Saturday, February 26th, 2010: The group we're with for the next 5 days is organized by an outfit called AdventureCorps, which runs some of the toughest races in the country for endurance athletes. This trip is more relaxed; kind of a Spring Training Camp for cyclists to help get in shape for the nice weather that will eventually come to the Midwest.
We flew into Las Vegas Friday morning and met up with our good friend and neighbor Susan Reed, who was already traveling in the Southwest. Driving out to Death Valley we began to get some hints that there was more to this area than we realized. It sort of sneaks up on you, as we crossed a mountain pass at 5000' elevation and then began a long 30 mile drive downhill. The Furnace Creek Ranch resort sits at 190' BELOW sea level, in the middle of the mostly barren basin of the valley. Who would have ever thought that rain could threaten the first day of a trip to Death Valley? Average February monthly rainfall for Death Valley: 0.30" - rainfall for today only: 0.36". In spite of this our group of 50 riders went out for a warm-up ride of 25 miles throu
gh the area known as Artist's Palette. The potential for rain had been in the forecast but we laughed it off, saying to ourselves "how bad can a rainstorm be in Death Valley?" hahaha...we were completely soaked, our shoes filled with water, and our lack of rain gear a definite mistake on Day 1. Over the next few days though, it was warm and dry. Discovering the valley in all its splendor - barren yet beautiful, with rock formations, geologic strata, vistas that stretch for miles, was a real American experience. We hiked, biked, ran, attended a Park Service presentation on the origins and makings of Death Valley (fascinating) and the week culminated in a Century ride with a dust storm swirling all around us. All in all, a grand week in a remote and spectacular area.
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