One word: Hot.

It’s over 120F here in the lowest point of North America.

You’ve drank almost a gallon of water just getting to this point, and yet your sweat feels like it’s nearly boiling.

If the ocean could be here with you right now, you’d be more than one hundred feet below the surface. Despite the thought of those depths, you still wonder if it wouldn’t be at least a slight improvement of this situation.

You struggle to squint through the windless miasma, but don’t see much beyond the dusty playas and outstretched road. A couple Joshua trees and Creosote bushes dot the desert floor.

For a while you’ve noticed the increased crush of air pressure… it reminds you of pressurized cabins on commercial flights, when your ears start popping and the wee babies start crying.

The heat is incredibly intense and your skin isn’t taking to it very well. Your vehicle is nearly overheating, so it’s probably best to stay the night rather than risk getting stranded. Maybe there’s some shade around here you could faint in? 

Well, let’s decide- you can either head back towards Nevada now and maybe risk overheating the vehicle, or you can look for some kind of shade and make camp. It’s gotta be easier to travel in this desert at night, right?