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So what is Death Valley National Park?

Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes, where the lowest point in North America meets the highest peaks in the contiguous United States. It is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. It is famous for its record-breaking heat, arid landscapes, and diverse wildlife.

Death Valley received its ominous name from a group of pioneers who became lost within the valley during the winter of 1849-1850. They were seeking a shortcut to the California goldfields, and the grueling conditions nearly cost them their lives. While only one of the group is known to have died there, they all believed the valley would become their grave. As they escaped and looked back over the harsh landscape, one of them uttered "goodbye, Death Valley," cementing the name in history.

Some interesting facts about Death Valley are

• It holds the world record for the highest air temperature ever recorded: 134°F on July 10, 1913 at Furnace Creek.

• It is home to the largest protected area of dark skies in the country, making it an ideal destination for stargazing.

• It has more than 1,000 species of plants, 51 of which are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world.

• It contains the lowest golf course in the world, at 214 feet below sea level.

Our adventure

Sunday, February 25th

Hurry up, are we ready yet? Did you turn the lights out? I turned the water off to the house? Did you put the dog out? What, we don't have a dog??? Okay. Checklist is complete. Let's go!

We left Folsom around 8:30 am after a bit of a scramble to get ready to leave. Earlier in the week, we were worried about storms that were forecast that could have impacted driving from Folsom up US-50 through the Sierra Nevada mountains to go south on US-395 to Lone Pine. But, Sunday was a beautiful sunny day, and we enjoyed the scenery heading over the mountains.

Being a Sunday, heading east, we had light traffic compared to all the westbound traffic of people heading home and back to work. With the fresh snow and sunny day, it was a pleasant drive.

After getting over the summit, we headed south on US-395, with most of the drive at 7,000 feet elevation and offering new scenery around every turn. About 10 miles north of Lone Pine, we stopped at Manzanar National Historic Site.

Manzanar is a place of profound historical significance. During World War II, it served as one of ten American concentration camps where over 120,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated. Today, the site provides insight into this painful chapter of our nation’s past, while also echoing broader themes of displacement, prejudice, and resilience.

Towering behind Manzanar, is Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States. At 14,505 feet, it's an impressive sight to behold, especially considering the stark contrast between the snow-capped peak and the arid desert landscape of Death Valley.

At Lone Pine, we checked into our hotel, grabbed some McDonalds for dinner, and watched the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Clippers on their home court!!!

Mono Lake along US-395

Manzanar Vistor Center with Mount Witney in the background	Guard tower at Manzanar
Conditions at Manzanar	After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, there was a lot of fear racism

Monday

The next leg of our journey began with a 102-mile drive to Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley. The scenic route offered several opportunities for spontaneous sightseeing, and Becky particularly enjoyed playing in the sand dunes. After a five-hour drive, we arrived at our welcoming cottage in Furnace Creek, where we settled in for the next four nights.

Nestled 190 feet below sea level, Furnace Creek is a picturesque oasis. Lush greenery and date palms create a stark contrast to the surrounding desert landscape. While I wouldn't be caught dead on the links myself, for those seeking a more leisurely pace, an 18-hole golf course beckons.

Furnace Creek was formerly known as Greenland Ranch and was established by the William Tell Coleman Borax Company in 1883. The name was inspired by the green alfalfa fields they planted there. Later, it was renamed Furnace Creek Ranch in 1933. The Timbisha tribe currently resides in the Death Valley Indian Community reservation there, contributing to the area’s rich history and culture.

Leaving Lone Pine with Mount Witney in the background	Entering Death Valley National Park
Stopping at Death Valley Sand Dunes on our way to Furnace Creek	Becky at her Sand Dunes
Home sweet home at Furnace Creek	The 18-hole golf course at the oasis

Tuesday, February 27th

After two longer days of driving, we decided to take it a bit easier and start the day a little later. We relaxed at our cabin for a bit in the morning before heading over to explore the Borax Museum at Furnace Creek.

Borax is a mineral that was once used in a variety of products, including soap, laundry detergent, and glass. The museum has exhibits of machinery used for borax mining, and a "Twenty Mule Team" borax wagon that was used to transport borax out of Death Valley from 1883 to 1898.

After the museum, we drove to the Harmony Borax Works to see the remains of the old borax processing plant. The Harmony Borax Works was built in 1883 and was one of the largest borax processing plants in the world. The plant closed in 1914, but the ruins are still standing today and offer a glimpse into the history of borax mining in Death Valley.

After that, we took a scenic drive through Mustard Canyon. Mustard Canyon is a canyon in the middle of the Death Valley floor with lined hills of yellowish, mustard-colored dirt and rocks and absent of all plant life.

We then headed to the Death Valley Inn to wander the grounds. The Death Valley Inn is a historic hotel that was built in 1927. The inn is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of Death Valley.

We ended the day by relaxing back at our cabin, reflecting on the day's adventures.

Remains of the Harmony Borax Works	Twenty Mule Team story
Borax all over the valley	A view inside Mustard Canyon

Death Valley Inn