Telephone, Wildrose, and Hellfire Canyon

[Bluegreen kayak]

My thanks to everyone for their advice and encouragement for my trip last fall. The road to Telephone Canyon was an easy drive in my son's Sante Fe, and I probably could have done it with the Grand Caravan. Couldn't do worse than this car we passed on the way in.
[img]Telephone car

OTOH we only went as far as the sign that marks the split between two forks. We hiked to the arch, a beautiful sight.
[img]Telephone Cyn sign

[img]Telephone Arch

[img]Arrastre in Telephone

[img]Telephone mining 1

[img]Telephone mining 2
We easily found the old arrastre on the right, along with other mining relics. We headed further up (the arch and the arrastre aren't very far to go) looking for a possible slot canyon half a mile or so past the arch. We weren't sure which side to look for it, so we tried four places left and right, but we think we missed it. Didn't matter, as the side canyons we explored were delightful in their own ways. The first on the right opened up after a turn or two, and we immediately froze, as we heard about eight or so quail making their way through the brush. I didn't get any good pictures but they were cute, all those little black crown feathers bobbing up the hillside.
[img]Find the quail

 We climbed all the way to the top of the ridge and looked across at the Cottonwoods; I saw a truck drive up to Lemoigne Canyon I think; was it any of you? 

The second side canyon, again on the right, was a tighter and steeper climb; a nice challenge and scramble and then we decided to return to the main canyon.
[img]Telephone side cyn

The third one, on the left now, was wider and more open; it forked and we went up both trails. My son climbed up to the ridge for a look around while I rested. The fourth and last side canyon for us, back on the right again, was another steep rocky scramble with three branches to it. The dryfall on the rightmost was beautifully colored; if you want intel on the other choices, you'll have to ask my son the mountain goat.
[img]Telephone side cyn dryfall

[img]Telephone bird nest

[img]Telephone rock lines

I'm having technical problems trying to post this trip report so here's the first part and I hope to add the other destinations as replies.

[netllama]

I love that rock in the last image !

[MojaveGeek]

IIRC, that wreck is down low and has a nice view out over the valley. I seem to recall camping there, not legal now, some decades ago, and enjoying the sunset shadows creeping across the valley floor.

[DAW89446]

I seem to recall camping there, not legal now, some decades ago, and enjoying the sunset shadows creeping across the valley floor.

That was the case with most places we used to camp, eh MG?   Those were the days. Either because it was legal, inadequate patrols or outside the then national monument.

[Bluegreen kayak]

One more picture from Telephone Canyon, this one taken from the ridge on the first side canyon, looking to the east. The multiple orange diagonal lines caught my attention; curious looking, eh?

[img]Telephone ridge view

[DeathValleyDazed]

I attempted to call you during your trip into the canyon but for some odd reason the line was busy so I assumed that the burros, flash floods, low flying military aircraft, or social media cancel cults had conspired to take down the telephone line. /s

[MojaveGeek]

I attempted to call you during your trip into the canyon but for some odd reason the line was busy so I assumed that the burros, flash floods, low flying military aircraft, or social media cancel cults had conspired to take down the telephone line. /s

I've seen the wires down as well as some poles near Black Point, so not surprised you could not get through

Looks like it's getting hot in the Valley now.