Four Extremes: Badwater

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:59:59 -800

The lowest point in the Lower 48 States is about 60 miles east of Mt. Whitney
in a place called Badwater. There's no town
there, just a low road, a sign, and a boardwalk. Every summer the Badwater
Marathon starts here and ends at the trail head on Mt. Whitney for people who
are simply nuts. It shouldn't be surprising that Badwater is at the bottom of
Death Valley; due to the high surrounding mountains, the air around here tends
to get trapped and spends the day getting hotter and hotter. The day we were
there, it was about 123F (according to Derrick's car) and the elevation was
-282'. Oddly, since it is the lowest point in Death Valley, all the water
drains underground towards this spot, and one can find saltwater by digging an
inch or two under the ground surface.