Sunrise, Sunset

Here are two very different perspectives on one very wild place, valley floor and mountain top. There's just something about Death Valley that makes you feel small and fragile. Its more than the spectacular scenery, its the inhospitable environment. In September, the daytime temperatures still hover near 100. At night, the ground radiates warmth, making sleeping bags unnecessary. You don't feel thirsty, but once you start drinking, you realize you can't stop.

I can't imagine how people explored and mined this part of the world without the benefit of cars with air conditioning. Or how the beasts of burden who carried the people and minerals managed to survive!