A Grand Tour of Death Valley and some to and fro-ing

[AWG_Pics]

We left home on March 11 and returned April 7th. Mostly in Death Valley, the last image in this album is a map of our Death Valley campspots, numbered in sequence. Overall it was fascinating and exhilarating, though everything is very dry. Some highlights: Willow Creek, Furnace, Lee Flat, White Top Mountain, Saratoga Springs, the ancient bristlecone pines and more wildlife than we expected at Lake Lahontan state park in Nevada, just downstream of the dam. It was very fun to swing by Tecopah Hot Springs for a shower and soak every once in a while. Our last night was in central Oregon at Summer Lake hot spring -- sort of a old hippie/resort place. Very clean and friendly. Great birding on the north end of Summer lake.

Enjoy! https://www.flickr.com/photos/awg_pics/albums/72177720297963993

Let me know if you have questions. I will continue to add to this album over the next few weeks.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Nice photography, Tony. Thanks for sharing!

 

[heinphoto]

Thanks - great photos! I'm envious that you were able to spend that much time immersing yourself in Death Valley. It looks like you had time to spend 2 or 3 nights at several of the locations, which is something we rarely do (I should really slow down on occasion and do this more often).

How was the road into Willow Creek? We were headed there on a trip in January, but it was getting late in the day and my navigator got nervous about half way in, so we stopped and camped at a wide spot along the road. We had a long drive the next day, so I didn't try to explore it any further.

-Scott

 

[ski3pin]

AWG, it was delightful to view your photos, well done! We look forward to more. Did you scramble up Slit Canyon from Hole in the Wall? That's one of our favorite adventures, up and down Slit up to the crest. How did you do in the silt pit that's getting dug deeper and deeper in Hidden Valley?

 

[AWG_Pics]

Nice photography, Tony. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Steve!

 

[AWG_Pics]

How was the road into Willow Creek? We were headed there on a trip in January, but it was getting late in the day and my navigator got nervous about half way in, so we stopped and camped at a wide spot along the road. We had a long drive the next day, so I didn't try to explore it any further.

-Scott

Hey Scott,
There was a mile, half before and half after, the pass into willow creek that caused me to shift into 4 lo, but really I didn't need to. After the pass it was about 4 miles to the end, all high clearance 2WD track. The only decent camping stop is just as you reach the roadside rocks, just 100 yards from the end of the road. The site of the old Willow Creek general store.

We did spend two or three nights in several locations. Our goal was to stay until we were bored. Usually it is one and done for us -- so it took some 'forced relaxation'.

Tony

 

[AWG_Pics]

AWG, it was delightful to view your photos, well done! We look forward to more. Did you scramble up Slit Canyon from Hole in the Wall? That's one of our favorite adventures, up and down Slit up to the crest. How did you do in the silt pit that's getting dug deeper and deeper in Hidden Valley?

Hi Ski,

We went up to the bottom of slit canyon then my wife's Asolo hiking boot soles decided to delaminate. (I just posted a photo of the boots in the album.) So we dug into the first aid kit for some tape and carefully followed gravel washes down to our camp.

That silt pit is something else! We approached it carefully from the south, then realized there was no going back for us, so I hung the left side of the rig at the west edge and just plowed through steadily -- I couldn't see anything with a half inch of dust on the windshield so I used the wipers, which worked well enough. (Just added a phone photo to the album.) And luckily my wife thought to bring a small brush, which I used when we got to a campsite as close as we could to the mouth of Perdido Canyon.

From our campsite we could see people charging through the dust pit in the valley below. No one got stuck although at least one 2 wheeler dumped his bike.

Thanks for commenting!

Tony

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks Tony.What a great trip.Your photos are beautiful.
Thanks for taking the time and posting your story.
Frank

 

[AWG_Pics]

Thanks Tony.What a great trip.Your photos are beautiful.
Thanks for taking the time and posting your story.
Frank

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Frank!

 

[searching for nowhere]

Thanks for your pictures. Do I understand this correctly that you drove up the White Mt and saw the ancient bristlecone pines in March? I thought the road wasn't clear until May/June. I'm in Mina, NV tonight and had planned to travel north but...? Also, what area of Lake Lahontan did you stay at? I was on my way to the Stillwater Refuge but plans are made to be changed.

Thanks

 

[Lighthawk]

Awesome adventures! Looks like a wonderful trip. Which resort did you visit at Tecopah?

 

[AWG_Pics]

Thanks for your pictures. Do I understand this correctly that you drove up the White Mt and saw the ancient bristlecone pines in March? I thought the road wasn't clear until May/June. I'm in Mina, NV tonight and had planned to travel north but...? Also, what area of Lake Lahontan did you stay at? I was on my way to the Stillwater Refuge but plans are made to be changed.

Thanks

Yes. There were some snow banks partly over the road, but easy enough to bypass. There was a sign not long after the pullover for the lookout view saying we were to proceed at our own risk. The 1 mile hike among the old trees was open and well worth the time, and at nearly 11,000 feet, the effort.

At Lahontan, which is far better than Stillwater right now (almost no water, very very dry), you can choose to camp by the lake or below the dam. We have done both, and each has its attractions. Have fun!

 

[AWG_Pics]

Awesome adventures! Looks like a wonderful trip. Which resort did you visit at Tecopah?

We find it low hassle and easy to stop at the one right on the hiway with gender separated pools, across the street from the no-frills RV park. Quick shower and soak, then off to the wild lands again. Not bad for $10 per person.

 

[searching for nowhere]

Thanks for the info. I’m in Big Pine now and hope to see the ancient brislecone pines tomorrow. I hope it works, seeing the pines has been on my todo list for years. And thanks for the info on Stillwater. I’ll be heading to Lahontan later.

 

[Lighthawk]

We find it low hassle and easy to stop at the one right on the hiway with gender separated pools, across the street from the no-frills RV park. Quick shower and soak, then off to the wild lands again. Not bad for $10 per person.

Thanks Tony. We checked those out, and noticed many family parties cooking outside.
We ended up at Delight's, where you have to wait your turn, but then then it's yours for a 30 min soak with your sweetie.
The water is so hot that half an hour does the job!

 

[AWG_Pics]

Thanks Tony. We checked those out, and noticed many family parties cooking outside.
We ended up at Delight's, where you have to wait your turn, but then then it's yours for a 30 min soak with your sweetie.
The water is so hot that half an hour does the job!

Families cooking? That is wild. We have not been so entertained in our visits. We did go to Delight's once. It was great, and you are right. 30 minutes is plenty of time.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Thanks for the info. I’m in Big Pine now and hope to see the ancient brislecone pines tomorrow. I hope it works, seeing the pines has been on my todo list for years. And thanks for the info on Stillwater. I’ll be heading to Lahontan later.

Good luck. Interested to know if you made it to the trees. They are worth the visit. We were pleasantly surprised by the campsites below the dam at Lahontan.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks for the info. I’m in Big Pine now and hope to see the ancient brislecone pines tomorrow. I hope it works, seeing the pines has been on my todo list for years. And thanks for the info on Stillwater. I’ll be heading to Lahontan later.

Another location is Wheeler Peak in GBNP.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Another location is Wheeler Peak in GBNP.

That is right. I was surprised at their wide distribution:

 

[searching for nowhere]

The road is open and I made it to within three miles of the Patriarch Grove, where from a distance I saw a car parked in the road and snow, so I assumed snow was blocking the road. Very few people were up there. I had a wonderful day poking around. Tomorrow onward to Lahontan.