I've been seeing "The Orange Spot" of the Saline Range when I drive out of Saline Valley—and wanting to hike down there one day. Roughly 13 miles round-trip hiking today.

It's a beautiful clear morning here in lower Lead Canyon

It's a beautiful clear morning here in lower Lead Canyon

I see a few indigo bushes flowering

I see a few indigo bushes flowering

And I catch a few desert chicory flowers near my campsite

And I catch a few desert chicory flowers near my campsite

I look more closely and see some cryptantha flowers near my campsite

I look more closely and see some cryptantha flowers near my campsite

This old can points to the road rising up into the mountains

This old can points to the road rising up into the mountains

I look down into Saline Valley as I cross Waucoba Saline Road

I look down into Saline Valley as I cross Waucoba Saline Road

Indigo bushes flower in the washed-out old alignment of Waucoba Saline Road

Indigo bushes flower in the washed-out old alignment of Waucoba Saline Road

I almost missed this mushroom at my feet!

I almost missed this mushroom at my feet!

A hummingbird flits about in some indigo bush flowers

A hummingbird flits about in some indigo bush flowers

I look back and see a distant vehicle up near Lead Canyon

I look back and see a distant vehicle up near Lead Canyon

Another indigo bush on the way down Lead Canyon into the Saline Range foothills

Another indigo bush on the way down Lead Canyon into the Saline Range foothills

A tiny cottontop cactus sprouts at my feet

A tiny cottontop cactus sprouts at my feet

Steep eroded canyon walls

Steep eroded canyon walls

A cottontop cactus stays afloat in lower Lead Canyon's sea of rocks

A cottontop cactus stays afloat in lower Lead Canyon's sea of rocks

A blooming beavertail cactus welcomes me to Waucoba Wash

A blooming beavertail cactus welcomes me to Waucoba Wash

No trees grow nearby, yet an old log rests on the shelf here

No trees grow nearby, yet an old log rests on the shelf here

Sandbars

Sandbars

Here's another log washed down into Waucoba Wash from the Inyo Mountains

Here's another log washed down into Waucoba Wash from the Inyo Mountains

Fun rock contrasts in Waucoba Wash

Fun rock contrasts in Waucoba Wash

I marvel at the pools of dried-up water

I marvel at the pools of dried-up water

This boulder made it here

This boulder made it here

I've arrived at the Waucoba Wash narrows

I've arrived at the Waucoba Wash narrows

I catch a few phacelia and broad-leaved gilia in the rocks

I catch a few phacelia and broad-leaved gilia in the rocks

A puffy yellow-flowered bush that I've seen before

A puffy yellow-flowered bush that I've seen before

I enter the Waucoba Wash narrows

I enter the Waucoba Wash narrows

I see some orange dodder, and a little rock bench

I see some orange dodder, and a little rock bench

I walk over to that rock bench

I walk over to that rock bench

Subtle patterns on the rocks above my head

Subtle patterns on the rocks above my head

Another beavertail cactus and more twig debris from the Inyo Mountains above

Another beavertail cactus and more twig debris from the Inyo Mountains above

This beavertail cactus is hiding in a creosote bush

This beavertail cactus is hiding in a creosote bush

Another big log washed down from the Inyo Mountains

Another big log washed down from the Inyo Mountains

I'm fascinated by these occasional beavertail cacti

I'm fascinated by these occasional beavertail cacti

Yet another log washed down into the desert from the Inyo Mountains above

Yet another log washed down into the desert from the Inyo Mountains above

I pass a patch of desert marigold flowers

I pass a patch of desert marigold flowers

The walls of Waucoba Wash are built in layers

The walls of Waucoba Wash are built in layers

I walk on, and am suddenly facing the Saline Range's "Orange Spot"

I walk on, and am suddenly facing the Saline Range's "Orange Spot"

I decide to hike the perimeter of Orange Spot Valley

I decide to hike the perimeter of Orange Spot Valley

Here's a nice flat of desert pavement to hike across

Here's a nice flat of desert pavement to hike across

Rocks roll down from the adjacent hills, of course

Rocks roll down from the adjacent hills, of course

A creosote bush blooms against a snow-capped Inyo Mountains backdrop

A creosote bush blooms against a snow-capped Inyo Mountains backdrop

I walk on up Orange Spot Valley

I walk on up Orange Spot Valley

I spy crypantha flowers and desert snapdragon growing in the rocks

I spy crypantha flowers and desert snapdragon growing in the rocks

Maybe I could climb up this hillside? Not yet

Maybe I could climb up this hillside? Not yet

Here's another pink broad-leaved gilia

Here's another pink broad-leaved gilia

I think those green, grassy patches on the hillside are more crypantha plants

I think those green, grassy patches on the hillside are more crypantha plants

Cryptantha flowers can be so small

Cryptantha flowers can be so small

I'm following this drainage for smoother hiking

I'm following this drainage for smoother hiking

I stop for a look back at the Orange Spot

I stop for a look back at the Orange Spot

The drainage I'm hiking is becoming more rocky

The drainage I'm hiking is becoming more rocky

Here's a nicely cemented bypass around the rocky area

Here's a nicely cemented bypass around the rocky area

Infinite black and olive green

Infinite black and olive green

This pink beavertail cactus shocks the earth-tone landscape

This pink beavertail cactus shocks the earth-tone landscape

Gravel swirls, with the orange spot off in the distance

Gravel swirls, with the orange spot off in the distance

I follow the flat sandy drainage toward the Saline Range

I follow the flat sandy drainage toward the Saline Range

My feet are starting to have a few more rocks to contend with

My feet are starting to have a few more rocks to contend with

A desert snapdragon grows in front of a creosote bush

A desert snapdragon grows in front of a creosote bush

Follow the sand and gravel wherever possible

Follow the sand and gravel wherever possible

I don't know why I like hiking over small rocks so much

I don't know why I like hiking over small rocks so much

I look across a low rock wall toward Saline Valley and the Inyo Mountains

I look across a low rock wall toward Saline Valley and the Inyo Mountains

I could use this drainage here as a way to climb up the hill...

I could use this drainage here as a way to climb up the hill...

Here's a rock field for me to cross

Here's a rock field for me to cross

I could easily not notice these phacelia and desert snapdragon flowers

I could easily not notice these phacelia and desert snapdragon flowers

I walk around this rock wall formed by flash floods

I walk around this rock wall formed by flash floods

Yes, this looks like a good hill to climb up

Yes, this looks like a good hill to climb up

I'd also like to hike further up the canyon down there

I'd also like to hike further up the canyon down there

It's extremely windy up here; I'll pause to enjoy that before turning back

It's extremely windy up here; I'll pause to enjoy that before turning back

I start my way down the other side of Orange Spot Valley

I start my way down the other side of Orange Spot Valley

These natural rock walls...

These natural rock walls...

A slight downhill

A slight downhill

Another desert snapdragon

Another desert snapdragon

I take a look back up into the Saline Range and see some cloud shadow

I take a look back up into the Saline Range and see some cloud shadow

Clingy orange dodder plants

Clingy orange dodder plants

I begin my approach to the Orange Spot

I begin my approach to the Orange Spot

Purple mat grows here

Purple mat grows here

I'll make footprints in this quiet sand to get to the Orange Spot

I'll make footprints in this quiet sand to get to the Orange Spot

A look across the gravelly expanse of Orange Spot Valley toward the Inyo Mountains

A look across the gravelly expanse of Orange Spot Valley toward the Inyo Mountains

Ants!

Ants!

Here comes the Orange Spot!

Here comes the Orange Spot!

Here's more purple mat blooming between the volcanic rocks

Here's more purple mat blooming between the volcanic rocks

Here's a suncup desert primrose of some sort, I think

Here's a suncup desert primrose of some sort, I think

I see rocks on the hillside just before the Orange Spot

I see rocks on the hillside just before the Orange Spot

Approaching the Orange Spot

Approaching the Orange Spot

Here's the Saline Range Orange Spot up close

Here's the Saline Range Orange Spot up close

I follow the drainage past the Orange Spot, toward Saline Valley

I follow the drainage past the Orange Spot, toward Saline Valley

I take a good look across upper Saline Valley toward the Inyo Mountains

I take a good look across upper Saline Valley toward the Inyo Mountains

I walk around a few bricks

I walk around a few bricks

I start heading back up Waucoba Wash, passing these phacelia flowers

I start heading back up Waucoba Wash, passing these phacelia flowers

Rocks sometimes fall down from these walls

Rocks sometimes fall down from these walls

I'm looking for the easiest hiking route over these small rocks

I'm looking for the easiest hiking route over these small rocks

Desert marigolds in Waucoba Wash at sunset

Desert marigolds in Waucoba Wash at sunset

I pass another of those logs washed down to here from the Inyo Mountains

I pass another of those logs washed down to here from the Inyo Mountains

Looking back, I see that Saline Valley is already in the sunset shadow

Looking back, I see that Saline Valley is already in the sunset shadow

The Waucoba Wash narrows are striking at sunset

The Waucoba Wash narrows are striking at sunset

I saw this orange dodder earlier today in full daylight

I saw this orange dodder earlier today in full daylight

Behind me is sunset glow over Saline Valley

Behind me is sunset glow over Saline Valley

Broken sand layer

Broken sand layer

Waucoba Wash rises slowly

Waucoba Wash rises slowly

I start my way up Lead Canyon past desert marigolds as the sun sets

I start my way up Lead Canyon past desert marigolds as the sun sets

This indigo bush can't see the sunset

This indigo bush can't see the sunset

The Orange Spot is clearly visible in sunset light as Lead Canyon rises

The Orange Spot is clearly visible in sunset light as Lead Canyon rises

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