Death Valley day 1 3-13-11

We left Lone Pine this morning and got to Death Valley around noon. We got lunch at the Badwater Saloon then headed down to Badwater, the lowest place on Earth!! We stopped at a Ranger station on the way to get Junior Ranger books. We got to Badwater just as a Ranger talk was starting :) Ranger Bob was full of interesting information and was really impressed by the boys and all the badges they have. He spent a long time with them after the talk answering questions and asking them questions. He even let them all put on his hat. And wonder of wonders Anthony said he wasn't too old to put it on!!! Jacob told him that he wanted to be a Ranger and Ranger Bob told him that he could start when he was in college. Jacob was thrilled to hear that. Badwater is 284 feet below sea level. Ranger Bob said the sign was 2 feet off. We walked out a little way onto the salt beds. It is really dry there and even though it didn't get very much above 75 it felt hotter.

One the way back to the hotel for the evening we stopped to play on the sand dunes. We were hoping to see more wildlife but all we saw was one little bug. He was tromping along making lots of little tracks which was cool to see. After dinner I took the boys to the outside pool. While there a man came over to me and told me that jacob was yelling and being disruptive. It was a pool and only 8 o:clock!!!! Right after the man left 6 other kids came to swim. Sure was glad he left before all that fun really happened!!

Father Crowley's Canyon

Badwater.

Boys with Ranger Bob.

Salt flats.