John Morrow
Member
- Joined
- May 22, 2015
- Messages
- 1,065
A bit late, but I remembered that I forgot to finish my winter desert trip reports!
View from camp below the Dublin Hills at the end of a very windy stormy day.
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Sunset in camp Hwy 178 by John Morrow, on Flickr
Cold front came through overnight sending me sightseeing to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
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Point of Rocks Spring by John Morrow, on Flickr
Afterwards, it got warm enough to scramble High Peak 4037' west of Pahrump, NV.
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Stewart Valley Depression by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Ash Meadows Range by John Morrow, on Flickr
After a rest in Pahrump, I headed back into the Park for an evening walk up Shoreline Butte in the Valley floor.
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Ashford Peak at sunset by John Morrow, on Flickr
One of my favorite camps, when the wind is still, is the Virgin Spring Trailhead access road. A fox visited me.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182164712_8e229ab666_c.jpg&hash=758f2cdc55e2e9121cfb2405553d31e9)
Curious (or hungry) Kit Fox by John Morrow, on Flickr
Fabulous Virgin Spring Canyon/Lower Trail/Desert Hound Peak 4472'/Desert Hound Trail/Virgin Spring Loop!!!!!
See Digonnet for this one. It is a long day but to have so much scenic trail hiking is a real treat. Scenery, history, geology, in diverse abundance. As far as trails go, this one, and a loop of Keene Mine Trail/Keene Canyon may be my favorite two in the Park thus far!
First, up the Virgin Spring Canyon to the mine at the spring:
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Desert Hound Peak by John Morrow, on Flickr
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colorful by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Virgin Spring by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then up the "Lower Trail" to the Desert Hound Mine. The traverse after the initial climb has gotten indistinct. For a trail builder, it'd be a joy to restore!
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182852276_02e3f92ff4_c.jpg&hash=50d775928cf049f251d4ae2800b8b691)
A miner's walk by John Morrow, on Flickr
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at a divide by John Morrow, on Flickr
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The traverse (looking back) by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Desert Hound Peak ahead! by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Death Valley by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then onto the Desert Hound Trail making its way back into Upper Virgin Spring Canyon:
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Desert Hound Trail now! by John Morrow, on Flickr
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lovely walking by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Trail into Virgin Spring Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
And finally back into the canyon for the loop completion back to the trailhead:
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too short but pretty by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Almost back to main Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Colors of Virgin Spring Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Nearing the gate at Pt 2142'; by John Morrow, on Flickr
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A sunset look NE by John Morrow, on Flickr
Complete photo set here:
www.flickr.com
MAP:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183938280_4e42bf6033_c.jpg&hash=6aeb99be9d537640c90e31346a0562e9)
Digonnet's Awesome Route!
View from camp below the Dublin Hills at the end of a very windy stormy day.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182848881_ef9b4165c3_c.jpg&hash=44882f7c8ff0fe65963068df0793a021)
Sunset in camp Hwy 178 by John Morrow, on Flickr
Cold front came through overnight sending me sightseeing to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183632434_df4db932d9_c.jpg&hash=844187d1e31f61ebceeaf8a02d0fe9b5)
Point of Rocks Spring by John Morrow, on Flickr
Afterwards, it got warm enough to scramble High Peak 4037' west of Pahrump, NV.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182163282_24f0d309ae_c.jpg&hash=c102ee785c3300616184e16eabc3f51c)
Stewart Valley Depression by John Morrow, on Flickr
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183929940_e65d2b979a_c.jpg&hash=e9bf89e7dffb5b9ac2e0424014a2c08d)
Ash Meadows Range by John Morrow, on Flickr
After a rest in Pahrump, I headed back into the Park for an evening walk up Shoreline Butte in the Valley floor.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182850741_8368262cd7_c.jpg&hash=7dac61f8f2b4defba832e08ef2af1c6c)
Ashford Peak at sunset by John Morrow, on Flickr
One of my favorite camps, when the wind is still, is the Virgin Spring Trailhead access road. A fox visited me.
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182164712_8e229ab666_c.jpg&hash=758f2cdc55e2e9121cfb2405553d31e9)
Curious (or hungry) Kit Fox by John Morrow, on Flickr
Fabulous Virgin Spring Canyon/Lower Trail/Desert Hound Peak 4472'/Desert Hound Trail/Virgin Spring Loop!!!!!
See Digonnet for this one. It is a long day but to have so much scenic trail hiking is a real treat. Scenery, history, geology, in diverse abundance. As far as trails go, this one, and a loop of Keene Mine Trail/Keene Canyon may be my favorite two in the Park thus far!
First, up the Virgin Spring Canyon to the mine at the spring:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182852696_95ae5078a0_c.jpg&hash=f070cd4f93cf664c9d538d084986d1b9)
Desert Hound Peak by John Morrow, on Flickr
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183932775_8ac38eb7fa_c.jpg&hash=74832885ce7cb71ea2767ee5ab63221e)
colorful by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Virgin Spring by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then up the "Lower Trail" to the Desert Hound Mine. The traverse after the initial climb has gotten indistinct. For a trail builder, it'd be a joy to restore!
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182852276_02e3f92ff4_c.jpg&hash=50d775928cf049f251d4ae2800b8b691)
A miner's walk by John Morrow, on Flickr
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183636169_f0ab8407f9_c.jpg&hash=393ae58a11c802defe250be7c1d0e589)
at a divide by John Morrow, on Flickr
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The traverse (looking back) by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Desert Hound Peak ahead! by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Death Valley by John Morrow, on Flickr
Then onto the Desert Hound Trail making its way back into Upper Virgin Spring Canyon:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183937380_6bdafcde1b_c.jpg&hash=20f7baa7cb623b0841285bd28891d3fe)
Desert Hound Trail now! by John Morrow, on Flickr
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lovely walking by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Trail into Virgin Spring Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
And finally back into the canyon for the loop completion back to the trailhead:
![](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51183074293_8114a8e534_c.jpg&hash=53a2f7f0857555e8d6e14aa8822d50d5)
too short but pretty by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Almost back to main Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Colors of Virgin Spring Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr
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Nearing the gate at Pt 2142'; by John Morrow, on Flickr
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A sunset look NE by John Morrow, on Flickr
Complete photo set here:
![www.flickr.com](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F65535%2F51182848881_ef9b4165c3_b.jpg&hash=bd54c1184d87a235d7d2e5d690d130df&return_error=1)
Death Valley Natl. Pk. South End Dayhikes Dec. 18-20, 2020
1. Ash Meadows NWR, High Peak 4037' 2. Virgin Spring Desert Hound Loop
MAP:
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Digonnet's Awesome Route!