The other day we took a drive through Death Valley National Park. Here are some pictures of Badwater Basin, one of the major destinations there, of which there are very few, aside from scenic vistas of desolate beauty for hundreds of miles.

Badwater Elevation Sign



Lake Badwater


Hexagonal Salt Crust in Badwater Basin



Panamint Range toward Telescope Peak



We could feel the descent below sea level and our eventual climb out of it by the popping of our ears as the air pressure changed. It was also very warm there, 95 degrees on October 3. Actually, it has been unseasonably warm here in Las Vegas, the low 80s with mild night-time temperatures. Next week we're having a cold snap - 75 degrees on the average for several days, and the weather man says we're not going to see the 80s again until next spring, but we'll just see about that.

The main season in Death Valley is October through April. People come in the summer, but it's extremely hot, and can be dangerous if folks aren't prepared. The average high in July is 115 degrees, the hottest month, and it can get down to 65 degrees in December.