Trail Canyon and DV Highlights

[jkpaulsen]

That spring looks nasty though. Glad to hear you all survived drinking it.

There was a fair bit of discussion about it. Our resident expert assured us he had come across worse on the AT, so we went with it. We were not sad, though, to dump that water once we got out of the backcountry.

[TacoLand]

Oh geez, that spring! Thanks for bringing back some memories of Trail Canyon and showing off photos of the higher up areas I wasn't able to visit due to a bad foot. I'm a wimp and 4x4’d the whole way from West Side Road up to the Morning Glory Camp for one night. Sad to report I've drank from much worse water than that spring while backpacking in Patagonia.

[ski3pin]

Nicely done trip report, thank you. Trail Canyon is very familiar terrain and a nice area to explore.

[DeathValleyDazed]

Thoroughly enjoyed your extensive trip report to an area in DEVA I've never explored, yet. The blue quartz was gorgeous. The image of the cactus had me seeing (for a moment) a rattlesnake head and body just below the stump of the cactus. I appreciate the link to the goofy old movie Zabriskie Point, filmed in 1968 on location for which the movie is named and also in the Panamint Valley. Those alluvial fans are steeper than they appear and always take the juice out of my legs.

Sam Shephard actually helped write the screen play and Harrison Ford had a short stint as a rebellious college student. The two stars of the show rolling around in the dust and dirt below the over look were ridiculous. lol. Here are five screen shots capturing the landscape provided free of charge to spare you wasting the time of watching the corny movie.
http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...1968-5.png
http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...1968-4.png
http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...1968-2.png
http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...1968-1.png
http://salamandersociety.com/deathvalley...1968-3.png

Here's a link to the vinyl record and cover. Not sure if the mud crack scene was inside DEVA?
https://www.discogs.com/release/1245759-...skie-Point

[jkpaulsen]

Thanks for the kind words, all! I hope to have the opportunity to post again before too long.

The movie is definitely arty and angsty. Who knew that the way to get a girl was to divebomb her in a stolen plane while on the run from the law? Or that there were (satanic???) dance-orgies at Zabriskie Point when no one is looking? Or that you can blow up a house 16 times in a row by levelling a death-stare at it?

The soundtrack was good, though. The album is on Spotify but, sadly, most of the tracks are not playable.

[Daymoth]

Well guess now Ill have to watch it...

[John Morrow]

Thank You so much for the pics and detailed report.  Trail Canyon has been on the list for quite some time and your inspiration may require me to jump it up to the top of the DV to-do list.