Our first stop on the trip was Death Valley. You as, why would anyone go to Death Valley in September where temperatures are still over 100 degrees F? Well, at 8100 feet elevation the air is cool and the veiws spectacular and the campgrounds deserted. We wanted to get accostomed to the high elevation of Grand Canyon North Rim so starting at Mahogany Flats campground seemed like a good idea. Besides, the park has the road into the campground labled as a high clearance 4x4 recommended road - just my kind!