My final day in Death Valley for 2021.

Began the day at Harmony Borax Works.  Cottonball Basin was beautiful in the morning.



Harmony Borax Hill by John Morrow, on Flickr



Cottonball Basin, Death Valley Natl. Park by John Morrow, on Flickr

I drove to Mile 1.1 on the Chloride Cliff Road where I parked to walk up Peak 5500 in the northern Funderal Mountains.  A dull, loose footing ascent but a nice view up top.  My plan was then to loop down to Keane Springs and further down Monarch Canyon.



Peak 5000 by John Morrow, on Flickr



Dunes and Death Valley Buttes by John Morrow, on Flickr



head of Monarch Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr



Keane Spring by John Morrow, on Flickr

Upper Monarch was fun.  Once beyond the spring I was able to downclimb past the first tier of the two step drop into lower Monarch.  Hopeful that I could complete the canyon via whatever necessary detour, I soon realized that without difficult Class 5 down climbing this was strictly a technical canyon.



deepening Monarch Canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr



mine at canyon by John Morrow, on Flickr



bedrock polished by John Morrow, on Flickr



slot drop (technical) by John Morrow, on Flickr
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[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mU57Yg]
my foot at top of falls by John Morrow, on Flickr



upper tier drop by John Morrow, on Flickr


And that was that.  I made it almost to Winnemuca to crash on a picnic table at Rye patch reservoir for a cold night.

Full photo album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N...0295581307

(2021-12-30, 09:54 AM)John Morrow Wrote: [/url]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2mU57Yg]
my foot at top of falls by John Morrow, on Flickr

John, what an intriguing route and I was not aware of the Keane Spring up in that area. All the images are super but this one with the the afternoon December light on the south west face of the Monarch Canyon Waterfall was gorgeous. This lovely canyon and mine works was one of my first explorations after discovering DEVA a decade ago.

FYI- Here's what Monarch looks like hiking east from Beatty Cut Off in the afternoon. Gets much more interesting after 4:20 and the Desert Snow Cone.

Interesting place, thanks! I see two peaks there that just touch 5K, one NW of Keane Spring and one SE. From your photo and description I'm guessing you were on the one to the NW? If so, did you happen to notice or have a pic of the one to the SE? That seems like a little traveled area that is not particularly hard to access in there. Thanks for the ideas!

(2021-12-30, 06:36 PM)MojaveGeek Wrote: Interesting place, thanks!  I see two peaks there that just touch 5K, one NW of Keane Spring and one SE. From your photo and description I'm guessing you were on the one to the NW?  If so, did you happen to notice or have a pic of the one to the SE?  That seems like a little traveled area that is not particularly hard to access in there.  Thanks for the ideas!

Here's the hike, MG:

Monarch Loop by John Morrow, on Flickr

Thanks! Oops I have to add more words to get this to post. Well happy new year everyone

(2021-12-30, 07:45 PM)John Morrow Wrote: Here's the hike, MG:

That route map is super helpful for me, thanks!