Pic: Badwater Basin, lowest point in North America. (Much) larger image
I don’t know what I thought Death Valley would be like, but it was not what I expected. Even as an experienced desert recreationalist I was blown away by the varied and stunning views from Aguereberry Point, Artists Drive, and Zabiskie Point as well as the contrast between snow in the morning and Badwater Basin an hour away: hot, barren salt flats covering the lowest point in North America.
After a long day of driving between these short excursions, I was surprisingly pleased to re-enter civilization (for values of “civilization” that include Pahrump and Las Vegas), if only because it promised a trip to In-N-Out.
Pic: Meeting the locals. Great basin collared lizard
Danger Beyond This Point 
