My extended DV stay

[Brice]

I'm stuck in the Pahrump library today while my vehicle is being worked on so I thought I'd post some stuff from last week.  Don't expect the same frequency or informational depth as the Beardilocks thread.  I don't usually take photos but I'll try to share some stuff from time to time.

I'm currently on a quest to climb every mountain in Death Valley, and mixing in a healthy amount of random canyon exploration for variety.  I'm up to around 60 at this point but I've been told of a list the NPS keeps of ~200 summits which I am eager to get my hands on.

Last week I went up Echo canyon and knocked out Schwaub, Winters, Rockfall, and Nevares.  I took a few photos along the way of stuff I found interesting.

I drove to the end of Echo canyon road, past the Inyo mine and started my hike from there.  The summit block on Schwaub had a really nice pattern and color.



Winters peak was quick and pretty boring so I went to Rockfall that same day.  I didn't have any beta on the climb so I just picked a good looking route from the topo and went for it.  There were some really neat rock formations on the ridge climb up, including a few small arches.



Once I got up to the ridge I could see the rest of my path.  Rockfall is the peak on the right.



Working my way around the upper rock fin on the left, I ran into the densest cactus field I've ever seen in Death Valley.  The terrain was otherwise very easy but had to take my time working through the cactus.



I actually ended up having a loose cactus needle pierce my left shoe and go into my foot on the return trip.  Then after stopping to pull it out with pliers, not ten steps later the same thing happened to my right foot.  Sheesh!

There was a larger arch nearing the summit of Rockfall.  I guess not surprising they're numerous in the area considering the nice arch in the canyon floor.



On the next day I went up Nevares Peak.  I thought this shooting gallery on the way was interesting.  Is it used for firearms practice?  The flagpole on the far left has an ammo box at the base with a plain red flag in it.  Maybe they hoist it up when the gallery is being used?  No idea.  I traced my path up Nevares in the background.  It was a fun climb on weathered limestone slabs, and so while very steep, very manageable since shoes stick to it like glue.



That's all for now!