Tourists still flock to Death Valley amid searing US heat wave blamed for several deaths

[Paco Dennis]

This one is hard for me to understand. First off, I wouldn't trust our vehicles in that heat for fear of them dying first. Then, to be in 130F heat just doesn't sound like fun. Do people want selfies of being next to the official clock? Well, it will probably higher next week...gotta go back. This is not news anymore. It is an expected event that will keep happening every summer. Maybe people think it will become to hot to go, so they are getting, while the getting is good and HOT!


Despite a deadly heat wave, hundreds of Europeans and U.S. adventurers flock to Death Valley National Park. Associated Press journalist Ty ONeil explains that even though he grew up in the desert, “this is a different level of heat.”

BY TY O’NEIL AND ANITA SNOW
Updated 9:49 PM CDT, July 9, 2024

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of Europeans touring the American West and adventurers from around the U.S. are still being drawn to Death Valley National Park, even though the desolate region known as one of the Earth’s hottest places is being punished by a dangerous heat wave blamed for a motorcyclist’s death over the weekend.
French, Spanish, English and Swiss tourists left their air-conditioned rental cars this week to take photographs of the barren landscape so different than the snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills they know back home. American adventurers liked the novelty of it, even as officials at the park in California warned visitors to stay safe.

A long exposure image of the thermostat at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center taken just after 10:00 p.m., in Death Valley National Park, Calif., Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)
“I was excited it was going to be this hot,” said Drew Belt, a resident of Tupelo, Mississippi, who wanted to stop in Death Valley as the place boasting the lowest elevation in the U.S. on his way to climb California’s Mount Whitney. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kind of like walking on Mars.”
The searing heat wave gripping large parts of the U.S. also led to record daily high temperatures in Oregon, where it is suspected to have caused six deaths, the state medical examiner’s office said Tuesday. More than 161 million people around the U.S. were under heat alerts, especially in Western states.

Tourists still flock to Death Valley amid searing US heat wave blamed for several deaths

 

[MaxHarris]

No way Pedro. I struggle with 20+ degrees these days. The hottest I have ever been out in was 40 degrees in Fremantle W Australia, 1995 and that was a day for chasing the shade and cool bars for refreshments (Red back lager went down a treat....lol)

 

[George1959]

I would go there too, but in the early morning and with plenty of water. Later than 9 a.m. you couldn't see me there.
The people in Germany are not better. I know of senior women who visited the graves of their husbands in the hot afternoon. Some of them could stay there, since they died.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

That just makes no sense to me! Recently 1,300 or more people died during the Haaj. Most of the deaths were due to exposure to extreme heat. Some of the faithful shouldn't have been there because of pre-existing health conditions.

 

[Brookswood]

Earlier this year the Badwater area was canoeable for the first time in many years. Now it’s a hot dry heck hole. Will wonders never cease?

 

[AnneTeak]

do they do it for bragging rights?
if someone told me they did that, i would say, are u an idiot?

 

[Brookswood]

That just makes no sense to me! Recently 1,300 or more people died during the Haaj. Most of the deaths were due to exposure to extreme heat. Some of the faithful shouldn't have been there because of pre-existing health conditions.

Death valley is full of places named after the Devil. It has nothing to do with the Haaj or any other religion.

 

[Remy]

I was going to go grocery shopping tomorrow morning but went today after hitting a couple thrift stores. Regretted it. Too hot.

They've lost their minds. Is it all for that social media picture?

 

[MarkinPhx]

I can understand the appeal of taking such a trip but the heat is not to be trifled with. That is an obvious statement but many who are not used to it tend to be careless or not prepared for the worse. Electronics in a car can break down or malfunction because of the heat. And that cell phone you are carrying ? Well, it doesn't take very long for my cell phone to give me an "overheated" warning if I have it out in the sun for too long. And cell phone service around Death Valley can be spotty anyway so if your car breaks down then you better hope that another car stops to help you.

It's fine to drive to such a destination if someone wants to but they had better be prepared just in case. So far this year there have been 14 heat related deaths in the Phoenix area alone and 200 deaths are under investigation to determine if they are heat related. Some of the deaths are because of the homeless situation or because people were in bad health to begin with but a few were because of people visiting the area who didn't respect the heat.

Heat Reports | Maricopa County, AZ

 

[oscash]

I don't understand what the attraction is walking around in searing heat. We had very hot weather here in Sydney last year and my thermometer was showing 50c in my backyard. Couldn't get inside quick enough.

 

[MarkinPhx]

I don't understand what the attraction is walking around in searing heat.

I don't either but many do take the trip to Death Valley for the novelty of it. And many visit Vegas this time of year because the hotel rates are cheaper. Same with where I live. Many come here and stay at the golf resorts and play golf because of the cheaper rates in the summer.

 

[Naturally]

Hottest I've been in day in and day out was 115F in the gulf during the war on terror
Like Death Valley, it's a dry heat with little humidity. But still dang hot !!!
Have driven through Death Valley when driving coast to coast but it wasn't THAT hot and I didn't linger.
Sure wouldn't go out of my way to get there in that heat either. To each his own.

 

[Don M.]

I can't understand anyone going to Death Valley in this kind of heat....they are risking their lives. 2024 is shaping up to have record breaking heat all over the Southwest. We are thinking about going to Las Vegas for a few days.....but Not until sometime in October or November.

 

[seadoug]

The whole Death Valley thing is ridiculous.

When I was working I had an account that hosted a conference in Las Vegas in August of every year. It was because of the cheap rates and the fact that Vegas was one of the few cities that had connected hotels that could handle 5000 attendees. Each year they had a pool party outside and it was stifling. I've been happy for the past few years that I am retired and no longer have to attend.

 

[Lawrence00]

I have traveled through the desert at least a couple times when it is hot. You put the heater ON ... high, so the car doesn't die somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I guess that the sissy tourists with new model year rentals can blast the AC.

 

[Paladin1950]

Death Valley on Television and the Movies.

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/historyculture/death-valley-in-movies-and-television.htm

 

[Naturally]

 

[helenbacque]

It’s called Death by Selfie - the quest for the perfect picture.

 

[Sciguy]

I think these people go just so they can say they experienced such temperatures.

 

[oscash]

I remember seeing him on the television where he showed how you can quench your thirst if you run out of water, that's right,
"He drank his own urine."!!!!!!

 

[OneEyedDiva]

Death valley is full of places named after the Devil. It has nothing to do with the Haaj or any other religion.

I never said it had anything to do with the Haaj or religious affiliations! My point was that the Haajis were also exposed to extreme, dangerous heat like people who are visiting Death Valley now. In fact, a biker died and another was hospitalized to to heat exposure.
Motorcyclist dies as Death Valley reaches 128 degrees

 

[Brookswood]

I never said it had anything to do with the Haaj or religious affiliations! My point was that the Haajis were also exposed to extreme, dangerous heat like people who are visiting Death Valley now. In fact, a biker died and another was hospitalized to to heat exposure.
Motorcyclist dies as Death Valley reaches 128 degrees

I did not mean to imply that you did and I apologize for not being clearer.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I did not mean to imply that you did and I apologize for not being clearer.

Apology accepted.

 

[papa tiger]

Been there, waste of time. The west is best viewed from a passenger jet flyover.

 

[Jules]

In 1996 we drove our new Camper Van across Death Valley. We were heading to Las Vegas from San Diego. Signs said to turn off your AC to prevent overheating. We didn’t get out and wander around.