Mini reports

[Brice]

Had some business to take care of around Furnace this week in the form of Monte Blanco and Blue Mountain.  I really didn't know the best way to get to Blue Mountain but I knew from my previous ascent of Borax benchmark that the whole area has very complicated topography.  If there were to be somewhere in Death Valley referred to as "the maze," this area would be a contender for the title.

I planned to go up and over Monte Blanco, over Borax again, then onwards to Blue Mountain.  I knew from other reports that I could return via a loose dirt slope into Corkscrew canyon, something I wouldn't have imagined possible given what I know of the area.

The first time I went up Borax, I went in with no information, no satellite images, nothing.  From the top of Monte Blanco I can now see why it gave me so much trouble.  The hundred gully NE face of Borax.



On the way to Blue, I went up Peak 2820.  Here's a photo of Blue Mountain from its summit.  Its color washed out in the direct morning light.




Peak 2820 has a nice band of colors along its side.  Borax Benchmark's SW face on the left side of the photo.



Interesting summit register on Blue Mountain.



Including myself, there were only 10 entries in total.  This is the second entry



And finally a photo from the summit of Blue Mountain.  There's something interesting down there in the valley.  Hmm....