Our day started with the almost obligatory trip to the visitors center and the orientation film; which we would both classify as one of the better ones we have seen. Bad Water - the lowest point in the valley at -260 ft was next on the agenda and where, with a smattering of other visitors, we walked out a short way onto the vast salt pan. We were somewhat surprised by the texture of the surface of the pan as we expected it to be smooth perhaps with small ridges around where water had pooled. But it was actually a chaotic pattern of small salt uplifts (protrusions less than 1 foot high) mixed with mud.

Zabriskie Point stands less than 1000 ft above the valley floor along the entrance road from Death Valley Junction and provided us with some good views of the valley floor; and a chance to be a little foolish with our posing on the forlorn bench on Zabriskie Point trail.

Our nights camp was at Mesquite Spring in the northern end of the valley. To our surprise this spot was at 1700 ft elevation.