April 25
This is going to be hit or miss. I am spending the night in Death Valley NP. There is no cell phone service, and WiFi is dicey. Twice I seemed to have lost connection. For now I will save these few sentences and add more text later tonight if the electronic wave settles down.
Sorry for the delay. I am now at home, readying for my next loop, with time to add comments about Death Valley. I met Glen (Southern California) and Eddie (Mexico) at the park’s VC (I hope I spelled your names correctly). They are much more attuned to this environment, and indicated this was a great time of year to be touring the park. The thermometer at the VC read 96deg F. But when mid-summer hits, the temperatures can soar much higher to uncomfortable levels. As I was halfway along the hike to Golden Canyon, I was thinking the current amount of thermal energy was not exactly fully agreeable. Kirk, from England, was on the same hike. After viewing the scenery, we had a good talk on football (the sphere, not the oblong ball with pointy ends), cricket, and Queen Elizabeth II. There will never be a monarch who will surpass her reign. The drive to Badwater Basin felt great, probably because I was in an air-conditioned environment. The car’s dashboard showed 99degF. Elevation is a primary factor in determining temperature. Off in the distance were the Panamint Mountains, with snow on their peaks. An increase in elevation would have been welcomed at this time.
Scotty’s Castle was closed. This is a palace built by Albert Johnson as a retreat for himself and his wife. He had been conned by Walter Scott to come west and invest in mining operations. Johnson loved the outdoors of the Valley so much, he built the home, and forgot all about minerals. But the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were open, with plenty of people strolling up and down the sand peaks. Though there were a number of people in the park, there were no crowds. The parking lot at the VC was never full, and one could easily park at all the tourist spots, such as Badwater Basin and the various hiking trailheads.
A short hike is to the Harmony Borax Works. Remnants of the operation can be viewed. One of the major mineral processes in the Valley was the generation of Borax, which is hydrated borate of sodium. You may be familiar with the 20-Mule Team advertising ploy. It took teams of 20 mules to pull the wagons (a couple are on display at the site) of processed borax out of the Valley.
When miners and settlers entered the Valley, they encountered the Timbisha Shoshone. It is not known how long these native peoples have inhabited this region. To this day, their presence is still visible as they continue to live here. Many areas of the park are considered sacred to their group. The Shoshone are not happy that the first white men named the area “Death Valley” since they do not associate the land with death, rather life, as they adapted and flourished for centuries untold.