Death Valley – February 2025 – 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

 

Sand Canyon

 

Early morning had us driving north on the Harry Wade Road enroute to a remote canyon in the Owlshead Mountains. After parking our trucks, we went to work figuring out what canyon opening in the mountain front two miles distant was Sand Canyon. We worked our way across the bajada to find an easy drop into the wash.

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing a new flowering plant, the Lady put her phone and seek app to work – Turtleback (Psathyrotes ramosissima)

 

 

 

 

We entered the board and appropriately sandy wash of Sand Canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

My companions pulled away from me because I’m a sucker for Brittlebrush (Encelia farinose)

 

 

 

 

 

It is the granite that makes Sand Canyon so special. The day was already warm so notice in the photo below that my companions are to the left, keeping in the shade.

 

 

 

 

 

The canyon narrowed and was soon filled with a huge boulder jam.

 

 

 

 

 

Deb and I attempted to bypass to the right. Julie and Steve worked through the boulder jam as far as they could. It ended at a high dry fall with another above. We all decided a steep climbing bypass to the left was best. Steve led the way.

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a view back down from around two thirds of the way up.

 

 

 

 

 

And a view down from back in the canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

The canyon widens above and we continued on.

 

 

 

 

 

It was hot, and after a bit over a mile up this section, I found a spot in the shade and let the others go on. I was still not 100% and wanted to assure a good reserve of energy for the hike back. A short time later Deb turned around and joined me. Steve and Julie continued on to near the end of the canyon at the crest.

 

Steve and Julie returned with stories and photos and we all started back down the canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

The granite was gorgeous in the afternoon light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We neared the top of the bypass we had used.

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of vertical feet drop is impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

Shadows were long when we exited the canyon. The hike in the afternoon light was outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We set up camp where we had parked, a comfortable spot with a view alongside the road.

 

The Lady had our coffee mugs ready at dawn and we commenced “our morning wander.”

 

 

 

 

 

A view west at the southern Owlshead Mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady had her mind set on descending all the way down to the mighty Amargosa River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought it was a great idea also.

 

The broad wash of the mighty Amargosa leading down into Death Valley is impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

We climbed up to camp and completed our wander. We did not drown and we did not spill any Peets Coffee. It was time for breakfast and moving on to a new area, Ibex Spring.

 

Our adventure continues. Please click here for Part Three

Death Valley – February 2025 – Part One

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

 

The Surprise

 

I replied to Steve’s inquiry with an email. Steve was in on the surprise we had planned for his wife, Deb. I wrote this, “If I’m able to drive safety to the store this morning, we’ll buy groceries for the trip, and leave in the morning.”

 

Our friends, the rubberlegs (Deb & Steve), had been on the road for a couple weeks. Deb had several speaking engagements and then they planned a week in Death Valley. The surprise was that we’d join them and then attend Deb’s talk on March 1^st at the Shoshone Museum. We’d surprised Deb (and Steve that time) before by attending her talk at the Shoshone Museum in April 2024.

 

The only reason we returned home from our last trip, was we each had an initial appointment with a new primary care physician. Our long-time doc, who famously wrote the Lady a prescription to leave and go on an adventure, wrote himself a prescription (for many of the same reasons) and retired. The new doc’s first action with me was to switch to a different hypertension drug.  I had severe reactions to the new drug, life threatening reactions. Back on the old medication, I was surprised how long it was taking me to recover. I’m a strong, healthy young fellow. I should have been back to 100% in a day. Damn right. Damn wrong.

 

I passed the driving test, we bought groceries, loaded up the truck and camper, and left at dawn the next morning. It was a long drive to Saratoga Springs on the south end of Death Valley National Park. We arrived at 1730 hrs. as the sun set. Deb was surprised and we were thrilled to see them. Since we first met them, we’ve spent many days together in the backcountry. They are very skilled outdoor people.

 

“How are you doing today?” Steve asked me early the next morning. “From one to ten and ten being your best, where are you?”

“Six,” I answered.

We had a good day of exploration ahead of us.

 

Packs, boots, and we were all ready to go. Our first stop was Saratoga Springs.

 

 

 

 

 

Except something distracted us before we got there, petroglyphs very high up on a ridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a great find that Deb and Steve had spotted the previous day.

 

We continued on. One vehicle was parked at the Saratoga Springs trailhead proving, once again, the most frightening thing in the backcountry is humans, especially dangerously deranged, pathetically stupid humans.

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed exploring around the springs – old roads, a past archeological dig site, herons and egrets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This area, in the first half of the 20^th century, was mined for talc. We continued on to check out the old mines. Below the Saratoga Mine, we found a mining dump – cans, bottles, and such – and among those items was an obvious mano – a grinding stone used by indigenous people. It fit my hand perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

We climbed into a side canyon and up to the extensive Saratoga Mine. Mining sites can be dated by the quality of the concrete used for footings and foundations. The Lady administered her own test.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone got into checking out the concrete.

 

 

 

 

 

When the mines were operating, there was a system of service roads. Little remains but for a forgotten gate here and there.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a climb up to the White Cap Mine. The road was washed out in many places. The vistas were vast and seemingly endless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s quite a climb from the White Cap up to the Superior Mine that sits at the crest of the mountain range.

 

 

 

 

We climbed down the opposite side of the range and circled back around to our camp. It was a wonderful day and around a nine-mile hike.

 

The Lady and I were up before dawn. Two ravens dropped down to say hello. The Lady told them, “You’ll have no luck here!”

They waited outside our neighbor’s camper.

 

 

 

 

 

I wandered out on the playa, waiting for the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This day’s hike was over to the Ibex Dunes and the several small talc mines beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

During World War Two, this area was used for aerial target practice. Finding fifty caliber shell casings and clips are common.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve and I followed the girls who did a great job working the varied terrain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old claim posts still stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deb made a bee line over to the other prospects. These two wanted to throw in an Ibex Dune summit on the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up one side and down the other.

 

 

 

 

 

A radio call from Deb said she had found treasure. We joined her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady led the way to the top and to several mine shafts.

 

 

 

 

 

We headed back mid afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

Half way between the dunes and camp we came upon a monumented section corner, part of the Public Land Survey System.

 

 

 

 

 

If you know how to understand the inscribed information, you can pinpoint your location on a USGS 7.5 topographic map. Hint: land survey lines, section numbers, township info are in red. 

 

Deb & Steve suggested we walk over to Saratoga Springs for the late afternoon light. It was a great suggestion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We moved to a new location the next day.

 

Our adventure continues. Please click here for Part Two.