None of us is sleeping well at this camp. Last night, Joy put a wet beach towel on the chaise lounge, and then another wet towel on her. Warren hung a wet towel behind his lounge hoping to tame the hot wind. Melissa, in her haste to get some sleep, had plopped herself down on a metal picnic table and around midnight had asked "When does it cool down around here?" She knew she was doomed to a sleepless night when she heard me reply "Mid-November".

The forecast for the next few days is for temperatures to exceed 120°F. I don't know about the others, but I am really excited. I am here to brave the heat and 110°F is not going to do it for me. Even though Death Valley had below normal temperatures in May and June, I keep dreaming about record highs. And now, my dream is about to come true.

Yesterday, we hit the part of the Valley that is below sea level and from now onwards we will be below sea level until almost the end. This is the hottest part of Death Valley. We start at about 9 AM and the temperature is already 96°F. Melissa is a fast hiker and she and Joy are in the lead. Warren can walk fast, too, but he is deliberately walking slower. When we reach the first stop, we notice that Melissa has not been drinking enough water. I ask her to slow down and drink more water. By the time we reach the next car, both Melissa and Joy are complaining about the heat. It is now 114°F in the shade. We usually take about a 30-minute break, but now, we take an extra 10 minutes before starting for the last leg.

It is still a couple of miles from the end. Melissa appears really done in. Joy has several blisters by now and she is struggling too. We leave the main road and are now on the road leading to Badwater. There is a small mesquite tree about 200 feet ahead, but beyond that is just a vast expanse of barren ground. Melissa heads for the tree and lies down under it. Her body temperature is close to normal and she does not appear to be in any immediate danger. She is probably suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. We decide that she should not walk any further today. We leave Joy to look after her and then Warren and I walk the remaining mile and a half and bring the car back and pick them up.

At the camp, the first order of business is to relax and soak our feet in water. It is still very hot, but not having to walk is such a relief that nobody is complaining. And there is something good about this dry heat. Our washed clothes dry in less than half an hour. This is one trip where I am wearing clean clothes every day in spite of the fact that I brought only six pieces of clothing.

Dinesh's caption:
Melissa and Dinesh crossing the Amargosa River near the southern end of Death Valley.

Car Talk's caption:
"Dinesh?"
"Yes, Melissa?"
"Can we talk?"