The trip to the Canyon Road was uneventful being only a few highway miles from Beatty. Once on the dirt we took off, heading for parts unknown. The first few miles are flat until you get to the hills of the Grapevine Mountains, for nestled inside are canyons and abandoned mines, towns and petroglyphs. The one-way (East to West) part of the road is 24 miles long and all dirt. Although recommended for 4x4 on this trip I saw no need for it. There were some pothole type stuff but nothing a Prius couldn't do.
As we ascended the East side we came upon a slow moving Jeep who must have been taking the 4x4 warning to heart and seemed to be in 1 low with the woman at the wheel. After a bit she pulled over and we went by. Once you get to the top of the pass there is a fantastic view into a large canyon.
Not what I expected at all! Then it winds down hill into the canyon and eventually you get to Leadfield.
Leadfield was a mining town started upon a lie, stocks were sold to investors back East and miners came arunning, the town lasted all of 3 months....After a quick lunch and short look around we headed further down the canyon.
When Linus came to the petroglyphs he found 2 bicyclists checking them out and filtering water at Clare Spring. Abby and Brian were mountain bike touring from Bishop. They had camped in the canyon the night before.
The petroglyphs can barely be seen and there is much "modern" petroglyphs on the rocks. It was hard to tell what was oldest. Soon we set out again.
The expansive canyon almost imperceptively narrows until you are on a very well graded 15-20 foot wide canyon with towering walls ground smooth by years of rushing sludge.
At the entrance where it becomes 2-way Linus and Chris took a short hike while I caught up, next up was Marble Canyon!
We made a stop in Stovepipe Wells to check out the store/gas station (no diesel) and headed West to Marble Canyon. Well, we both missed the turn and decided to head on up the hill, Hwy 190, as it was getting late. After a bit we pulled into the Emigrant campsite along side of the Hwy. No campfires but toilets!
By now we had gotten proficent at setting up camp which included parking the Rovers into the wind and setting a tarp across the front to block the wind. Chris and Linus slept behind this and I in my 88.
Oooooo the stars at night!!! On those clear cold nights we could see Orion rise in the East and wind his way across the sky. I never saw a shooting star but others did. The Pleadies(Subaru) also presented itself nightly. Up long enough and the Big Dipper would appear.
In the morning we headed West again and once over Towne Pass Linus showed us where a plane crashed in 1953 on the side of Towne Pk.
Soon we were at Panamint Springs resort where we decided to look around at the store/fuel station (diesel $5.79gal) From there we went to the restaruant for second breakfast. Allyou can eat buffet for $10.00! Pancakes, eggs, diced potatoes, bacon, sausage, orange juice, coffee. It sure beat the morning oatmeal!
Back on 190 we made the short run to the turnoff for Darwin Falls. The Road to Darwin is dirt washboard almost 2.5 miles long. From there it is a mile or so hike down the wash to the falls.
After a short bit on the trail I knew that I must take it easy on my hiking for the rest of the trip as the inflamation was making my foot go numb again. When the numbness goes away it is very painful. We made it down and back with Chris finding old stone walls and bits of glass(?).
Once again we were on 190 Westbound and after climbing the Darwin Plateau soon decended the other side where we turned right onto the Saline Valley Rd.
We'd been on this road last year and headed out quickly. Up and thru Lee Flat and past the Boxcar Cabin, climbing up to South Pass where there was still snow on the ground.
South Pass is at the top of Grapevine Canyon the gateway to Saline Valley it is 5997ft in elevation with a great view of Panamint Valley. It is the junction of the Inyo Mtns(West) and the Cottonwood Mountains of the Panamint Range to the East. And down the Grapevine we went passed more snow and trees felled by wind or slides. At the water crossing the ice was thick about 1/2-3/4 inch! The road is in need or some help but we just kept on going, out on the alluvial fan last years rain hd done some damage eroding sections to bare rock, a hint of what was to come.
Once past the turn to Lippencot grade the road levels out as it hits the valley floor. To me it didn't look like the road of last year, gone was the high speed run to the turn off for the springs. Now the road was covered in broad sections with silt from rain in the Inyos. In some areas new washouts and deep silt causing me to stop due to the dust cloud behind Da Snork, No way could I see where to drive should I have attempted it, the silt was at least 3 in thick. Yeah there was still some washboard but get too confident and a washout would surprise ya!
We did get to the Saline Springs by 1530 that day and picked a camp and set up same.
After dinner and dark we gravitated to the spring. To my surprise Chris was the only one there. Soon we were joined by Linus and after a bit Chris left and then later 2 fellow campers joined us. They were going to hike to Beverage is a couple of days and remembered the Rovers from 2009.
Getting out that night from the spring I tore some of the skin off the bottom of my toe, bloody water on the ground as I tried to dress myself in the cold. Back at camp I cleaned and dressed my wound, It wasn't as bad as I first thought. It was also in the numb area of my foot so it didn't hurt.
I just had to be careful of infection. Now a week+ later it is fine and well healed.
The next morning broke to a chilly 28F in Ignotus. Linus and Chris had decided to pack it in and get a jump on the trip home as it is a much longer driv from the spring than from say Boxcar Cabin, there destination for tonight Christmas Eve. So they left around noon and I awaited Brett's arrival by rebandageing my toe and taking in the view while watching the burro parade. Hint; Burros don't like green vegis, they'd rather eat your paper or maps!
So there I was alone(with fellow campers) no four-wheel drive and a toe keeping me from hiking and going in the springs,,Oi Vey!
But I had food and water and a book! Then Brett showed up around 1600, just as a burro was checking out my unstarted campfire, I think he wanted to eat the paper...
This last pic is one of my favorites from Trona Pinnacles.
No comments:
Post a Comment