Death Valley 2022/23

[Beardilocks]

The next day was a pre-dawn start for a rather meaty hike that would take most of the day.  And, for once, at a very disclosed location!  I’ll even provide a map.  Lol.  

First, a quick summit of Shoreline Butte for good measure (didn’t take any photos, pretty self explanatory).  Then a drop off the West side of the Butte and a hike across the fan to… an unnamed canyon.  According to our resident map keeper and knowledge guru (Kauri), we have no previous documentation of a hike up this canyon.  We certainly saw no sign of visitation up it at all, neither modern or ancient (no mine prospects or apparent Native American markings).  It was wild and beautiful and extremely varied as you went, with short sections of narrows, boulder jams to scramble, a couple short dryfalls, blue/green/red/purple/orange geology, and best of all: a really smooth decomposed granite surface to walk up!  

We have not chosen an informal name for it yet.  

Northern tip of the Owlsheads between Talc Canyon and Slickensides Canyon.  





Lots of caves big enough for habitation. But we didn’t have the energy or the gear to explore them.  






























At the head of the eastern fork was this violently orange decomposing granite (feldspar) that made a gorgeous grotto. 




Many attempts were made to reach the upper grotto that ended up being too dangerous.  


Until I found a way to squeeze through a boulder jam in a dry fall on the north side. 




Then we bypassed a dry fall to join one of the middle forks of the canyon.  Only to have to bypass another few dryfalls…


Eventually up onto a ridge line and down into another fork to the west. 




Eventually into another section of gorgeous orange decomposing granite. 










We followed this fork back down to the main canyon.  There were several dryfalls to bypass but all easy.  And then a long beautiful walk out.  It’s really a fantastic canyon with a bit of everything.  And a cacophony of color.  And did I mention the easy walking surface?  Haha.  

All in all it was a long day with Shoreline Butte included (around 15.5mi and 2800ft of elevation). I think hiking the canyon & it’s forks alone would be much more manageable.  Maybe around 13-14mi. Still a long day but a very easy walk for most of it with just enough obstacles to keep it fun.