Death Valley 2022/23

[Beardilocks]

I did actually hike the side canyon in & then hike the main canyon on the way out.  I saw the signature but assumed it was more modern. Jean must chosen a well protected spot that doesn’t weather.  More recent sigs in those narrows are more weathered.  Who knows.  

[MojaveGeek]

Nice, thanks for posting that pic! The sig caught my attention but I have no expertise to evaluate authenticity.

[Beardilocks]

It’s especially interesting because the “A” seems to be repaired. As if someone changed an E to an A. I believe his birth name was Lamoignon. Later changed to Lemoigne. So the spelling in the carving is interesting either way.

[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.

[TacoLand]

Are you going to make the hike out to the epsom salt mines / crystal hills? Did that one years ago and would like to revisit.

[DVexile]

Lost Lake is a neat hike. I stayed out on the lake for sunset and then hiked back in the dark when I did it. Not worth staying for sunset on your cloudy day though!

[Beardilocks]

Are you going to make the hike out to the epsom salt mines / crystal hills? Did that one years ago and would like to revisit.

It was fully my intention to hike to the monorail.  But I got my first blister in 20yrs for some strange reason and with this last storm approaching (hike to LL was on the 30th) and threatening .5-.75” of rain in Baker, I decided to head out while I could.  

Definitely not my last trek out to the Owlsheads though.  I would love to through hike from that monorail/Crystal Hills out to West Side Rd via Wingate Wash someday.  Or across LL and out through that pass.

[Daymoth]

I allways find dead tarantulas this time of year. I believe the males come out wandering during mating season and then die.

How do you tell if you find a meteorite? Im intrigued.

We had quite bad weather this desert trip. Got blasted by rain two nights ago in tecopa and yesterday again so decided to drive back early and skip DV on our way home.

[DeathValleyDazed]

We had quite bad weather this desert trip. Got blasted by rain two nights ago in tecopa and yesterday again so decided to drive back early and skip DV on our way home.

With that major storm over CA passing east I was wondering how it effected DEVA. Too bad you had to bypass.

[Beardilocks]

It definitely rained a bit in southern DV.  And I see that the Panamints are pretty frosted on top now.  

This was the Armagosa crossing on Saratoga Spring Rd today, about 8” deep, more than I was expecting.  Rain was mostly the night before last.  Armagosa crossing on Harry Wade was completely dry.