Living it up in Death Valley, Charles Manson and the 49ers

This post is made for many of my skype friends in Spain and South American learning English and who have shown an interest in US National Parks, and anyone else interested in the amazing geology of Death Valley.The National Park Service link can be found here:

http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

The old Borax mule trains are a long past occurrence, as are the myriad of folks taking the southern route to get to Sutter's Mill during the California gold rush.   Many of the latter died trying to avoid the snow laden passes across the Eastern Sierra further north, preferring the sweltering heat of Death Valley.  Of course as the attached Wall Street Journal  article points out cult leader/murderer Charles Manson was arrested in DV, following his unbelievable murder spree.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576589171895713098.html?KEYWORDS=death+valley 

On an only slightly happier note some modern day tourists get into trouble as they go unprepared for eventualities that occur while visiting Death Valley, the largest US National Park outside of Alaska.   Such was the case of tourists leaving a broken down car-never to be heard from again.  These stories happen every year.  As of yesterday there were still lost tourists, who didn't understand the weather change from the Valley floor to the 11,000 foot passes where the transition is fast.

Then there are the mentally questionable people participating in the Badwater Marathon described here: http://www.badwater.com/ Badwater is the lowest elevation in the western hemisphere-a fascinating spot on the valley floor.

If one ever visits Death Valley National Park and is lucky enough to see the desert floor in bloom (once every 5,6  years-usually early March) it is a sight not soon forgotten.



In many ways it  is our European friends who discovered The Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction several decades ago.  For this reason I have linked a prior post with the story of Marta Becket and her opera house.
http://www.sociedadhispanadoylestown.com/2011/03/amargosa-opera-house-death-valley.html

I certainly hope Marta Becket is still living and that I can spend a few minutes with her during my upcoming trip to Death Valley Junction. She is an inspiration.

Death Valley photos from wiki can be found here: http://www.google.com/search?q=death+valley&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvnsu&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vjyHTpKhGYzG0AGptpEE&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1710&bih=941