Finally, we start our long descent into Death Valley on Hunter Mountain Road, through the pine trees

This corner of Death Valley National Park actually has a forest of pinyon pines due to its high elevation (7000 feet). It's also a lot cooler here up high.

Our long slow descent down the washboarded Hunter Mountain Road is bumpy. The sun sets behind the pine trees, and the hills sometimes block the sunset and many of the views of the Panamint Valley below.

No more photos for the day, due to lack of disposable cameras and the darkness encroaching!

The lower part of the drive, on Saline Valley Road, is also rough, due to the old damaged pavement on the road. There are damaged-pavement areas, and potholes to be avoided, if you can be bothered dodging them all.

We make it back to the smooth pavement of Highway 190 just after dark and stop at Panamint Springs Resort for an expensive (but good) hamburger and beer to go back to our camp sites at Emigrant Campground.

We're all tired and Renée isn't feeling well from all the bouncing around in the back seat, but we've created a day to remember after driving 160 miles, much of it on backroads.

Next photo album: Day 10: Emigrant Campground to Furnace Creek Campground