Badwater facing changes after new Death Valley regulations

The Badwater Ultramarathon is going have to change it’s route after new regulations have been put in place by the National Park Service barring any events from taking place in Death Valley National Park, where the race is held, between 10 a.m. and sundown between the days of June 14 and Sept. 9. Badwater is usually held in July each summer. The ban will only apply to areas of the park below 600m elevation, which the race’s start is.

The race runs from Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, the lowest point it North America at 85m below sea level and the race’s namesake, to the base of Mount Whitney, the highest point in continental United States. Temperatures during the event regularly reach a few degrees above 40 C and the park holds the record for the highest ever recorded temperature on earth at 56.7 C. The extreme heat brought worries about the safety of endurance events in the park and prompted the review which forced this year’s safety review.

The safety report and recommendations cite the heat as a main worry for events such as Badwater in the park, but it also notes runners and cyclists on the side of the highway at night as a danger both competitors and drivers. Park officials also suggest abstaining from physical activity in the park during the summer which seems to be at odds with allowing these races to take place.

The report reads “Individuals who are not acclimated to Death Valley’s temperatures and very dry environment can suffer from heat related illnesses before they realize it. […] The park recommends to all summer visitors that they should participate in outdoor activities either during early morning hours
or at higher elevations to avoid excessive heat.”

The Badwater race happened earlier this summer on an altered route which completely bypassed the park and didn’t start in the basin, instead starting Lorne Point, Calif. , while park officials conducted the safety review.