This was the view as we made our way to The Racetrack. I have a fondness for geology and I'm slowly - with each adventure out of Humboldt County - collecting the Roadside Geology series. Much of the southwest is what geologists call Basin and Range country. As you can see in this photo, there are indeed a series of basins and ranges.

On our way into the park (Death Valley National Park, that is), we were in a canyon pass between the Panamint Range and Death Valley itself, when we heard a horrible sound. It sounded like a freight train pushing a lot of air before it. I didn't know what it was - until a jet passed us, screaming along at mock-2 just overhead. I'm sure those hot-shot pilots get a kick out of startling those of us on the ground, going a mere 55 MPH.