The print., April 20, 1988, Image 9

by Bob Misley
During spring break, March
17-26, students from Clackamas
Community College travelled
and studied in Death Valley,
California. The class, entitled
Natural History of the Sonoran
Desert, was led by Veteran Death
Valley explorer “Sourdough”
Snively (John Shively, CCC
Geology/Biology instructor)
and “Borax Bob” (Bob Misley,
CCC Botany/Biology instruc­
tor). Natural history studied in­
cluded the native Americans
who lived in Death Valley, the
first settlers and miners, the Uni­
que geology of the valley, the
numerous reptiles, birds and
mammals that live in such a
harsh environment and the
various plant species that have
adapted to life in the desert.
Life on the trip was both rug­
ged and enjoyable. The group
camped, cooked and prepared
their own meals, and put in
many long days in the field
-sometimes returning to camp
long after dark. But campfires
and evening showers helped set­
tle the dust of the day and the
stars of the Death Valley sky
seemed to cool the desert heat.
Located in southeast Califor­
nia near the Nevada border,
Death Valley has the lowest
point in the western
hemisphere. Named Badwater,
it is 282 feet below sea level; yet
from this point you can look up
to the top of Telescope Peak,
which is over 11,000 feet high.
Death Valley’is truly a land of
extremes. /
Throughout the trip good
.weather with temperatures in
the 80-90’$ made the cold -and
rain of the Willamette Valley
seem very far away indeed.
However, everyone agreed that
Dorothy was right — “There’s
no place like home!”
DEATH VALLEY 1988—Front row from left; John Snively, “Satch” Wilken, Lynn Elliott, Lynda Culp, Margaret
Shearer, Penny Chase. Second row; Bob Misley, Katrina Rasmussen, Jay Patterson, Denice Venneri, Terry
Mills, Barbara Giventher, Karen Busch. Third row; Richard Marx, Amy Tosi, Amy Kem, Nina Pariichko, Dana
Heer, Kathy Vandyke.
CCC students listen while “Satch” Wilken tells a story about the original
20-mule team. Behind him is one of the wagons used to haul the borax out of
Death Valley.
'
the
class
which
way
to
go!
Students walk on the Devil’s Golf Course of almost pure Sodium Chloride (table salt). The crystallized salt forms
sharp spires and ridges, some as much as two feet high.