My extended DV stay

[Brice]

Since I got the NPS high points list I've been cleaning it up and trying to get the entire list onto the Peakbagger website because I use it to log my activity.  There are a few high points which are not very clear.  One of those is Con Benchmark in the Owlshead Mountains.  There seems to be a discrepancy between the USGS topo map and other topo maps of about 400 vertical feet for Con Benchmark.  So I thought I'd hike out there and hopefully the mark has the surveyed elevation on it.

First I hit the Confidence hills high point.  It took about 45 minutes to get there from Harry Wade.  Here's a view from the Confidence Hills of the unnamed canyon I'll be going up to reach the high point in the distance.  This canyon is between Granite canyon, and Contact canyon.  Presumably Con is a shortening of contact?



I have no information on routes previous hikers have taken, so I was basing my plans on maps and satellite images.  I hiked up the wash a little bit and took a gully on the left to start the climb.  It was slow going on very rugged terrain.



Once I got above the gully, I had a view of the rest of the route.  This was going to take a while...



I can't imagine this benchmark sees much foot traffic.  This whole area feels really really remote despite being only 6-ish miles from Harry Wade.  One step at a time, and I was eventually at the top. Here's a view looking south from the benchmark.



Unfortunately, there is no elevation data stamped into the benchmark.  Oh well.  I had plans to go further into the Owlsheads to check out an interesting looking spot a couple miles away but the weather was threatening, and it was windy and cold.  The sense of isolation and remoteness told me it was probably a good idea to head back while it was relatively nice out.

I took a different way back, opting to drop into contact canyon as soon as possible.  I hoped that would be faster than trying to navigate my way back through the maze of granite stones and gullies that I passed through on my way up.  It worked out great and shaved almost an hour from the ascent time.

On the way out I spotted this old trail to nowhere in the confidence hills contact canyon.  There was some evidence of burro in the canyon, but no tracks on this path at all.  I think it's an old human made trail for some long forgotten purpose.



Not long after I got back to my vehicle it started to rain on me a bit.

[Beardilocks]

Great lighting that day! Amazing photos. The Confidence Hills are vastly underrated.

That trail is really odd. Very deeply cut. Does it go anywhere on satellite?

[DeathValleyDazed]

Brice, for the past five years I've contemplated hiking across the high points of Owlshead from east to west and then back again but with a different parallel track. You're inspiring me to keep my dream alive. That Sun hitting the Confidence below the clouds it fantastic.

[Daymoth]

I need to know where that trail goes!!!

Narnia?

Vulcan?

[Beardilocks]

Into the giants caves no doubt.

[Brice]

I need to know where that trail goes!!!

Narnia?

Vulcan?

By satellite it looks to peter out on the side of the hill here: 35.85534, -116.63562

There doesn't appear to be any old mines or prospects nearby, no springs either. Maybe it was just a viewpoint trail to the top of the hill?

I wanted to check it out but with the weather I was more concerned about getting back to the vehicle dry.

[Beardilocks]

Oh that’s interesting. Possible old tourist site? Might have to take a closer look.

[GowerGulch42]

I was thinking the same thing. Haven't seen anything on any historic maps I looked at, but that doesn't necessarily mean much.

[Beardilocks]

I was thinking the same thing. Haven't seen anything on any historic maps I looked at, but that doesn't necessarily mean much.

I have dozens of old maps but they all highlight just the extremely major stuff.  I’m continually looking out for old tourist guides that could shed some light around.  

I know NPS is currently doing a survey of old attractions in the 190 corridor.  I would love to see their report when completed.  But from my brief conversation with someone on the team, they’re about as much in the dark as we are on almost all of it. I’ve been meaning to put a thread together to see what info we have collectively.

[DAW89446]

I need to know where that trail goes!!!

Narnia?

Vulcan?

Maybe into Dazed's tunnel under the Panamints ...