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Please click here for - Part Three
An Undisclosed Location
We headed toward one of Julie and my favorite parts of Death Valley. It’s main draw, as you may suspect, is its isolation and its treasures. We led the way in on unsigned dirt roads. It is a maze. Gravel is deep in the wash that the trace of a road ascends. It took a few tries before we found the route that worked. If we set up camp early – as in before the sun dropped below the ridgeline – we could celebrate with a bit of relaxation with jiffy pop popcorn and Henry Weinhard’s root beer. It worked. Life’s little pleasures are indeed the best.
Can you smell the popcorn? I can.
The next day was planned for exploration and wandering. It was a day to search out the answer to that often asked question, “What’s around the next bend?”
We found the site of a large bottle dump, perhaps out the back door of a tent saloon operating around 1905?
Across the wash was an historical inscription in the rock.
Was J. Wade related in some way to Harry Wade, a member of the Death Valley 49ers? Harry Wade (and his family) was the only member to successfully exit Death Valley with his ox drawn wagon, find the Old Spanish Trail, and take it on to Los Angeles.
Steve and I take direction well. When the girls say, “Let’s go up here!” We follow.
We explored an area of welded volcanic ash that held water in “tanks” or “tinajas.” These tinajas are very important water sources for wildlife.
When the going gets rough, our group gets excited.
We spotted a possible ancient shelter site. Steve offered to check it out for us.
There was no evidence of human use of this cave.
In another area we found evidence of habitation - stacked stone shelters and metates.
We thoroughly enjoyed our wanderings. This was a thrilling day of discovery.
We visited sites that held amazing pictographs and signs of ancient use.
Somehow, I made it into a photograph.
It was late when we returned to our camp. The sun had dropped below the ridgeline. As we settled in with evening chores – clean up, cooking dinner, and such – we watched the light wane.
The weather was changing when we woke the next morning. The rising sun snuck in underneath the building clouds.
We had spent six glorious nights in Death Valley together, Julie & I and Deb & Steve. We had a few more days before we needed to part company and settle in for Thanksgiving with family. We decided to move east into Nevada.
The story continues. Please click here for - Part Five.
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