Gower Gulch Erosion Patterns March 2024

[DeathValleyDazed]

In 1941 The Furnace Creek Wash was diverted into The Gower Gulch over Highway 190 just upstream from what is now The Zabriskie Point parking area to prevent continued flooding of The Inn at Death Valley. Every severe storm this area has to be rebuilt and restored. Tough wire mesh headwalls have been installed but even they suffer damage in the worst storms. 

Here's my video perspective from a March 30, 2024 rainy day but not enough drops to produce stream flow. I realized the damage from the last torrent had closed Highway 190 and that the flow was also eating into the lower Gulch north side wall encroaching on the Golden Canyon Loop Trail so I had to survey not only the upper but lower Gower Gulch. 

[MojaveGeek]

So you got out there after all. I was in SW Utah where we had some snow that day.

I did the Golden / Gower loop with my daughter in the backpack on one of my earliest trips. I had no idea what to expect and as I approached the dryfall going down Gower I thought "Oh no, I'll have to go all the way back around" Fun relief to find that little trail headed north at the fall!