after a long, hot drive through california’s central valley, we arrived at the barren mountains and hot valleys of death valley national park.  our first day was spent exploring a waterfall and natural spring near our motel at panamint springs and sampling the cold tap beverages of the panamint springs resort restaurant.  the following day we descended the final 2000 feet to the floor of death valley.  we hiked in marble canyons, marveled at forbidding salt structures, and sweated in the hottest and lowest place in north america.