Gary-Summer: November 15, 2021 -Death Valley: Desolation Canyon, Zabristkie Point and Dante Point

Monday, November 15, 2021

November 15, 2021 -Death Valley: Desolation Canyon, Zabristkie Point and Dante Point

Car Route

Title: November 15, 2021 -Death Valley: Desolation Canyon, Zabristkie Point and Dante Point
Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo'

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail head: Desolation Canyon
Trail: Desolation Canyon
Destination: End of Trail
Actual Destination: 8’ dry waterfall about a mile in

Distance: 2.01 miles
Start Time: 9:36
End Time:   11:44
Travel Time:  2:08 (0.94 mph)
Moving Time:  1:01 (1.98 mph)
Elevation Rise: 285'
Descent: 315‘
Maximum Elevation: 289'

GPS Tracks

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking
Trail head: Dante Peak
Trail: Dante Peak/ Mount Perry Peak
Destination: Dante Peak
Actual Destination: an overlook
Distance: 0.49 miles
Start Time: 3:02
End Time:  3:45
Travel Time:  0:43 (0.69 mph)
Moving Time:  0:25 (1.18 mph)
Elevation Rise: 240'
Descent: 138‘
Maximum Elevation: 5,593'
GPS Tracks

Car Mileage: 90 miles

Description:

It was a good night sleep with the skies lightning up for us around 6:30. Both of us got up shortly after that. But we were not moving with purpose. It is around 8 when we start eating our french toast and bacon. We left camp after 9 for Desolation Canyon.

Gary at the start of Desolation Canyon

We first see the full parking lot for Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch. Glad we have decided to go up Desolation Canyon-only a couple of cars parked there. Once we get to the parking lot, we remember we have done this trail before. But that is OK-as Sherri said, she is delighted just to do what we have done before.

The trail goes right up the canyon. The sides of it shows an assortment of color, not as vibrant as some places, still nothing drab about this walk. The UP portion of the initial statement is right. The trail goes against the water flow which created the canyon. Not an extreme ascent, but enough to let you know we are going uphill. The first half a mile is in the sun. For being 70 degrees, it is obnoxious. Sherri stops to put on sunscreen. But when we come to a major divide, we enter into shadows. My spirit is revived and my step becomes more lively. More sand is deposited from the tops of the canyon. It is fascinating just looking at these cones of sand.

Canyon path

And then we round a bend and see a couple seated. And then we realize why they are seated. There is an 8’ dry water fall. Plenty of footholds to go up. Not sure if I could get down without breaking something. And then, according to the book^*, there is another waterfall to climb. Neither Sherri or I are enthusiastic about the prospects of this. So we sit on the other side of the canyon and talk with the other couple. A few minutes later another couple comes by. The lady scampers right up the waterfall. The man waits a minutes and follows her. They do not come back.

A few minutes later another couple, we find out from Wisconsin. They look at the wall and the guy goes up it, only to return about five minutes later. He sort of figures out his way down, jumping the last several feet. They leave, so the other couple is left with us.

Sherri in the Canyon

We talk about several things-where we are from-they are from Eugene, Oregon. Their next place to go is to Joshua Tree and then to San Francisco. As they are about to leave I notice he has a backpacking backpack with him They have done the JMT in sections. We exchange notes about our experience. Their trail names are Fungi and Fragile Forder (in real life it is Jeff and Janice). Glad to have meet them. We realize that Janice was the one who yesterday warned us about the party campsite.

After they leave, we also go on down. There is a side canyon we go up-only a hundred or two yards until we come to a truly impassable dry waterfall, about 25-30’ up. We turn back and make good time back to the parking lot. Shortly afterwards the couple who went up the wall returned and said the view was great up there.

Gary and Sherri at Artist Pallette

Sherri had been reading about a trail in the book^* called Artist Dips. It is a route on Artist Drive between two dips in the road. We go drive the road, see the dips. Now to see if we want to actually walk it. There is two dry falls on the route. One 5’, the other 7’. At least we would not need to climb down the walls. See our November 18^th hike.

Afternoon meditation

We feel it is getting a bit warm, so we head up to Zabriskie Point, which is a couple thousand feet above the Valley floor. Before we go to the point, we find a spot in the shade and have lunch. Sherri goes into her meditation mode-I thought she might have fallen asleep. So we rest for a lot longer than our five minute allocation. Afterwards, we go up to the Point, a short, but steep paved trail. We take a look around. I take note of Manly Beacon-I am reading Manly’s autobiography. We talked about doing the Badlands Loop from here, but decide not today.

Badwater from Dantes View

But there is still time for an adventure. Up the road is the 20 Mule Team loop-driving. We take that and are duly impressed The route is only a mile or two on a dirt road. I think the idea is give the tourist an example of the type of terrain these teams had to drive. It is an enchanting area.

We continue our drive to Dante’s Peak area-you cannot drive to the peak. The area is 5,300+’ above sea level, right above Badwater which is 200+’ below sea level. Quite a contrast. The view is awesome. Clouds stretch out as far as we can see. But the view down and across the Valley can leave ne with a case of vertigo, if you are not careful. Looking beyond the ranges around the Valley, it looks like I can see Mt Whitney. A Wow! moment as you can see the lowest and highest points in the continental United States from here. (In looking at PeakFinder, I am wondering if what we are seeing is Mt Williamson. Still a pretty close relative to Mt Whitney. I suspect a bit up we would see Whitney.)

At Dantes View

The book^* says that it is an easy one mile walk to the peak. There is plenty of light, so we decide to do it. While I do agree that the rise is not bad, the trail itself is cut above a drop off. When we come to a split in the path, we go to a point which overlooks the Valley. The rest of the trail looks a bit precarious. Even the trail to this point is not without its nervous points. We decide this is good enough for us, so we turn back.

A couple is trying to determine if they want to go to the point. The woman is a bit nervous about it. I give some “sage wisdom” about how to tackle it. When we look back, they are standing where we were on the point. By the time we get back to the parking lot, they are also there. We high five their accomplishment. They ask what else, but they are going on to Las Vegas tonight. So there is not much else. We share the wonders of the parks in the west. Then it is time to head back to camp.

While up at the Dante Peak area, we noted the sky growing dark, not only because of the sunset, but because clouds were gathering. It looked like up north might be getting some rain. So we stop in at the Visitor Center. They say no chance of rain and only clouds. Sounds good. Not going to put a fly on the tent then. We also stop at the market and get some ice and syrup. Then back to camp.

Sherri fixes dinner-soup and a hot cheese sandwich. Tastes good and is satisfying. At 7pm, we phone in to Zoom for our House Church, We only stay as long to hear the prayer requests and then leave before Bible Study. It is dark here. Shortly afterwards, we get prepared for bed. Lights are off by 9pm.

Background

William Lewis Manly-Death Valley in '49, This is a journal well worth the readng, not for the literary value, but to see the dangers of the time to get to the California gold fields.

Best Easy Day Hikes Death Valley National Park. We went on two hikes listed in this book on this day:

Desolation Canyon. The book has as a moderate hike. This is if you go up and over the two dry waterfalls. We just went to the base of the first waterfall. For this it is an easy hike. The description of the hike seems pretty good.
Dante’s View and Point. The book has this as an easy(???) one mile hike to Dante's View and Peak. Elevation rise of 229'. While the trail itself is easy, it is a use trail on the side of a ridge. So the "easy" part is a bit misleading, particularly for those with height concerns.