Surviving Death Valley

Sometimes our outdoor adventures don't quite go the way we expect them to, and that often leads us down paths, both literal and proverbial, that we didn't see coming. That is just one aspect of a story that was sent my way by a reader, who recently wrote a personal piece about an experience he and a friend had in Death Valley last year. One that nearly cost them their lives, but taught them several important leasing along the way.

The blog post is entitled "On Nearly Dying In Death Valley." It was written by Greg Muender, who along with his good friend Ryan, set off on July 26, 2012 for a day of adventure and exploration in Death Valley. The two men were looking for a little solitude and escape, and the desert seemed like just the place to get it. With Ryan's 4x4 Jeep on the fritz, they chose to travel in his two-wheel drive pick-up truck instead, which would eventually prove to be a mistake. Later in the day, while trying to cross a wash in the road, the rear wheels of the truck became buried up to the axles, effectively stranding them in the middle of nowhere with temperatures in excess of 120ºF (48.8ºC)

After consulting a map, the Greg and Ryan set out to find a paved road that they thought was just five miles away. It turns out it was much further than that, and as they stumbled on in the heat of the day, with a dwindling water supply, their little adventure turned into a fight for their lives. What should have been a simple hike in the desert became increasingly challenging as the oppressive heat zapped their strength and drained their will to go.

Eventually they did find the road they were looking for and were rescued by a group of Latvian tourists, but their brush with possible death gave them some clear insights into the things that went right and what went wrong. It is a good read and one that I recommend you take a look at it. Check it out in its entirety by clicking here.

Thanks to Greg for sharing his story. Hopefully it accomplishes the two purposes that he set out for. First, to inspire adventure and secondly to teach others from their mistakes. Mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned. Well done.

Video: The Badwater Ultramarathon

Yesterday I posted the results from the 2013 Badwater Ultramarathon, a grueling race that covers more than 135 miles (217 km) through Death Valley and up to the Mt. Whitney Portals that features more than 13,000 feet (3962 meters) of vertical gain. If you're not already familiar with the race, you'll want to check out the video below. It was shot in the 2010 race and features runner Jamie Donaldson, who set a course record 0f 26:16:12 on that run. The short film will give you an idea of what the runners deal with while out on the course.

Badwater from David E. Anderson on Vimeo.

2013 Badwater Ultramarathon Results

While we're on the subject of ultrarunning today I thought I'd mention that the Badwater Ultra, one of the toughest running races on the planet, has been taking place over the past couple of days. The race begins in Badwater, California, which is located deep in the heart of Death Valley and runs for 135 miles (217 km) through that harsh environment before ending at the Mt. Whitney Portals. Considering Badwater falls at 280 feet (85 meters) below sea level and ends at 8300 feet (2530 meters) you get the idea of how much vertical gain is involved over the course of the run.

While a few racers will continue to cross the finish line today, the leaders have already wrapped up their runs and have done so in impressive times. This year's winner is Carlos Alberto Gomes DeSá of Portugal who completed the run in just 24 hours, 38 minutes and 16 seconds. Second place went to Grant Maughan of Australia with a time of 24:53:57 and third place was claimed by Oswaldo Lopez who crossed the line at 25:27:03. The fastest woman was Catherine Todd, who finished in 29:55:29, with ultrarunning legend Pam Reed not far behind at 30:39:58.

It still amazes me that anyone is capable of running 135 miles through conditions like those found in Death Valley in as little as 24 hours. These runners are supreme athletes in fantastic condition and I admire their dedication and determination. It was also nice to see Charlie Engle back in the game and coming in 5th place over all at 26 hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds. If you know anything about Charlie's story over the past few years, you'll probably understand what an accomplishment that is.

Congrats to all the runners. Amazing efforts all around. I'll be thinking of each of them tonight when I do a mere 8 miles.

Video: Death Valley Dreamlapse 2

Today we have another beautiful timelapse video from our friends at Sunchaser Pictures. They have returned to Death Valley once again to capture images that are strikingly vibrant and yet otherworldly at the same time. With its stunning landscapes and amazing star patterns, the video is mesmerizing  to say the least. Enjoy!

DEATH VALLEY DREAMLAPSE 2 from Sunchaser Pictures on Vimeo.

Video: Death Valley In Timelapse

In the mood to have your place in the universe defined? Then have a look at the latest timelapse video that comes our way courtesy of Sunchaser Pictures. This time out we're treated to some amazing footage from Death Valley, featuring the expected scenic landscapes, interesting light play and changing shadows. But about a minute and ten seconds into the short film the images start to change dramatically, giving us nighttime shots of those same landscapes while billions of stars dance by overhead. The sense of scale that these images generate is nothing short of awe inspiring and makes you realize just how tiny our little rock truly is.


DEATH VALLEY DREAMLAPSE from Sunchaser Pictures on Vimeo.

Video: Running The Badwater Ultramarathon

The Badwater Ultramarathon just might be the toughest footrace on the planet. It is a non-stop run of 135-miles in length through the hottest environment on the planet. Those who enter are not only fantastic athletes, they also have an uncanny ability to happily endure suffering.

The video below follows one such athlete, Michael Arnstein, as he attempts to run the race for the first time. Michael, who happens to be a fruitarian, shares his approach to nutrition and preparation for a race of this length, which tests him both physically and mentally throughout. If you have ever wondered what goes through the mind of an ultrarunner while they are out on the trail, you'll definitely enjoy this video. It is an 18-minute short film that profiles the Badwater quite well.


Day in the Life 10; Michael Arnstein at the Badwater Ultramarathon from True Love Health on Vimeo.

Death Valley Circumnavigation Complete!

Last week I told you about Marshall Ulrich and Dave Heckman's attempt to circumnavigate Death Valley on foot in the dead of summer and I wanted to give you an update on their progress. As of last night, Marshall and Dave have finished their trek, covering more than 400 miles (643km) through one of the harshest environments on the planet.

There aren't a lot of details on the final push just yet, and Marshall's blog hasn't been updated, but the announcement came via Facebook. All told it took the boys 16 days to complete the trip, while enduring temperatures in excess of 100ºF/38ºC every day.

I'm sure we'll hear more specifics about the journey once Marshall and Dave have time to relax and catch-up. But for now, here is a sneak peek at video they shot along the way. It'll give you an idea of what it was like out in the desert for two and a half weeks.

Congrats on completing the trek!

Circumnavigating Death Valley On Foot

There is no doubt that Death Valley is a place of extremes. It is the hottest, lowest and driest place in North America and during the months of July and August temperatures often exceed 125ºF/51ºC. It is the kind of place that will test the spirit of those that visit it and any living thing that survives there must be a hardy creature indeed.

If anyone knows the challenges that come along with Death Valley it is ultra-runner Marshall Ulrich. The endurance legend has run the Badwater Ultramarathon 18 times and has crossed DV 24. That's an awful lot of time spent in such a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Apparently Marshall enjoys being in that environment however as last week he and Dave Heckman set off to become the first people to circumnavigate the entirety of Death Valley on foot and in the month of July.

Marshall and Dave started their trek last Sunday, July 22nd and have made excellent progress ever since. The entire trip will cover approximately 450 miles (724km) and range from the low of the desert floor to the highs of the nearby mountain peaks, extending as much as 5000 feet (1524 meters) in altitude. The two men are traveling completely self supported as strategically placed supply caches are keeping them resupplied with food and water along the way. They're also carrying 3D video cameras to document their trek as well as capture the beauty of Death Valley National Park.

Updates are coming semi-regularly to Marshall's website (click here!) and you can follow progress on their SPOT page. Judging from that page it appears that they'll be finishing up the trek sometime this week.

Seems like a fantastic adventure and I love their approach. Marshall and Dave are essentially going as light as possible and using their supply caches to provided them with food and water at the appropriate times. I also like that they're doing this expedition to draw attention to a beautiful place that more people should be aware of. I personally can't wait to see some of the video footage that they are shooting.

Big thanks to Ray for sharing this great adventure with me.

Badwater Ultramarathon Underway, Winner Already Crowned

This is one that doesn't usually sneak under my radar but I missed the start of the 2012 Badwater Ultramarathon and have spent part of the day catching up on the news. For those unfamiliar with the event it is an annual sufferfest during which some of the top ultra-runners in the world run 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney in California. Along the way they rack up an incredible 13,000 feet (3962 meters) of vertical gain and battle the legendary heat that earned Death Valley its name.

The race got underway yesterday and the top finishers are already completing the course. The 2012 winner is Mike Morton who managed to complete the entire 135 miles in just 22 hours, 52 minutes, and 55 seconds. Defending champ Oswaldo Lopez claimed second place at 23:32:28" and Zach Gingerich is home in third at 25:49:40". Other ultra-running legends like Dean Karnazes and Pam Reed are still out on the course at this time.

Why on Earth would anyone enter a race like this one? If you have to ask, you'll probably never understand. But the pre-race video below gives a bit of an introduction to some of the runners, who share their inspirations for entering the Badwater.

Running Across Death Valley To Inspire Others

On March 24th of this year, runner Ryan Mills will set out to run the length of Death Valley National Park. The course he has chosen wanders north-to-south and will cover 184 miles of total distance. He hopes to finish in just eight days, and along the way, inspire others to lead a more healthy, active lifestyle.

With that goal in mind, Ryan hopes to create a documentary of his expedition, which will follow his desert adventure. To help fund that film, he has set up a Kickstarter page where he is seeking funding for the project. He hopes to raise as much as $6000, which will go directly to paying for the logistics of the journey, including renting Jeeps, purchasing GPS equipment, and other items to keep him and his support crew safe while out in the field. As of this writing, Ryan has already been pledged $1286 towards that goal.

Our friend Ray Zahab ran across Death Valley back in August of last year, and found it to be quite a challenge. At that time of year, the temperature can be extremely hot, but it is the difficult terrain that can really make this a daunting task. In March, the average daily temp is about 80ºF/26ºC, so it shouldn't be as tough for Ryan in that department, but the rugged terrain will be no less difficult to negotiate.

Lets hope the team gets the funding they need so we can all follow along in March.