In many ways, watching the pilgrimage to Badwater was as interesting as the site itself. Death Valley National Park is enormous, but it also is a challenge to traverse and understand. A pool of water so far below sea level is a recognizable mark, something to check off a list.

A long, but sparse, line of people walk along a white alkali path to the edge of a shallow lake. Dusky mountains rise from the far side. Everything is brown or white.