The Winter Solstice Trip, Southern Nevada – December 2023 – Part Four

 

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 Three

 

The Journey Home

 

We had dreary skies with off and on rain Friday. Our thought was to spend the night somewhere in the Mormon Wells area north of Interstate 15, but this area – from our viewpoints – was getting hit hard with rain, so we stayed south and found a great spot on the west side of the Muddy Mountains. Here we stayed free of rain and made a couple of unexpected discoveries that will bring us back to this place.

 

Our destination for Saturday was Death Valley. A friend, rubberlegs, had sent us a message that the north Death Valley Road had just opened. There was sometime on “the list” we had long wanted to attempt to find along this road.

 

 

 

 

 

It was an intaglio, or rock alignment. From the information I found on it, it is of modern origin. One source states it was possibly created by telephone workers in the early 1900’s. It is located on a very active alluvial floodplain, so I doubt it is ancient, especially since the recent floods in Death Valley came very close to carrying it away. It was still fun to find.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although not profuse, there were a few pockets of Desert Gold (Geraea canescens), one of Death Valley’s noted wildflowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We overnighted along Lake Hill Road at one of our favorite “old standby” dispersed campsites. Although not profuse in Death Valley, Panamint Valley was awash with Desert Gold in an incredible bloom.

 

The desert is full of surprises. The following morning, we found Panamint Valley wet with dew. This vast valley, although not showing water on the surface, is still saturated with water from the recent historic rainfall and floods. It’s not often you can walk out in one of the driest places on earth at dawn and photograph flowers covered with dew drops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a leisurely drive and day for us. We did our grocery shopping for home in Bishop and I picked up a new pair of Smartwool hiking socks at Eastside Sports. We shared a Mule Kick Sandwich from Schats across the street in the park. Julie, very kindly, cut it into small pieces for me to eat with my fingers, as I’m still unable to bite into food following the surgery.

 

The night of the 24^th was spent in that so decadent hot tub at Benton we had reserved when the Lady discovered, if she stood just right, she had cell service on a high point in Gold Butte above Little Finland.

 

We arrived home safe and sound in the early afternoon on the 25^th. It takes us less than a half hour to empty the truck and camper, gets packs and duffels emptied, and everything put away. The Lady sorted through our dirty clothes and got several loads ready for the wash. Julie put one load in the washer and turned it on. We put our groceries from Bishop away in the kitchen – it sure is convenient to have a fridge in the camper. I discovered the problem when I went to wash my face and shave. We had no water in the house. A ball valve had broken in our main service line during our absence. The neighbors’ stories were – it rained hard for two days with water sheeting down the road. It stopped raining and water was still sheeting down the road. They investigated and called the irrigation district to turn off the water.

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed an extra night of camping and we fixed the water line the next day. Another day in the mountains, just a little more fun than usual.

 

We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Winter Solstice holiday season!

 

The Winter Solstice Trip, Southern Nevada – December 2023 – Part Three

 

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 Two

 

Gold Butte National Monument

 

We stopped in Overton for gas. With cell service there, the Lady gave us an overview of the weather trends. We decided to stay in this general area and happily returned to Gold Butte.

 

 

 

 

 

Years ago, we stopped at this sign along Gold Butte Road that is still in place.

 

 

 

 

 

Last year we noticed a new sign was erected explaining the origin of the first.

 

 

 

 

 

But putting up a sign hardly guarantees its validity, no matter how colorful its message is. Here is a more factual history of the sign – Nay’s Sign at Juanita Springs.

 

We were exceedingly pleased how quiet it was out here. There were none of the large Bubba camps at Whitney Pockets. We met and saw only two other vehicles on our drive in. Not that we expected to see anyone where we would be exploring.

 

We were settled in our campsite by mid afternoon. The afternoon light was gorgeous as we wandered and reacquainted ourselves with this special place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the high point, I was surprised the Lady had her phone out.

 

 

 

 

 

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I was curious,” she answered. “I have cell service if I stand right here. I’m checking if there’s been any cancellations at Benton for an open tub on our drive home.”

“Any?”

“No, all booked up.”

 

The Lady took this photo inside the camper this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

The day’s last light was quite special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrise the next morning was equally special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For our early morning walk, we moseyed down into the main wash to a petroglyph panel that most never notice. It is high up on the Aztec sandstone. Nearby are possible shelter sites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took a wandering route back to camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As was the plan for this trip, after breakfast, we headed out to spend the day hiking and exploring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m fascinated with how what’s known as “Moqui Marbles” form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We began our hike with a meandering route – as the terrain allowed - over to what is called Little Finland, an area of spectacularly wind and water sculpted sandstone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady, as always, seized the high ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady kept ahead of me as I wandered about with the camera trying to absorb all the magic around us.

 

 

 

 

 

She had a surprise for me when I finally reached her up on a high point. “There’s a tub available at Benton the night of the 24^th!”

 

 

 

 

 

“Book it.”

 

We made our way out to a favorite landmark of ours for a lunch break.

 

 

 

 

 

We continued out to Hartman Tanks, and area of exposed sandstone in a broad wash system, that holds water in depressions called tanks or tinajas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found Beautiful Phacelia (Phacelia pulchella) in only two places.

 

 

 

 

 

Although the terrain, in places, looked flat, it was far from it.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a maze of gullies.

 

 

 

 

 

These photos perfectly describe our evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our predawn walk the next morning, as we relaxed with the sunrise and our mugs of Peets coffee, took us to the red sand dunes to the north of our camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was breakfast time back at camp and after, we headed out on another day long hike.

 

 

 

 

 

We did a similar hike here about eleven years ago. This time we added a few extras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found a new to us petroglyph panel at the start of a steep drop into a basin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the start of a canyon that would take us through this massive sandstone formation.

 

 

 

 

 

It quickly narrowed into a nice slot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We looped back south on expansive sandstone after we exited on the lower end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, we revisited petroglyph panels found on previous hikes in this area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addition: Our good friend, Dan, pointed this out in one of the petroglyph photos. Thanks Sharp Eyed Dan! 

 

We returned to camp, took care of chores, and it was time to celebrate. It was the night of the Winter Solstice! The Lady purchased this t-shirt in 1986. It has been a winter solstice tradition ever since.

 

 

 

 

 

After our showers, dinner, and with the Lady wearing her t-shirt under her warm fleece, we found a high point to sit and take in the quiet and solitude of this special evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We woke the next morning to skies threatening rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bid farewell to this wonderful place, comfortable and secure in the knowledge that the sun had, once again, turned the corner.

 

 

 

 

 

Rain splattered on the windshield before we reached pavement. We had three more nights out before we returned home.

 

Our adventure concludes in the next chapter. Please click here for - Part Four.