Perhaps you’re stuck at home w
atching the Antiques Roadshow, twiddling your thumbs and frustrated with your unexciting existence. Only adding to your grief is knowing you’re back to work after the weekend – the same old mundane week ahead.
But then your mind wanders and you remind yourself that it’s ok – you have that week’s holiday booked off work soon.
You don’t want it to be a copy of last time – eating Wotsits on the sofa, sat in your boxer shorts watching rubbish TV all week. You want to make a change, confront a challenge and stand up and be counted. ‘Where shall I go?’, you ask yourself.
For some reason you respond with ‘I wonder how I’d get on at Death Valley’, and it’s with this thought that you reach for your laptop and book your tickets to California.
Death Valley California Preparation
If you’re lining up your shorts and t-shirts, hold your horses; this is not the way to roll. Although you may think this trip is the ideal opportunity to gain a glowing tan, it really isn’t. In fact you’ll need to pack the opposite – a long t-shirt, trousers and an Indiana Jones hat is required.
Sun tan lotion is also essential; you’ll need to heavily protect your skin against the harsh Valley heat. Study the designated area of adventure and invest in a topographic map. Death Valley stretches 225 Kilometres and its highest temperature is a scorching 130 degrees, so to combat the Mojave Desert’s most unforgiving patch you’ll need to do your research.
Once you’ve landed in sunny California, you should buy a knife and a bag. Why not stay faithful to Cali heritage and purchase an Etnies backpack for storage. You’ll also need a knife just in case you run out of drinking water to hydrate yourself. Fruitful vegetation can be sparse in the Valley, but there should be Cacti stumped around, you can cut these open for a life saving supply of water.
You shouldn’t over embrace the California way of living. Smoking a joint of Cali’s finest herb will not increase the potential of this wonderful experience or allow you to feel this moment any further. You’ll be getting a life high anyway.
Water Is Your Friend But Can Equally Be Your Enemy
As you travel across the vigorous valley and sweltering sands it’s in your upmost interests to drink water. However, you shouldn’t drink too much, as too much water can diminish the reserves of electrolytes. Electrolytes and specifically sodium and potassium are embedded to encourage the transmission of electrical signals from brain to the body. If you drink too much water you may fall foul to water intoxication – causing confusion, bewilderment and weariness.
Eating is just as important as keeping hydrated and it’s advised to avoid salty food such as pretzels and crisps. You can also help your health by drinking electrolyte rich fluids such as Gatorade or Accelerade. And for goodness sake, leave your John Smiths or Stella cans at home, alcohol is a keen dehydrator and will have your mouth as dry as Jack Dee.
Respect The Valley And Its Environment
Lastly, you need to respect your surroundings. It’s not called Death Valley for no reason! This place will test your mind, body and soul. Don’t start marching around like you own the place and comparing the heat to your previous budget holidays to Spain. The conditions can change in the flick of a finger and the relentless terrain doesn’t care for its vulnerable victims.
If you begin to hear some rattling nearby, don’t put this down to your heat induced trip, because you may have just stumbled across a rattle snake. Keep your distance!
All in all, be aware of your dangers and make thoughtful decisions, and with this success, when you go back to work you can proudly explain your most daring and adventurous impromptu enterprise to date.
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
- License: Creative Commons image source
John Bishop is a keen traveller and explorer who likes to try new things and write about his findings.
About Douglas Smythe
