John Morrow
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- Joined
- May 22, 2015
- Messages
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My friend Lori has never explored the Mojave Desert. I picked her up at MacCarran with only a first couple days loosely in mind. We ended up never leaving Death Valley National Park for her entire week. She loved gettting to know the place a bit, as we chose to do a wide variety of day hikes rather than backpack.
Here's days 1 and 2:
Sunday Nov. 14. From the airport on Saturday, we shopped for food and fuel and made our way to two nights camping at Wildrose Campground. Our first dayhike was a loop. We hiked the Wildrose Peak Trail to the divide. Then headed southward on the Panamint Crest over Pt 8380 and returned to the charcoal kilns by walking the Mahagony Flat road back.
Delighted to find petroglyphs in random outcrops of limestone.
Wildrose Trail by John Morrow, on Flickr
Calville Ridge by John Morrow, on Flickr
Late afternoon walking by John Morrow, on Flickr
Monday Nov 15th morning we drove early to Lee Flat. From the junction to the Boxcar Cabin? we hiked to Blackrock Well. Then up the canyon through great monzonite boulder landscapes to the top of Point 7046 in the Nelson Mountains for a great early evening view of Saline and Racetrack Valleys. Not a secret that we saw some rock art.
toward Blackrock Well by John Morrow, on Flickr
Blackrock canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
distant Argus Range by John Morrow, on Flickr
view NE Last Change Range center by John Morrow, on Flickr
back in the canyons by John Morrow, on Flickr
sunset glow by John Morrow, on Flickr
Inyos in morning light by John Morrow, on Flickr
Nov 16th we did the short hike to Dawrin Falls and relocated camp to Panamint Springs Campground for two nights.
I went above the first falls to the second falls by staying low in the canyon and crossing the stream a couple times. Then I scouted Digonnet's route, higher left looking up canyon, and stayed on that side to the 2nd falls. Some Class 4 scrambling here. Then Lori and it went even higher left looking up canyon to adjacent to near the top of the highest falls.
Darwin Falls lower by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010034 by John Morrow, on Flickr
That's why! by John Morrow, on Flickr
Darwin Creek by John Morrow, on Flickr
Panamint Springs camp view by John Morrow, on Flickr
Nov 17th we hiked up Surprise Canyon as far as Brewery Spring. Nice polished narrows.
Lower Panamint Dry Lake by John Morrow, on Flickr
headed upcanyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
great hiking and scrambling by John Morrow, on Flickr
fun moves by John Morrow, on Flickr
still climbing by John Morrow, on Flickr
loving the flora by John Morrow, on Flickr
last look by John Morrow, on Flickr
Nov 18th was a bit of a wild card. I really want to explore the area between Cottonwood Canyon and Emigrant bajada more. There is access info on the canyoneer websites: They consider it a subrange of the Cottonwood Mountains calling them the "Princess Bride Range". Kauri and Steve Hall have numbered some of the steep canyons. I used the upcanyon approach for a canyon called Pit of Despair. Poor name for a gorgeous place.
Screenshot 2021-12-11 122618 by John Morrow, on Flickr
I was able to up and down climb Rappels 2 and 3 though the short wall bypass of Rap 3 was Class 5. The entire route of green approach uphill is Class 1 and 2. When the middle of the canyon is reached and the uproute crosses it, simply explore up canyon as far as comfortable.
shady rest by John Morrow, on Flickr
known as Pit of Despair Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
climbing up canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
narrow and rubbly by John Morrow, on Flickr
nice break spot by John Morrow, on Flickr
above the canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
beautiful water polish by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010140 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010143 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010152 by John Morrow, on Flickr
On the 19th, after a fine dispersed camp up Hole in the Wall, we opted to see the sites by first walking far out Badwater and finishing up the day at Sidewinder.
P1010156 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010172 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010178 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010181 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010186 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010192 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010208 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010220 by John Morrow, on Flickr
Later in the month I returned for a couple final dayhikes. On this last night we camped at Ibex mtn TH for great views of moon and sun rises and settings.
All Photos:
www.flickr.com
www.flickr.com
www.flickr.com
Here's days 1 and 2:
Sunday Nov. 14. From the airport on Saturday, we shopped for food and fuel and made our way to two nights camping at Wildrose Campground. Our first dayhike was a loop. We hiked the Wildrose Peak Trail to the divide. Then headed southward on the Panamint Crest over Pt 8380 and returned to the charcoal kilns by walking the Mahagony Flat road back.
Delighted to find petroglyphs in random outcrops of limestone.
Wildrose Trail by John Morrow, on FlickrCalville Ridge by John Morrow, on FlickrLate afternoon walking by John Morrow, on FlickrMonday Nov 15th morning we drove early to Lee Flat. From the junction to the Boxcar Cabin? we hiked to Blackrock Well. Then up the canyon through great monzonite boulder landscapes to the top of Point 7046 in the Nelson Mountains for a great early evening view of Saline and Racetrack Valleys. Not a secret that we saw some rock art.
toward Blackrock Well by John Morrow, on FlickrBlackrock canyon by John Morrow, on Flickrdistant Argus Range by John Morrow, on Flickrview NE Last Change Range center by John Morrow, on Flickr
back in the canyons by John Morrow, on Flickrsunset glow by John Morrow, on FlickrInyos in morning light by John Morrow, on FlickrNov 16th we did the short hike to Dawrin Falls and relocated camp to Panamint Springs Campground for two nights.
I went above the first falls to the second falls by staying low in the canyon and crossing the stream a couple times. Then I scouted Digonnet's route, higher left looking up canyon, and stayed on that side to the 2nd falls. Some Class 4 scrambling here. Then Lori and it went even higher left looking up canyon to adjacent to near the top of the highest falls.
Darwin Falls lower by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010034 by John Morrow, on Flickr
That's why! by John Morrow, on Flickr
Darwin Creek by John Morrow, on FlickrPanamint Springs camp view by John Morrow, on FlickrNov 17th we hiked up Surprise Canyon as far as Brewery Spring. Nice polished narrows.
Lower Panamint Dry Lake by John Morrow, on Flickrheaded upcanyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
great hiking and scrambling by John Morrow, on Flickr
fun moves by John Morrow, on Flickr
still climbing by John Morrow, on Flickr
loving the flora by John Morrow, on Flickr
last look by John Morrow, on Flickr
Nov 18th was a bit of a wild card. I really want to explore the area between Cottonwood Canyon and Emigrant bajada more. There is access info on the canyoneer websites: They consider it a subrange of the Cottonwood Mountains calling them the "Princess Bride Range". Kauri and Steve Hall have numbered some of the steep canyons. I used the upcanyon approach for a canyon called Pit of Despair. Poor name for a gorgeous place.
Screenshot 2021-12-11 122618 by John Morrow, on FlickrI was able to up and down climb Rappels 2 and 3 though the short wall bypass of Rap 3 was Class 5. The entire route of green approach uphill is Class 1 and 2. When the middle of the canyon is reached and the uproute crosses it, simply explore up canyon as far as comfortable.
shady rest by John Morrow, on Flickr
known as Pit of Despair Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
climbing up canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
narrow and rubbly by John Morrow, on Flickr
nice break spot by John Morrow, on Flickr
above the canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
beautiful water polish by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010140 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010143 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010152 by John Morrow, on Flickr
On the 19th, after a fine dispersed camp up Hole in the Wall, we opted to see the sites by first walking far out Badwater and finishing up the day at Sidewinder.
P1010156 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010172 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010178 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010181 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010186 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010192 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010208 by John Morrow, on Flickr
P1010220 by John Morrow, on Flickr
Later in the month I returned for a couple final dayhikes. On this last night we camped at Ibex mtn TH for great views of moon and sun rises and settings.
All Photos:
Death Valley Natl. Pk. Days 1 and 2. Nov. 14-15, 2021
Wildrose Trail to Mahogany Flat Lee Flat to Nelson Range
www.flickr.com
Death Valley Natl. Pk. Days 3 and 4 Nov. 16-17, 2021
The well watered Darwin Canyon and Surprise Canyon
www.flickr.com
Death Valley Natl. Pk. Days 5 and 6. Nov. 18-19, 2021
Princess Bride Range of Cottonwoods (Pit of Despair) canyon and Valley hikes
www.flickr.com
