Death Valley

We are just going to quickly fit in this weekend before it gets too warm.

I have some questions on time planing, this is what Im thinking:

Saturday morning arrive to DV - will only have like half a day, thinking of checking out the artist palette canyons. 

Sunday - we have a full day, thinking of exploring lower moonlight, it seems like there is loads to explore there and can dedicate the whole day.

Monday - full day and cooler temps, this will be corkscrew and/or attempt #2 on Borax BM. 

Tuesday we have to leave by noon so need some short ideas. I keep reading mentions about The Crack but there are no photos because it was in the old forum.  Is it a canyon? Is it something we can explore in a couple hours? 

Any other short 1-2h adventures that I can keep in my sleeve for when we are defeated by dryfalls and have some hours of daylight?  Something like Mummy would be ideal.
Maybe mormon point canyon? Or long pebble? I feel long pebble might need about 3-4h


We have a 2WD sedan ( sadly).

Thoughts?

The Crack is a nice small narrow canyon in fanglomerate. The walls are no more than 20-30 ft high IIRC. It is a nice short walk in a relatively convenient area. I enjoyed it as the leg stretcher on a day which was half travel.

If you can hike Corkscrew and Borax BM both in a day, you are strong hikers! Corkscrew really is a must if you spend much time there, because the peak is so distinctive and you see it from all over the place, nice to know you've been up there and gotten the view back down.

(2022-02-17, 07:25 AM)MojaveGeek Wrote: [ -> ]The Crack is a nice small narrow canyon in fanglomerate.  The walls are no more than 20-30 ft high IIRC.  It is a nice short walk in a relatively convenient area.  I enjoyed it as the leg stretcher on a day which was half travel.

If you can  hike Corkscrew and Borax BM both in a day, you are strong hikers!  Corkscrew really is a must if you spend much time there, because the peak is so distinctive and you see it from all over the place, nice to know you've been up there and gotten the view back down.

I mean the canyon not the peak, the peak is for another time. And not strong hikers, more like shitty scramblers that have to turn around so need allways backup options . Dont plan to do both. 

Had to google fanglomerate, just learned something new, cool!!!

Yay this is happening. Packing today after work.

Ah... that Corkscrew. Well you can go up the canyon and then follow a route up to the ridge; there are several descriptions online, but I've not done it. Last time I was on Borax I wanted to go down that way but was outvoted.

To go to Borax you park where the 20 Mule Team canyon road comes out. Or you can go on the road and park where you can find space at the far eastern point of the road, where it makes a long turn to the left. The drainage there is where the overflow from Corkscrew area sometimes floods into 20 Mule Team, and at least the last couple of times I was there, could be walked.

Note that if you try to come in from pavement straight up the Corkscrew road, you have to violate a No Trespassing sign at the gate. But if you follow the wash, though it is longer (but more scenic) you don't encounter such. Well at least I didn't but that was some years ago.

Of the two, I'd go up to Borax. And if time, go over to check out the Corkscrew ore bin.