Wildrose Canyon – BOOTS on the TRAIL

Death Valley Remembered (February 2017)

2017-02-102022-01-29Posted in California, Photo Essay, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged Aguereberry Point California, California, Charcoal Kilns, Darwin Falls California, Death Valley National Park, Ghost Rider sculpture, Road Trip, Telescope Peak, Wildrose Canyon

“…the first impression remains a just one. Despite variety, most of the surface of Death Valley is dead … a land of jagged salt pillars, crackling and tortured crusts of mud, sunburnt gravel bars the color of rust, rocks and boulders of metallic blue naked even of lichen.” ~ Edward Abbey

“No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be.” ~ Chuck Thompson

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Death Valley Days 11/15-Mar-2013

2013-03-172022-01-28Posted in California, Hiking, U.S. National Parks & MonumentsTagged California, Corkscrew Peak California, Day Hiking, Death Valley National Park, Eagle Mountain California, Furnace Creek Inn, Hiking, Scotty's Castle, Telescope Peak, The Racetrack, Titus Canyon, Wildrose Canyon, Wildrose Peak

Last week was our (almost) annual pilgrimage to Death Valley National Park in California in search of heat and dryness. March in the Valley can be fickle – cold and rainy has happened in past years – but this year didn’t disappoint. Amongst the usual tourist activities (a tour of Scotty’s Castle, a drive through Titus Canyon, and a long, bone jarring drive to the Racetrack), we got in some actual hiking. All of these hikes are at or above 3,000 feet so temperatures ranged comfortably between 50º and 75º F, usually with a mild wind. But full sun and very low humidity (8%) called for lots of sunscreen and water.

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