Death Valley 2022/23

[Beardilocks]

Took a drive out to Eureka last week to get away from the heat and to see the dunes this year before I escape to higher elevations permanently.  

I had never camped behind the dunes before and it was gorgeous.

Little long exposure night shot fun.


Next morning I took a hike to the 2nd or 3rd major canyon north of Dedekera, depending on what you think counts as "major".  I had seen some odd anomalies on satellite and thought I'd investigate.

Started out just as the sun hit me as it was going to hit 95 at the dunes later that day.  Damn near stepped on TWO of these guys, less than 5min apart.  Maybe 6" from striking distance when I saw/heard him.  Their camo really works!  Both were juveniles, maybe 1.25" in diameter.  Definitely woke me up and almost sent me back for new shorts.  


Beautiful little canyon.


Interestingly I was scouting for a set of 3 objects I could see together on satellite.  As I came up the wash I found 2 and then 3 old smashed water tanks.


I had been suspecting water tanks but I had no idea why the hell they would be out HERE.  But that's exactly what I found.


Looks way too professional for an illegal grow operation (plus there's no where to... grow anything).  They would have had to chopper the tanks in, I can't see how the hell you'd get a truck up this little canyon.  


It had a very very tiny auto-drinker attached to it but that seems ludicrous for the 3 large tanks.  I could see zero evidence of mines anywhere in the grotto here.  No clue what it could have been for.


Very pretty walk out.  


Just as I exited the canyon I was buzzed by a jet zipping around the dunes, just over the ridge, and down Steele Pass.  As I got back to my truck a second one screamed through.