March trip

[DAW89446]

I have a hunch that the pipeline section fell off the flatbed trucks that were used during dismantling and the boys decided to leave it behind.

I thought it a cool find, as I've seen only one other pipe section in place out there, and in a rather improbable location (right next to a road which was not closed due to wilderness until the desert protection act).

I know which one you are talking about. I have been to it years ago.

[MojaveGeek]

Another day, another hike.  We try to balance the long drive days with the short drive days, so went for a long one on this day, up the Racetrack Valley road a few miles beyond Ubehebe Crater to one of the "Ubehebe Color" canyons.   There are a number of documented explored routes in there. This one came straight from Kauri.   I'm glad there are more because it will be worth going back!





There is a lot of soft rock in the area and much of it has various colors and strange shapes.  We got up to a pass at the head of the canyon and dropped over the other side for a ways to look around.







Going back out the canyon, you get some grand views up north beyond the Big Pine Road.



On the way out, we noticed that someone had built a five foot long arrow out of white rocks on the hillside to point into the proper canyon.   Unfortunately we were tired and a bit too far away to bother to go back to eradicate this, the only sign of humans we  had seen since leaving the road.  If this is what happens when you publish places, I'm bummed.

OK, next day.  A while ago John Morrow posted some nice pix of a peak just NE of Keane Spring.   We went to the next peak south on that ridge, i.e., SE of Keane Spring.  The walking was great and the views grand pretty much the whole way.   Favorite hike of the trip for some of us.   We stayed above the spring as it looked pretty overgrown, and started by following the old road which brought water down from the spring to a tank.  Good views in all directions.





Afterwards we drove down the Monarch Canyon spur to where it meets a big drop off, and hiked half a mile or so down to the old stamp mill down there.   It appears to have been a two stamp mill, but only one is still in place.   

[DeathValleyDazed]

Loving your reports and photos of out of the way places.

[MojaveGeek]

Last episode.

We went to a peak to the east of the Greenwater Valley Rd, pretty much opposite Funeral Pk  No name, nice views, got the idea from a Bob Burd writeup.  A bit of a slog from the road across flat or slightly rolling creosote bush area with many remnants of mining activity, but none particularly exciting and a couple of might-have-once-been roads.  Nice footing going up the ridge.



Right at the top it gets steep and rocky, had to slab a bit toward the east and circle around to the summit, which had plenty of room for lazing about and taking in the expansive views.





Nice view of the wide Greenwater Valley and Funeral Peak opposite.



Our next day was the exit day.   It was hazy now in the valley and getting really hot.  So we drove up to Dante's for the view, then scooted up Coffin Peak.  On the way we stopped at the Furnace visitor center to see what the natural history association store had to offer, but it was nearly bare.  The bookshelves are pretty much gone, replaced by the old 3D model map that was the centerpiece of the former visitor center museum area.    No books?  For shame.  I hope somehow it is temporary.



Upper Coffin Canyon looks pretty cool, but I bet you can't get in there from near Badwater due to dryfalls?



And with that, this trip was over.   Hope it's still there next year!

[Kauri]

On the way we stopped at the Furnace visitor center to see what the natural history association store had to offer, but it was nearly bare.  The bookshelves are pretty much gone, replaced by the old 3D model map that was the centerpiece of the former visitor center museum area. 

Wait, am I reading this right? That incredible old 3D model map is still in existence?! I remember talking with Charlie Callagan about it after the visitors center remodel, and I think he said only a small piece was left but they didn't have space to store it and were contemplating disposing of it, but I admittedly could be remembering entirely incorrectly. That map was incredible. I think one of the rangers said it was made by someone who had never been to DV and made it entirely off of TOPO maps, so it's very accurate. I'd love to see it back available for viewing in the visitors center.

[Daymoth]

Yay trip reports!!!

That mining cabin looks in a better condition than my kitchen.

Stripped Butte looks awesomely gorgeous. I want to do it sometime. The jeep jam doesnt sound great tho.

Ubehebe color canyons are going directly on to next winters to do list. Wow! Ill ask you more about it when its DV planning season.

Even with the haze the views from Coffin look amazing.

Glad you had fun!!

[DeathValleyDazed]

Wait, am I reading this right? That incredible old 3D model map is still in existence?! 

I remember the temporary VC right on Hwy 190 just east of The Corkscrew installed while the new VC was under construction. The 3D model map was there and I studied it carefully. I was relieved that it was transferred to the new VC and I still enjoy studying it nearly every trip I make to DEVA. It appears quite accurate to me when I compare my hikes to the terrain of the 3D model. It has the push buttons where a red light shines on the common tourist points of interest. This provides a valuable scale orientation to the park for visitors who are trying to figure out where they are and where they are going and where they have been. 

I also love the short NPS movie "Seeing Death Valley" that plays on the half hour in the theater. I bet i've seen it over ten times. A good place to cool off during summer visits.

[MojaveGeek]

Wait, am I reading this right? That incredible old 3D model map is still in existence?!

YES! Shocked me I must say because I'd heard they were trying to figure out a graceful way to get rid of it. You know, I didn't look really carefully, but I think it was the complete model (of the old national monument) and people were definitely pressing the lights.

I used to study that model every time I hit the VC, and talk about it with my daughter who had been to many of the places with me but didn't really have the scope and scale of the place in her head. It seemed very popular when we were there!

[MojaveGeek]

Even with the haze the views from Coffin look amazing.

Glad you had fun!!

Thanks! I should point out, the view to the north is from Dante's, not Coffin - you can't see north because Dante's Peak is in the way. But you start Coffin from the big turn with the trailer parking pull out and vault toilet, so easy to first drive up to Dante's and soak in the view. I was wondering why that vault toilet wasn't up at the main parking area, but then decided it was probably because the pump truck might not be able to get up that hill - or you could imagine the contents sloshing around and spilling out on the hill down after a pump out -- eek!

The strange thing was, that toilet was locked. People would stop, try the door, shout "anyone in there?" after a while...

[John Morrow]

How did I miss this TR?!   So glad I noticed it.  Thanks for some great ideas, MG.  That northern tip of the Cottonwoods south of the craters looks so inviting!  I simply can't envision the skidoo pipeline route from Birch.  The Birch at the head of Jail Canyon?  I'd like to visit that long remaining segment in you photo. So many ridges to climb and maintain gravity assist.  I'll have to research it a bit.

John