Panamint Springs to Racetrack Playa Challenge | Death Valley National Park | California | United States

Most people struggle to feel better because they implement the wrong effort distribution to their choices. They invest more than 90% on the visible or the physical, and the rest on the invisible.

The solution is simple: to feel better in a fast, and sustainable way, we implement the right effort distribution. We achieve it by investing over 90 percent in the invisible by using Internal Powers within our choices and using the visible or External Powers as a reinforcement only.

Internal Powers are things that are predominantly invisible, within ourselves, and within our control. Some examples include our health, well-being, happiness, internal validation, the power of thought, fasting, or the embodiment of healthy behaviors and virtues like discipline, genuineness, or honesty.

External Powers are things that are predominantly visible, outside of ourselves, and outside of our control. Some examples include others like our friends, coaches, fitness trainers, external validation, possessions, status, credentials, weight loss drugs, fitness trackers, medications, or supplements.

The original plan: The plan was to drive to The Grandstand at Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park. When navigation showed over 6 hours driving time, I decided to start at Panamint Springs instead—3.5 hours driving, then walk and run the rest to Racetrack Playa.

The Route: From Panamint Springs past Hunter Mountain, joining Saline Valley Road, crossing Saline Valley, then through Lippincott Pass to reach Racetrack Playa and The Grandstand.

In essence, if our intention is to feel better in a simple, fast, and sustainable way, we must invest daily at the mental level by cultivating healthy thoughts, and at the emotional level by cultivating the embodiment of healthy behaviors such as being genuine, honest, transparent, and straightforward. Healthy thoughts take root in healthy behaviors.

So why do we prioritize the invisible? We come to that conclusion based on the understanding that the invisible shapes the visible. To produce well-being we simply prioritize the invisible and only use the visible as a reinforcement.

The Challenge: I left at 5am with four liters of water and one protein bar. I arrived at 7pm in darkness. It was too cold to stay until sunrise to enjoy the Racetrack Playa, so I decided to go back to the car. On the way back in the dark, I wanted to stop and rest, but it was too cold. Walking wasn’t enough to stay warm—I had to keep running, despite being energy-drained, to prevent myself from getting cold.

Panamint Springs to Racetrack Playa Challenge

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The Surprise: Looking at the map, it seemed fairly easy. I ignored the high elevation gain. On a map, you don't see the constant up and down. In reality, the terrain demanded much more.

I arrived back at the car at 11am the next morning. Total time: 30 hours in and out.

Feeling better episode #1: Prioritizing the invisible produces well-being

Looking toward the Panamint Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California

Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park, California

Lippincott pass to Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California

Sunrise, Panamint Springs, Death Valley National Park, California

Looking at the Saline Valley from the Hunter Mountain, Death Valley National Park

Heading toward the Lippincott pass, Death Valley National Park, California

From Panamint Springs, through Hunter Mountain, to Racetrack Valley, Death Valley National Park