Ubehebe Crater to Racetrack Playa and the Grandstand Challenge | Death Valley National Park | California | United States

Wrongdoing refers to all choices that harm the welfare of all, including ourselves. It generates ill-being by making us feel unwell on a mental, emotional, and physical level.

Acts of wrongdoing manifest on a mental level when we cultivate thoughts rooted in toxic behaviors and flaws, or use the power of thought negatively by dwelling on feeling unwell or being sick. On an emotional level when we engage in toxic behaviors and flaws such as competing, being dishonest, being a pleaser, or blindly following the crowd. And on a physical level when we are unfit, overweight, take excessive medications, consume fast food, eat sugary products, smoke, or consume alcohol.

The plan: The goal was to run from Ubehebe Crater — a volcanic maar in the northern part of Death Valley National Park — to Racetrack Playa, reaching the Grandstand and climbing Ubehebe Peak to admire the playa at sunset.

The Route: Starting from Ubehebe Crater, we ran along Racetrack Road — a 45-kilometer dirt road through Death Valley National Park — to Racetrack Playa at 1,130 meters elevation, situated in the Racetrack Valley between the Cottonwood Mountains to the east and the Nelson Range to the west. From the playa, we hiked to the Grandstand — a dark quartz monzonite inselberg rising from the playa floor — before ascending Ubehebe Peak at 1,731 meters to the west.

The danger is that society is so filled with wrongdoing that it leads us to follow the crowd and give up on doing what is right for our health or well-being — except if we are wrongdoing-immune.

For instance, instead of implementing intermittent fasting, we eat all day because most people eat all day. And we eat bread and other wheat-based products every day because that is what most people do — even though we know they make us feel bad and cause bloating and constipation. We do it because these products are everywhere. They are put in front of us at every meal we are invited to and at every restaurant we go to.

The Challenge: There was no dramatic physical challenge on this run. The remoteness of Racetrack Playa and the 45-kilometer rough dirt road from Ubehebe Crater make it one of the most isolated destinations in Death Valley National Park

Ubehebe Crater to Racetrack Playa and the Grandstand Challenge

And the problem is we tend to justify our own wrong choices as being right due to the widespread prevalence of acts of wrongdoing in society. For example, almost all people — including in the movies — think negatively, curse, dramatize, exaggerate, lack transparency or straightforwardness, compete, are dishonest, contribute to being unfit and overweight, drink alcohol and consume sugary products. As a consequence, we justify these behaviors as normal or acceptable simply because most people engage in them — even though they quietly destroy our health and well-being.

The next problem is that people in our entourage often embody the same unhealthy habits we are trying to change because they are victims of the global energy of wrongdoing and the normalized flawed behaviors that most are battling against.

The Surprise: The surprise was the almost perfectly horizontal and level surface of Racetrack Playa — 4.5 kilometers long and exceptionally flat, with its northern end only 4 centimeters higher than its southern end. Standing on the playa in complete silence, surrounded by mountains, and watching the sunset was remarkable.

Feeling better episode #7: Being wrongdoing-immune produces well-being

Racetrack Playa Seen from Ubehebe Peak, Death Valley National Park, California

Looking at the Racetrack Playa and Grandstand from Ubehebe Peak, Death Valley National Park, California

The Racetrack Valley and Cottonwood Mountains from Ubehebe Peak, Death Valley National Park, California

Ubehebe Peak from the Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California

Cottonwood Mountains from Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California

Sunrise Between Ubehebe Crater and Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park, California

The Racetrack Valley, Grandstand, and Ubehebe Peak on the Distant Horizon, Death Valley National Park, California

And the problem is we tend to justify our own wrong choices as being right due to the widespread prevalence of acts of wrongdoing in society. For example, almost all people — including in the movies — think negatively, curse, dramatize, exaggerate, lack transparency or straightforwardness, compete, are dishonest, contribute to being unfit and overweight, drink alcohol and consume sugary products.

As a consequence, we justify these behaviors as normal or acceptable simply because most people engage in them — even though they quietly destroy our health and well-being.

Sunset at the Racetrack Playa and Grandstand from Ubehebe Peak, Death Valley National Park, California