From Hottest to Highest: Death Valley & McCloud Expedition

From below sea level to mountain heights, our California contrast tour tested both vehicle air conditioning and family patience! Death Valley's otherworldly landscape had us debating whether we'd accidentally driven onto a Star Wars film set, while the car thermometer's escalating readings became the subject of hourly betting pools. The abrupt transition to McCloud's pine-scented mountain air sent everyone scrambling for the sweaters we'd mockingly packed just hours earlier when sweltering in 110° heat. Dad's attempts at recreating iconic Western film poses against barren desert backdrops produced a series of photos Mom immediately threatened to use as next year's Christmas card, while the evening temperature plunge under crystal-clear starry skies created the perfect excuse for hot chocolate and whispered appreciation that we'd survived the day's scorching adventures.