Death Valley National Park – February 2023 – Part Two

 

please remember you can click on a photo to see a larger version & highlighted text are links to additional information

Please click here for – Part One

 

“Big Boulder Canyon”

 

Wind woke us a couple of times during the night. A front was passing through. Clouds moved over the crest of the Panamints in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As it does, the light quickly changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Our morning dawn wander took us to the top of most of the close by high points.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a telephoto shot of Matthew’s camp that we visited the previous night.

 

 

 

 

 

The sun was fully up when we returned to camp for breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

In answer to our prayers, the white van left as I was doing dishes. We were again alone. We headed back up canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a mile and half, we turned into a side canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

We noted that, in places, the canyon was cut parallel with the rock layers. The canyon quickly tightened into narrows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The canyon was choked with boulders and the Lady’s reaction was, “I’m naming this Big Boulder Canyon!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Another cut parallel with the rock layers.

 

 

 

 

 

There were several dry falls to scramble up.

 

 

 

 

 

And more big boulders.

 

 

 

 

 

As always, the Lady was unstoppable, anxious to see what was around the next bend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I watched the Lady scamper over everything we came upon………..

 

 

 

 

 

………I could not help but think about the physical therapist at the hospital back in August of 2021 when Julie had the surgery for her second total knee replacement. The protocol is for the patient (Julie) to spent one night in the hospital after surgery for observation. Julie also needed to be seen by a physical therapist to make sure she could stand and walk a few steps to the bathroom, check range of motion, and to start a few rudimentary beginning exercises. I was with Julie in her room when the therapist arrived, a woman in her 50’s, lean, very fit and attractive. Remember, this was the second knee, Julie had been through this all with the first total knee replacement. The woman had “the goal” scenario well-rehearsed.  

She started in. “Now, you need to think about where you want to be in a year,” she explained. “What’s your goal? What do you want to be doing a year from now?”

“I want to be hiking,” the Lady quickly answered.

“How far do you want to be able to hike, your goal?”

“I don’t understand how far.” the Lady asked. “I will be hiking.”

The woman replied. “How far? Let’s say in a year from now you want to be able to hike a mile. That’s a good goal.”

“I want to hike more than a mile.”

“Okay, let’s say more than a mile is your goal but never, ever more than two miles.” The woman was quite serious about this.

 

This part of the conversation was over. “Well then,” Julie changed the subject. “Get me on my feet, get me taking steps so I pass all the tests and can go home.” I was almost in tears holding back laughter.

 

This woman’s admonishments to severely limit distances was, of course, contrary to all discussions with the surgeon and his staff.

 

So, you can understand how my mind occasionally wanders back to that physical therapist.

 

We reached a dry fall blocked and topped with an enormous chockstone. The Lady had given the canyon a fitting name.

 

 

 

 

 

Julie is looking up the left slot, a possible climbing route. It can be climbed with a tricky first move, but without packs, as it ends in a tight squeeze, at least as far as we could see without starting up. We decided not to risk it. There was the possibility of a bypass. We climbed to the top but the other side was a vertical cliff face. We snacked and rested at the base of the dry fall, not disappointed at all. This was a fun canyon to explore.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the scramble back down the canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After returning to the main canyon, we moved across the broad wash and poked into a couple of short canyons on the north side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We came upon the remains of an old campsite on a bench mid canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

We returned to camp just as the sun had left. We were now in evening’s shadow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the night of the full moon.

 

 

 

 

 

The moon’s light broke through the clouds and sent light streaming across the landscape. It was mesmerizing to watch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning, right on cue, the new full moon slipped below the western horizon as the sun topped the mountains in the east.

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered and took it all in as first light washed over this wonderful landscape and our camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was now Monday morning and time to move closer to home. The wind was whipping up dust in the south end of Death Valley proper. Where we ended up for the next couple of days would depend on what we found with wind conditions.

 

Before we move on to the final Part Three of this story, I must backup to Sunday evening as the Lady and I sat out in the night. An idea occurred to me. I ran it by Julie. I sent this message via our InReach device to our friends, Barking and Ma Spider –

 

“Retired? Want to book a tub at Benton Wednesday and Thursday nights? A couple were open including tub 4 when we looked last week. We’ll join you and pay our way.”

 

We wondered what their response would be. We only had to wait twenty minutes. The InReach chirped that a message was received.

 

“We will meet you at Benton Hot Springs Wednesday tub 4. Reservations are confirmed with Jimmy.”

 

Our adventure continues. Please click here for - Part Three.