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Please click here for - Part One
Old Paths
The Baggers and the Ski3pins share a
deep interest in and love of ancient rock art and archeology. The Baggers came to Saline
Valley armed with an old academic research paper they had found. Our plan was a
quick stop to orient the paper's drawn map to our current topographic maps and
to the real world. A problem arose, we started finding stuff right off and
could not stop looking for more. It's safe to say that Lake Bagger (Deb) was
the star of the day with a keen ability to find arc sites. First off was a
bedrock mortar in a deep draw. (Note, that ugly green thing was an old discarded electric blanket that must have blown a long way to get here.)
Next up was an amazing shelter site.
The team down climbed into a nearby deep opening and found nothing to suggest its use as a shelter.
We explored a spring with running water and found hunting blinds overlooking the water source.
We have no idea why Elvis was way out here.
We split up - four sets of eyes make a big difference - and moved over to a large area to the west. We communicated with handheld radios.
Julie and I investigated a series of springs up against the hillside.
We spotted Lake and Peak out on a high point several hundred yards away.
We walked out and joined them on the point. The ground was littered with obsidian flakes from ancient point and tool making. This was a very special place.
Steve took off to check out a distant spring.
Julie and I headed in a different direction and located a stone circle or hunting blind.
We heard distant shouts from Lake - we're weren't picking up her radio calls - and turned to find her. She had found a single boulder with a petroglyph in a wash.
It's location matched the point marked in the research paper. Right above it she found a stacked stone hogan.
The research paper adds this information about the hogan: it was not mentioned in a survey done in 1931, "therefore a post-1931 date seems reasonable. It is conceivable that the structure was built and occupied by remnant Shoshone people."
We continued scouring the area as we made our way back to our trucks. Finding another hunting blind got the Lady and Peak motivated to become hunters and gatherers.
Throughout the day jets continued to blast by just above the ground.................................
.........................including a C-17.
Many times the roar was deafening. We cupped our hands over our ears. Peak recently retired as a wing designer for Boeing and he filled us in on the dynamics and dangers of flight.
It was close to 4:30 pm when we arrived back at our vehicles. What a day it had been! We were ecstatic about all our wonderful "finds". Our decision was to set up camp for the night nearby. We camped near the undeveloped Upper Warm Springs.
The evening was grand. The stories flowed gentle and warm like hot spring waters. Deep restful sleep came so easily.
The wind had stilled as the next morning came. There is no better pursuit than to watch first light wash over the landscape.
Since we had stayed in the area, we now had a long drive to reach our next destination and Lake had an appointment with a NPS ranger at the Visitors Center to make. They took off ahead of us. We'd rendezvous later in the day.
Julie and I slowly drove through the Springs. It was Friday morning and the coming weekend crowd was building but, all in all, it was quiet at the Springs.
We fulfilled our duties and took the requisite photos at the Bat Pole.
Bats fly low over the springs in the evening and I believe this brought about the naming of Bat Road and the Bat Pole.
Our exit from Saline Valley was via what is called the south pass. As we climbed toward the grade that snakes up Grapevine Canyon, the Lady heard a pop and ding from the right front tire. "I think we're getting a flat," she announced. We stopped in the road, took a look, and all tires were fine. A horrid screech erupted as soon as we starting driving again. I had a good idea what the issue was but we needed a safe flat spot off the road to jack up the truck and take a look. We soon found a safe turnout and went to work. The tool kit was pulled out - a small action packer that sits on the floor behind the driver's seat. The Lady retrieved the stock jack from its mount. We've practiced this all at home. I was correct with my diagnosis. Clearance is tight between the inside of the rim and the brake caliper. This seems to happen to us every 100,000 miles or so with our truck. A rock flies inside the rim and the rotation brings it around to contact one of the two spring steel clips that position the brake pads and the caliper. The clip bends and scrapes the inside of the wheel rim. It makes a hell of a racket. It is easily fixed. Jack up the truck, remove the tire, remove the caliper, and bend the clip. All in all it took 45 minutes. Never get in a hurry doing field repairs. Slow is pro.
One truck drove by as we were fixing the truck. Our plight was very evident - tool box open, tools on the ground, truck jacked up, tire off. Times have changed out in the desert. This guy did not stop, did not acknowledge us, just drove on by. I was surprised and saddened. In the old days every backroad traveler would stop and inquire if help was needed. We help each other in the backcountry. Apparently that is no more. If someone had stopped, we would have said we had it all in hand, and thoroughly thanked the person for their kindness in stopping to check on a fellow traveler.
The remainder of the drive out was uneventful and beautiful. This is great country to drive through. After topping off with gas and airing the tires back up at Panamint Springs, we continued on into the National Park. We rendezvoused with Steve and Deb at Furnace Creek. Their meeting with the NPS ranger had gone well. It was 93°. Wow! We needed to get higher to cooler temperatures.
Our adventure was just getting started!
The story continues.......please click here for - Part Three.
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