Death Valley Discovery eBook

At 4:12 a.m. on August 27, 1983, Gary Morris began a nonstop run from Badwater at 283 feet below sea level in Death Valley. At seventy-eight hours and thirty-six minutes later, he reached the top of Mt. Whitney, 14,495 feet above sea level, the fourth person in history to do so. At mile 118, his crew shared the following inspiring poem.On December nightswhen the rain we needed months agois still far off and the windgropes through the desertin search of any tree to hold itthose who live here all year roundlisten to the irresistiblevoice of lonelinessand want only to be left alonelocal knowledge is to live in a placeand know the placehowever barrensome kinds of damageprovide their own defenseand we who stay in the ruinsare secure against enemies and friendsif you should see one of usin the distance as your caravan passesand if he is ragged and gesturingdo not be mistakenhe is not gesturing for rescuehe is shouting go awayFrom that moment until today, these words spoke volumes to this lone runner beside an empty road in the desert as he continues his quest for local knowledge to make and share an impact on our environment.