture into her harsh embrace.

Recently my wife and I took a trip out west.  While we spent our nights indulging in the hedonistic offerings of Las Vegas, we also had a wonderful opportunity to experience things and places that we normally wouldn't get to go. We off-roaded through steep and treacherous mountain passes in Death Valley. We hiked through slot canyons in the Valley of Fire and marveled at the beauty of the harsh desert landscape at Red Rock Canyon.

The most profound experience however was the silence. The desert is strikingly...silent. It's almost incomprehensible that a place so vast could be completely still. Many times I found myself wondering if my next step would shatter the stillness and invoke a swift and terrible retribution from this vast and desolate place. I can almost imagine how Death Valley arrived at its name: to feel the warm desert wind and not hear it is like a ghost whose presence is felt, but not seen.

If you ever have the chance to visit some of these places I highly recommend it. Most are only a few hours outside of Las Vegas and well worth the trip. If your vehicle permits, try your hand at the Titus Canyon road. It's a 26 mile, one way off-road trail that snakes it's way along the desert floor and steep mountain passes and takes you right into the heart of Death Valley. Though, I should warn you, this road is not for the faint of heart. Should you feel adventurous enough to try it you'll be rewarded with stunning views, off the beaten path sights, and ancient Indian petroglyphs.

And that, is what travel and life is all about: the journey maybe long and sometimes uncomfortable, but it does wonders for the soul to get away from the everyday and experience some of hidden beauty and wonders that this world has to offer.