Death Valley Deep Dive 2024

[Beardilocks]

For what would turn out to be the final hike of my Death Valley season this year, we took a hike out to the far East edge of DV to hit Peak 5350T.  5350T is about 2.5mi SE of Chloride City on the edge of the National Park and has stunning views of the entire valley from it's summit. 

We parked at the National Park border and hiked in on the road from there, past several old prospecting camp dumpsites and quite a few forlorn prospects. 

We noticed this odd arch up the hill behind us on the way to the peak and decided to run the ridgeline in the way back to see it up close. 


I found this very odd pole on the side of the road.  It was 12-15ft long and definitely manmade.  I'm not sure what it's purpose may have been. 


The views from the summit did not disappoint, stretching from the salt pan/temporary lake to Furnace Creek, all the way down the valley to Mesquite Dunes and Stovepipe, even most of the way up Towne pass.  Incredible. 


Gratuitous second shot. 


A nice view of some of the old prospecting roads and adits in the area. 


Beautiful views SE into Nevada and the Amargosa Desert. 


Looking North.


The arch ended up being quite spectacular up close.  The hole in the center is about 4ft high and the total height was at least 10ft.  It's composed mostly of quartz, giving it a weird magic portal vibe. 


It's much taller from the downhill side.  Definitely one of the cooler natural features I found this year. 


A couple of horned lizards we almost stepped on.  Unlike their thin-tailed brethren that scurry & flash away as soon as they notice you, these more rotund cousins rarely seem to be bothered by our presence. 


This is the closest I've come to seeing a desert tortoise so far. 


On our walk down the ridgeline to check out the arch, we had been staring at a group of unusual rock outcroppings to the north.  The siren call of the unexplored.  I mused that they looked ripe for potential Native American habitation sites and we decided it was worth a second hike to check them out. 


It's a very unusual rock type for the area that has left some great features to explore. 





Some great wind-carved erosion making beautiful shapes and windows. 





Am I the only one that sees a lion? 


Bingpot!  Habitation site.  Once by Native Americans and now by one of the larger packrat middens I've seen.  Yikes. 


Mortero still in place.


This MASSIVE packrat midden was extra weird because this particular example of its species had collected a large amount of dried feces and animal bones to make it's home.  I'm not sure if that's really metal or just mental illness.  I'm pretty sure that's a rabbit's foot.  I did not take it for luck. 


Definitely not a bad place to hang out. 


Another mortero a few overhangs down. 


What an amazing way to wrap up the bulk of my Death Valley hiking for the '23/'24 season.  A gorgeous view of the whole valley, a giant magic quartz arch, and couple of random habitation sites.  But I now had to get ready to welcome my parents for their first ever visit to Death Valley.