Death Valley 2022/23

[Beardilocks]

Next up was a drive out to the Owlsheads.  The road up to the military gate is great as always.  But beyond that it was pretty heavily effected by this year’s monsoons.  Lots of crosscuts and fresh washes to create a new path in.  Large sections of the road as you come out of the pass into view of Owlsheads Lake are just gone.  The old road markers are still there (well some are) but it’s just a wash to pick your way through for the most part.  At least until enough traffic comes through again to beat down a path.  Overall very easily passable in HC 4wd and possibly HC 2wd.  A couple of the hills are badly rutted though.  

Anyway.  I met up with another member on here for the hike out to Lost Lake.  At which point he peeled off to bag nearby Owlsheads BM while I explored the lake and surrounds, hoping to find a meteorite or a sailing stone.  

Eyeing my objective from camp.







Pictures really don’t do this place justice.  


Found lots of bullets out there.  This was definitely the largest.  Probably 6”.  Maybe 20mm? Didn’t play with it too long in case it was depleted uranium or armor piercing or something.  😂





I struck out on both sailing stones and meteorites.  I know I walked right past several sailing stones. But due to heavy clouds it was nearly impossible to see the trails.  The lake was also recently wet (obviously in the monsoons) and that dulled the existing trails as well.  I did find some iron ore that was magnetic enough to stick to my patented “magnet duct taped to a hiking pole”.  Oh, I also found 8 or 9 dead tarantulas.  Finding a couple is ok.  Finding that many starts to be a bit unnerving.  




Over 13mi all said between the 4mi hike to the lake, 2mi hike to the other end, and then loads of wandering across the lake bed and shores.  One of my favorite hikes this trip so far.