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Extreme ultrarunners cross Death Valley toward Mount Whitney
Invited athletes and support crews cover 135 punishing miles from Badwater Basin to Whitney Portal during a three-day desert endurance challenge.
Event details
Badwater 135 begins below sea level in Death Valley and climbs toward Whitney Portal through intense heat, darkness, and enormous elevation gain, with the invited field relying on dedicated support crews throughout the entire 135-mile route across three demanding days. Support crews typically leapfrog ahead of their runner in dedicated vehicles, meeting at pre-arranged checkpoints along the route.
This is inherently a logistics-heavy expedition rather than a casual family outing, and following it safely means respecting extreme desert conditions, official crew requirements, and permit rules rather than treating it as a roadside spectator event.
Multiple nights, vehicles, permits, and remote lodging are required for anyone directly supporting a competitor, and even indirect visitors should plan around extreme summer heat and limited desert services. Reserve accommodations well outside the immediate route, pack far more water than seems necessary, and build the trip around safe desert planning rather than close-up viewing. It is an extreme test best appreciated from a safe, well-prepared distance, given the genuinely dangerous heat the course is designed to cross. Summer temperatures in Death Valley regularly exceed 120 degrees, making this an event to observe with real caution rather than casual curiosity.
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