This beautiful volcanic crater in Death Valley is right off the road to the racetrack. I didn't have much time to explore, but next time I'm going all the way to the bottom.
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.