Interesting to see how many people try to cut across the dunes by climbing down and up. We tried it once and realized how difficult it is and kept to the ridges like the guy up there.
He must have gotten there way before dawn to claim that perch. The star dune is the highest one in Mesquite Flat dunes and it's definitely a pain to climb with the loose sand.
On our last day at Death Valley, we woke up early and went to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. It was pretty clear when we got there, but by the time the sun came up the wind had kicked up dust clouds and completely hidden the mountains at the horizon. Totally different scene than what we expected, but equally beautiful.
