In Death Valley, even the place names point towards the heat. But even in the desert, life goes on. Stewart is the education and outreach programme manager for Death Valley National Park , a 3. During the cooler months, from October to February, Stewart is busy leading student field trips in the park. Stewart lives in the area with her partner and their dog, but tries to escape Death Valley in summer to work in the lakeside resort of Mammoth or the cooler climes of West Virginia.
Other locals head for the eastern Sierras to go camping in the mountains. But how do residents cope the rest of time, living in a place where the mercury level regularly makes headlines? Luckily, locals have each other for consolation. Of course, air conditioning comes as standard in all homes and hotels. But still, you might expect such sweltering temperatures to deter the passing summertime tourist.
With both numerous resident birds and hundreds of other species passing through during migratory seasons, savvy birders know that Death Valley offers all sorts of spotting opportunities. Even casual observers are bound to see plenty of roadrunners. Just as a diverse assortment of wildlife has managed to figure out survival strategies in the desert, an eclectic group of people have lived and worked in Death Valley.
Some folks, like the pioneers in wagon trains, arrived here accidentally and suffered great tragedy. But miners and prospectors came to the valley in search of treasure, while plenty of desert rats appreciated the solitude that the area provided. Indeed, eccentrics just seem to come to come with the territory, none more so than Walter Death Valley Scotty Scott.
They carved out an existence, ranging from the valley and into the surrounding mountains to find food sources. Members of the tribe still live in a small village near Furnace Creek.
The entire resort recently underwent a complete renaissance with an extensive renovation. For information and reservations, visit The Oasis at Death Valley or call Specializing in California, the Southwest, and Hawaii, Matt Jaffe is an award-winning former senior writer at Sunset magazine and contributes to a variety of publications, including Los Angeles, Arizona Highways, and Westways.
By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies as described in our cookie policy. Reserve Search for:. From Vegas to Death Valley ». Our site uses cookies. Stewart and Patrick Taylor, chief of interpretation and education for Death Valley National Park, told Business Insider what it's like to live in one of the hottest places on Earth. When a body isn't adjusted to extreme heat, high temperatures can overwhelm it quickly, causing profuse sweating and exhaustion before worse outcomes like heat stroke.
Most human bodies adapt after a few weeks , though, primarily by sweating more, reducing core temperatures, and altering blood vessels to increase blood flow to the skin. Taylor estimates that it took him — and most others — about a year to adjust fully to Furnace Creek's highs.
He has now spent a total of seven years there. Plus, Stewart said, Death Valley's heat is dry, which means sweat evaporates quickly and cools the body more efficiently. She knew she'd gotten accustomed to the heat, she said, after she started bundling up on degree days.
But in that climate, Stewart added, "I'm probably wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt. In the winter in Death Valley, highs hover in the 60s, while temperatures drop to the high 30s at night. Some local kids take the hour-long bus ride to school, though Taylor and his wife homeschool their five daughters. The Cow Creek complex has about 80 housing units, most of which are within walking distance of one another, Taylor said.
There's a shared gym, playground, and county library. Most residents' family members don't like visiting in the summer, Taylor added, so year-rounders spend a lot of time together. This branch of the National Park Service "tends to attract really motivated employees that wanna work hard and don't run off when things are challenging," he said. The approximately National Park Service employees in the area have set up community groups — "there's a book club, a crafting club, people who like to go out running," Taylor said.
Taylor and his family never leave the house without a backup satellite phone, just in case they lose cell reception. Stewart doesn't drive to the grocery store without her boyfriend and a huge jug of water; she also inspects her car constantly to avoid the possibility that it breaks down, stranding her in a remote area.
Taylor and Stewart both said they tell visitors to the park that they must take similar precautions.
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