Stretched right on the border of two states, California and Nevada, Death Valley lives with some extraordinary sights and natural phenomena. Despite the trip not covering all the sight-seeings, the Racetrack Playa of the mysterious sailing stones was an inevitable visit. Sounds unbelievable right? How can stones move without animal intervention? But these do!

As a part of my birthday gift, I got a free choice to choose one of the sights I would like to visit, and I went with the sailing stones. To reach the Racetrack Playa a 4x4 vehicle is preferable because of the raunchy nature of the that might end up in a flat tire. We hired a red riding Jeep and set on our way to see the rocks. Fun fact: the hired Jeeps tend to have a limited setting speed, and could be super uncomfortable, though they are very safe. The map showed us a total distance of 180 km covered in 3 hours and 19 minutes. However, with a speed limit, it takes you an hour or so more. The roads are majorly concrete except for a few kilometres where it goes off-track. The route took us around scenic views of Joshua trees grown around the landscape stretched till the horizon. Even a Kangaroo Rat and local lizards popped up their heads from behind a rock, trying to cross the road. Our trip to the sailing stones went till the evening, and our return was after the sun had set. But this allowed us to spot a few coyotes strolling on the side of the road.

A few kilometres before arriving at Racetrack Playa, we met Teakettle Junction. The origin of the infamous Teakettle Junction is known to none but leaving behind a kettle with a unique message has become a tradition among travellers. Over time, the junction keeps overloading with excess kettles that the national park takes a few of them out.

At last, we reached our most awaited destination. By now the sun had moved in its afternoon phase. Summer weather had just begun to settle in with the heat. We walked up towards the sight's information placards. With facts and information about the stones, there were also a few instructions for the visitors. The instructions were regarding the Racetrack Playa and going near the rocks. Spotting the nearest stone, we made our way towards it. While walking up to them, we saw a few tracks that ended abruptly with no rock to trace them. Over the years, many tourists disturbed the natural course by moving the stones from their original place and collecting them as souvenirs. There were a few more such tracks left abandoned by their original trackers. We were now standing at one of the stone tracks whose originator was still in its place. Watching the result of the phenomena with my own eyes was phenomenal.

One of the sailing stones at Racetrack Playa.

Since the discovery of the sailing stones, many theories floated around. Some even went universal, calling in the alien intervention. Recently, in 2015 researchers recorded the rocks' movements using GPS and time-lapse photography. What they observed finally solved the mystery of the sailing stones. The stones move when thin sheets of ice floating in a winter pond start breaking up on sunny days. Light winds drive these ice sheets pushing the rocks at up to 5 meters/minute. The stones with rough edges etch the ground leaving striated tracks.

Being amongst such phenomena was in itself a great feeling, but the sun was soon going to set, and we had a long way to cover to reach back to the Death Valley junction where we had to return the car. Saying our goodbyes, our red Jeep was on the rough roads again. Crossing the Teakettle junction, now seen in a more mellow light tiredly waved at us and turned in for the rest of the day. It was pitch dark by the time we reached the junction. Death Valley was ready to sleep tight, but there were three eyes full of memories from the afternoon's visit to the Racetrack Playa where the stones choose to sail.