2005 Badwater Solo

Salt Flats at Badwater

Closeup of Salt Crystals at Badwater

Closeup of Salt Crystals at Badwater

Badwater at 6:00am - Right before State

Me with Badwater Ben and Denise Jones

Ben Jones and Steve James right before start

Steve James begins a 52 hour odessy from Badwater to Whitney Portals

Only 45 minutes into the run, and the sun starts to make it

Zoom in to see runner at transition to uphill

Runner in white at bottom of far curve

Not a lot of privacy in Death Valley, what are you doing off the road there Steve?

We eventually climb up and over the mountain range in the background(the far right side)

A little break at Furnace Creek, 17 miles

Steve and Willy, making progress.

Telescope Peak in the background is 11,000 feet, we are below sea level here.

The first miles click by quickly at a good pace

Tiny runners in middle of photo

125 degree heat, for hours, before climbing the mountain range in the background, awesome

Miles to go

The expanses out here are just huge

Stovepipe Wells, mile 40.  Denise Jones does her magic on Steve

Denise Jones performs her magic on Steve

Denise

Willy is up next.  Fix those feet Denise!

Ouch!

We call this a

Steve

Down but not out, back on the road an hour later.

24 hours later.  We are climbing Towne

Day two begins, we get close to the top of the 18 mile long climb up Towne

The sun comes up and everyone

A wildlife shot.

Here we are, through the Death Zone, and at the top of Towne

Steve and Willy, glad to be here, now 12 miles of downhill to Panamint Valley.

In the background is the mountains we just came up and over.

Time for some aid.

One of a couple hundred stops we did over the days.

Crossing the Panamint Valley Floor.  It

Leaving Panamint, for a 16 mile climb.

Steve is about midway of the railing, you see the road we came down in the background, many miles ago.

Clicking off the miles

Willy needs a break, naptime!

The sun goes down on day 2, and Mount Whitney, where we are going.

The sun goes down on day 2, and Mount Whitney, where we are going.

Getting the night gear on.

Getting the night gear on.

Night number 2 begins.

At this point, Steve has spent 12 plus hours in 125 degree heat, climbed more than 35 miles and two mountain ranges, and is starting the second night.

Finally, the 100 mile point, ONLY 35 to go.

Mount Whitney

In Lone Pine, about to begin the final 13 miles up to the Whitney Portals

I

Whitney is the peak directly above my head.  Highest point in the lower 48 states.

My bottle is pointing directly up to Mt. Whitney.

This is it, final major climb.

Off we go.

Those last few steps

DONE!  135 miles, Badwater to Whitney

Steve with Hugh Murphy.

Time for a well deserved beer.