March 2017

Death March
Badwater Basin, California
2017

When in Death Valley, a pilgrimage out into Badwater Basin is almost obligatory because in the middle of it lies the lowest point in North America, some 279 feet below sea level. The day I was there it was a balmy 70 degrees, so it was pleasant walking. In fact to get the absolute lowest point would have involved some wading as recent rain had left a fairly large pool of water in the middle of the basin. I imagined though, trying the same trip in the 130+ degree temperatures they sometimes get there in the summer. That really could become a death march.

Roadkill View
U.S. 6, Nevada
2017

I had been photographing along the side of the road for a good 10 or 15 minutes before I ventured out on the pavement and spent a minute or so getting this shot. Not a single vehicle went by in either direction the whole time. In fact I drove all the way from Ely to Tonopah, some 168 miles including several stops like this one, without overtaking or being overtaken by another vehicle going in my direction and only passing about a dozen vehicles going the other way. That’s my kind of highway.

Double Pull
Ely, Nevada
2017

Yet another interesting rail car mechanism.

Hand Crank
Ely, Nevada
2017

It looked like all sorts of interesting things would happen if I turned the hand crank, but I didn’t test that thought. Perhaps nothing at all would have happened given how old and rusted everything was.