Death Valley 2022/23

[Beardilocks]

After a night camping in Cottonwood Canyon on the new permit system, we headed out to hit a few canyons that we did virtually but not entirely ZERO research for.  Including not downloading the satellite view.  Because the cell service in the valley is sh*te.   This would in no way be a problem later.  

First stop was to Humperdinck Canyon to find what we thought we remembered as being called Humperdinck Bridge.  And if that name sounds familiar, yes, there is a whole suite of Princess Bride named canyons out here named by the canyoneers.  

The approach.  This section of the Cottonwoods has some terrific granite walls.  I'm wondering if the Princess Bride naming didn't start with The Cliffs of Insanity.


Very quickly we got into some nice narrows.  






At this point we were already in trouble with the virtually but not entirely ZERO research aspect of the trip.  There were at least 4 canyons/dryfalls that all drop into the same wash.  After some poking around we decided that the one we were standing at was indeed NOT Humperdinck.  (Later research shows it to be Buttercup Canyon).


We crossed up a dryfall to a ridge only to be confronted with what might be 2-3 more "canyons".  At least the view was great.


We found ourselves confronted with Dread Pirate Roberts Canyon and Humperdinck.  Although at that time we were completely unaware of this.  Or of which was which.  Very pretty area though.


Further research later showed that the bridge was actually called Dread Pirate Roberts Bridge.  And we were on the wrong side of the mountain.  The bridge is (probably) at the top of the rappel route instead of the bottom.  Or in the middle.  Even with research we likely would have struggled to find it.  



So we moved onto the next target.  A canyon alternately called Pothole Canyon, the imaginative Canyon 7, and/or Miracle Max Canyon.  A 2.5mi circle around the mountain from where we were.  I've always wanted to check out this canyon.  From Lemoigne Rd it looks like a huge cauldron, a wide wash with steep cliff walls that just... ends.  It looks fascinating on the top as well.  The approach is a oddly dull.



Just about the time you start to think that you've hit a wildly uninspiring dead end at a massive wall, the canyon turns left ever so slightly.  And WOW.




Ropewiki lists the final rappel here (lower fall) at 105ft.  Total rappels don't equal the height of the fall in this case because if the depth of the potholes.  But I'm guessing the whole fall is 250-350ft.  Depending where you measure from.




From my understanding of it, this is the only fall of this kind in the park.  And one of the biggest pothole falls anywhere.  It's stunning.
Looking out of the lower pothole.




We had a vague memory of a trip report where you could scramble up a ridge for a better view into the potholes. But after much pointing at sketchy climbs and making dubious claims of being able to climb them, we decided to just walk out. The only way up to the ridge we could find was a looooong scramble and ridge walk from the mouth of the canyon. Which turns out is the correct way up. See Kauri's site for details and photos of that.