Death Valley Deep Dive 2024

[Beardilocks]

The next day we headed out for another peak.  This one is very visible from as you travel either north or south on Greenwater Valley Rd (or Furnace Creek Washington Rd as Google calls it).  Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it from the road, but it has a rather imposing and cool looking rock formation at the summit that we were curious if we could get up. 

Brice settled on the name Deadman's Comb, for how it looks from below and it's proximity to Deadman's Pass. 

Several other options were kicked around including Satan's Dentures, Dead Horse Teeth, Black Pinnacles, Devil's Pick, Beelzebub's Mohawk, etc. 

Checking out some mining trash...er history on the route in.  First shaft is collapsed. 


Probably a tobacco tin, but I've never seen one opened in this manner. 


Odd ballast/anchor rock of some kind.  Hole appeared chipped out. 


Here's a curious fella.  I think that I have seen one of these somewhere in better shape that was a maple syrup container and the packaging made it look like a little cabin.  Can anyone else confirm or suggest alternatives?


Lots of sexy blue/green/turquoise rocks out here.  I wonder what they were mining?  Haha. 


We found 3 intact bottles on this hike.  I don't think I've ever found an intact bottle before.  One green unlabeled, one Pepsi, one Coke.  I'd say this Pepsi one is much more recent than the mine. 


Here's the bigger mine/prospect in the area.  The main shaft was probably 20ft deep and looked like it stopped there.  Check out the cool old skinny ladder.


Gorgeous views of Greenwater as always. 


Funeral Peak looks it's best with a bit of snow on it & some dramatic lighting. 


Some evidence of the freezing rain at this elevation the night before. 


There's our target.


Quite the feature.


Climbing up into it. 


Pretty commanding views. 








Yes, that's snow falling in the Valley.  We got hit by a bit on the way back.  Pretty low elevation for snow even in Feb out here. 


I believe Brice is adding this to Peak Bagger, since it was not listed yet.  It's a really fun hike with a short fun climb at the end.  I think there are 5-6 decent climbing routes to the top of Deadman's Comb, so it's a nice choose your own adventure.