Badwater . Death Valley National Park . How Hot Is It ?

HOSSNV · May 7, 2012

At 282 ' (86 m) below sea level Badwater is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere ....... and the hottest place on Earth . Alltough the highest recorded temperature on Earth was in Libya in 1922 at 136° Death Valley has more average hot days than any place on Earth . On July 13 , 1913 Oscar Denton the recorder at Furance Creek Ranch marked a temperature of 134° F ( 56.60C ) . Now keep in mind Furance Creek is 20 miles north of Badwater and over 100 ft higher . Oscar refused to drive to Badwater to make a recording ( Who in there right mind would ! ) so is not a far reach to assume the at Badwater that day it was around 140° ! Oscar wrote this that day " I thought the world was coming to an end ! Birds in flight were falling to the ground dead ! I soaked a towel and put it on my head and it was completily dry before I could run back inside ! Fun facts ! The longest days in a row it reached 100° or above is 154 days ! In 1996 it was 110° for 110 days in a row ! In July the average high temp is 115° and the low 88° ! The Ranger related to me the story of a man that came in July in a dark 3 peice suit complete with bowler and umbreilla and asked if he might borrow one of the residents dogs . When asked why he replied " I want a picture to prove that only mad dogs and Englishman come out in the noonday sun ! " ( Ian ....... WAS THAT YOU ! )
Thanks for comeing along everyone ! Hope you had a good time ! Hoss

rginn · May 8, 2012

Just one more reason I'm happy to be here in the mountains. The hottest it ever got in the last 8 years was 81 degrees, which was a record. No more choppin cotton in 105 degree heat for me!

Billinoregon · May 8, 2012

What fun to see such dessication up close, and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Mackaydon · May 8, 2012

Mention of Badwater reminds me of "the world's toughest foot race," a legendary event that pits approximately 90 of the world's toughest athletes—runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers—against one another and the elements. Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55c), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. The 35th anniversary edition will be held July 16-18, 2012.
Don....

Billinoregon · May 8, 2012

And to think our guys were in combat with a full load of gear in similar temps in Iraq!

willie d · May 8, 2012

Yeah, but it's a dry heat. LOL

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

RGINN said:
Just one more reason I'm happy to be here in the mountains. The hottest it ever got in the last 8 years was 81 degrees, which was a record. No more choppin cotton in 105 degree heat for me!

Oh come on RG ! Get your cotton pickin butt down here and at least take a look ! Hoss

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

Billinoregon said:
What fun to see such dessication up close, and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Yes Bill the contrast is beatiful ! Death Valley in my eyes is one of the " natrual wonders of the world " and something everyone should see . The white stuff you see myself and the others folks standing on is called " the salt pan " and is allmost 100% pure table salt . Hoss

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

Mackaydon said:
Mention of Badwater reminds me of "the world's toughest foot race," a legendary event that pits approximately 90 of the world's toughest athletes—runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers—against one another and the elements. Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55c), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. The 35th anniversary edition will be held July 16-18, 2012.
Don....

Yes Don you are absoulety right . The Badwater Marathon is without doubt the most brutally demanding race on this planet ..... bar none . Only the very best of the best are even considered and many of those do not finish . A bit of triva . The racers start at the lowest point in the Untied States (Badwater ) and finish at the highest point in the lower 48 Mt Whitney . Hoss

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

Billinoregon said:
And to think our guys were in combat with a full load of gear in similar temps in Iraq!

God bless those brave men and women and thank for your service . Hoss

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

willie d said:
Yeah, but it's a dry heat. LOL

Yes Willie I hear that a lot from the tourist ! And I always tell them so is sticking your head in an oven ! :laughing7:

Hoss

Mackaydon · May 8, 2012

Hoss,
Actually, I think the race ends at Whitney Portal (elevation 8,360). One year when I was doing Whitney I met a few of these guys for breakfast back in Lone Pine after they had finished to the Portal the night before. They were preparing to go from the Portal to the Summit (14,496 feet) and back to the Portal (22 miles) just FOR FUN that same day !!
Don........

HOSSNV · May 8, 2012

Mackaydon said:
Hoss,
Actually, I think the race ends at Whitney Portal (elevation 8,360). One year when I was doing Whitney I met a few of these guys for breakfast back in Lone Pine after they had finished to the Portal the night before. They were preparing to go from the Portal to the Summit (14,496 feet) and back to the Portal (22 miles) just FOR FUN that same day !!
Don........

Yes you are right . They do not climb the peak itself and finish at the portal . But I figuerd that is dam close enough ! Hoss

rginn · May 9, 2012

haha! No way Hoss! I only come down out of the mountains about once a year now, for maybe a week. Oh, I never picked cotton, but I did pull bolls. Great pics!

willie d · May 10, 2012

HOSSNV said:
Yes Willie I hear that a lot from the tourist ! And I always tell them so is sticking your head in an oven ! Hoss

LOL I'm sure you do. I spent 23 months stationed @ Ft. Irwin, CA. I can remember sitting in a Humvee in September and noticing the thermometer reading @ 120. I'd much rather take a desert summer over a Florida summer.

bcinbucks · May 11, 2012

Great pics Hoss. Don't think I'll be heading there any time soon. A bit to hot for me.

HOSSNV · May 13, 2012

bcinbucks said:
Great pics Hoss. Don't think I'll be heading there any time soon. A bit to hot for me.

Thanks BCB ! Glad you liked them ! Don't give up on the desert too quickley ! April and October are are great times to vist Death Valley National Park and I assure you , you will not be disapointed ! Hoss

bcinbucks · May 17, 2012

Never been in the desert so I'd like to experience it at least once.

HOSSNV · May 19, 2012

bcinbucks said:
Never been in the desert so I'd like to experience it at least once.

I promise you bcb , you will not regret it ! There is a certain feeling you get in the desert . That you can see , hear and feel all that is around you . You are alone , and there is no one else . Your senses are on full alert , because it is just you the earth and the sky ! Hope you can make it here ! Hoss