My extended DV stay

[John Morrow]

John and Taco check your forum messages for a link.  It comes with the NPS disclaimer that some peaks on the list may not be legal to climb, some may be "unclimbable", and some are outside the park.

Thank You!  Interesting list.  Some things I never heard of.  Makes one wonder what the history behind the creation of this list is.  Some of the peaks indicate that it has been created, or updated, recently as a couple peak names are creations on Peakbagger with little or no historical context.
A few destinations I've overlooked in the past give me reason to visit an area or two, or ten....

[TacoLand]

Ayup ... Brice & Beardilocks’ trip reports/photos are giving me some serious adventure pangs. And now I've got a list of even more places to check out?! Thank you.

[MojaveGeek]

Ah yes, that cute little arch up there. Well you did well, that ridge is a bit of a climb! There are some pretty clear sheep trails below the peak, on the SW side. I have wondered for years if they beat a path over to Lost Man Spring in Titanothere Canyon, but that's an even further haul.

That list sounds more interesting now. I would not mind a copy if you could share it. Thanks!

Over the years Corkscrew has drawn more and more visitors. First time I went up there was barely trace of a use trail. Now it's a highway. But your way, you probably were not on a trail?

[Brice]

A couple days ago I went and explored a side canyon in the Grapevine mountains that had a spot that looked potentially interesting by satellite.  I knew it to be blocked early by a dryfall,  but I had a plan to bypass it and figured it also means fewer visitors.

The area I wanted to reach ended up being a nice grotto area with a dryfall at the end.  It was largely conglomerate rock and had the look of a sculpture garden.  Unfortunately I don't have the right camera to capture it in full, but here are some photos of what I could manage.







I always hope to find a bridge, and sort of got my wish granted this time?  This little guy is about 4 feet tall, if it were not blocked by debris.  It's unusual to have a bridge in Death Valley carved from solid rock.  So despite its diminutive size, I was happy to find it.



Today I went up a couple of peaks near Daylight pass.  The first, Border Monument 93 with a marker from 1899.  I'm not sure if it's marking the border of the park, or of the state border with Nevada.




I went up Daylight peak on the opposite of the road too.  From that summit is a nice view of Corkscrew, and yes Whitney also, as was mentioned earlier in the thread.

[GowerGulch42]

Fantastic stuff! Are you willing to share where that twisty little canyon is?

Is there an actual trail up to Corkscrew or is it more of a free-for-all?

[Brice]

Fantastic stuff! Are you willing to share where that twisty little canyon is?

Is there an actual trail up to Corkscrew or is it more of a free-for-all?

I wasn't on it, but there is a main use trail up corkscrew. Take some poles if you plan on doing it.  Parts are badly eroded and poles are helpful.

The grotto I hiked to is here 36.89536, -117.21820

[John Morrow]

Fantastic stuff! Are you willing to share where that twisty little canyon is?

Is there an actual trail up to Corkscrew or is it more of a free-for-all?

I wasn't on it, but there is a main use trail up corkscrew. Take some poles if you plan on doing it.  Parts are badly eroded and poles are helpful.

The grotto I hiked to is here 36.89536, -117.21820

Could be Gargoyle Canyon as named by the canyoneering community.  2 canyons west of it is a walk through canyon in the fanglomerate known as Half Moon.   Not spectacular but a nice blue grey gravel floor against pastel walls.

[MojaveGeek]

The marker is the CA / NV state line.

GowerGulch: there are several established use trails up Corkscrew. The are probably visible on the satellite images. A description of the "main" route is here:
https://desertpeaks.org/Cd%20guides/guid...e0214.html

[Kauri]

Sorry to disappoint you on your find, Brice, but I was there in 2012:
https://kaurijacobphotography.yolasite.c...nyonTR.pdf
(see last page)
I believe that should classify as a "minor natural bridge."
It's a beautiful hike, and as I recall you can bypass most of the dry-falls, including the one that probably stopped you, on the north ridge.

[Brice]

Sorry to disappoint you on your find, Brice, but I was there in 2012:
https://kaurijacobphotography.yolasite.c...nyonTR.pdf
(see last page)
I believe that should classify as a "minor natural bridge."
It's a beautiful hike, and as I recall you can bypass most of the dry-falls, including the one that probably stopped you, on the north ridge.

It's not dissapointing! I know the Grapevines are well explored. It's still fun to get out there and discover things for yourself. I always assume someone has been wherever I am before.  If not recently,  a prospector or indigenous person for certain.