37th Annual Badwater Ultra-Mile Marathon

The 37th annual Badwater 135-mile ultra-marathon took place in Lone Pine July 21-23. After Death Valley National Park’s new Superintendent Kathleen Billings banned sporting events in 2014 to conduct safety reviews, the Badwater ultra-marathon followed a new route this year from Lone Pine to Horseshoe Meadows, crossing Owens Valley to Cerro Gordo, through Darwin and finishing at Whitney Portal. Named after the lowest point in the contiguous United States, Badwater in Death Valley, the race is self-described as the “world’s toughest foot race” and drew 100 racers from 25 countries and 24 American states.  Harvey Lewis (pictured) was the first to finish the race in 23 hours, 52 minutes and 55 seconds.