The other night under a full moon, I swam in an old warm springs pool, in the same spring waters as the pupfish are swimming in up the hill and down the flow toward the Amargosa River. The Shoshone pupfish were thought to be extinct, but a few were found and then grandly flourished in restored habitat (thank you Susan Sorrells, Steve Parmenter, and all the people and entities who made this happen). For more info on the Amargosa Basin and work to protect it, see Friends of the Amargosa Basin website. And consider joining the Friends and maybe even offering a donation.

The next day we traveled home along the Badwater Loop through Death Valley. Water was everywhere in the valley, it was truly amazing! I assume the massive amounts of rain last winter have made a home for now in what is normally a pretty dry area (thus the name, Death Valley).

At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. It’s normally a salt flat, but right now it’s a big, salty lake! It is SO gorgeous. I did not immerse my body, but I did immerse my feet. And here’s my new rule for this. If I am at a place that is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere and there is water there, and if I take off my shoes and wander in, that counts! 
48+2= 50. 20 to go!