Death Valley, CA - Cowboy camping

If Benjamin's 25 year-old Land Cruiser doesn't break down (as it is wont to do), Benjamin and Samuel can enjoy offroading in various national parks. In January, they decided to visit Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the lower 48. It is a good idea to visit Death Valley in the winter, as in the summer temps routinely reach 120 Farenheit IN THE SHADE. In January, the park is a shirt-sleeve 75 degrees during the day.

Ben and Sam first visited snowy Lake Tahoe, then made their way to Death Valley. Here they saw the lowest point on Earth, Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level. In winter, it forms a small lake, which you are forbidden to boat on! They also saw Tea Kettle Junction, its place sign adorned with ... tea kettles, and the massive Ubehebe Crater, half a mile across and 500 feet deep. And many sand dunes.

Many of the campsites in Death Valley are only accessible from four wheel drive vehicles with high clearance. Ben and Sam decided they would make Camp Chessler at one of these sites - Homestake Dry Camp. It had a porta potty, a picnic table, and no water. (But don't worry, they carried a lot of extra water, and extra gasoline too.) Ben and Sam were the only ones there.

Here's where the story gets interesting. Goaded on by his AI search, Sam determined he could "cowboy camp" outside under the stars. For Samuel, amateur astronomer, the dark skies were amazing. He set up his tarp, his air mattress, his sleeping bag. Night came early. Samuel was mostly comfortable, but then it hit the 30s and his sleeping bag was not up to the task. Meanwhile, his air mattress deflated. Frost was forming on his sleeping bag. Instead of crawling into his brother's tent, wisely pitched, Samuel crawled into the Land Cruiser and spent a few miserable hours waiting for the sun to rise. At sunrise, Benjamin, who had to add a blanket within his sleeping bag, joined him in the truck and turned on the engine so they could both defrost. Moral: Nights can get cold in one of the hottest places on earth. Cowboy camp at your own risk.