The tent set up, it's time to make an instant meal and enjoy the quiet evening

The tent set up, it's time to make an instant meal and enjoy the quiet evening

Back on the Harry Wade Exit Route, I encounter this sign

Back on the Harry Wade Exit Route, I encounter this sign

Driving straight toward the Owlshead Mountains, Harry Wade Road looks to have been graded recently

Driving straight toward the Owlshead Mountains, Harry Wade Road looks to have been graded recently

After driving more than a dozen miles on Harry Wade Road, it's time to leave and turn left

After driving more than a dozen miles on Harry Wade Road, it's time to leave and turn left

Deep sand ahead? Uh oh...

Deep sand ahead? Uh oh...

The FJ amuses itself by driving the washboard of Owl Hole Spring Road at 25 miles per hour

The FJ amuses itself by driving the washboard of Owl Hole Spring Road at 25 miles per hour

On the left side of the road, a sign notifies me that I'm passing a "U.S. military installation"

On the left side of the road, a sign notifies me that I'm passing a "U.S. military installation"

After a few miles on this road, I arrive at Owl Hole Spring

After a few miles on this road, I arrive at Owl Hole Spring

Maybe all this fencing is intended to keep the wild burros out here from contaminating the spring water

Maybe all this fencing is intended to keep the wild burros out here from contaminating the spring water

Another look at Owl Hole Spring: the water doesn't look so clean

Another look at Owl Hole Spring: the water doesn't look so clean

Some walls at Owl Hole Spring: water control?

Some walls at Owl Hole Spring: water control?

I walk up the hill a bit, hear some noise, and see a wild burro over on a nearby hill

I walk up the hill a bit, hear some noise, and see a wild burro over on a nearby hill

The wild burro is definitely watching me as I walk around, but keeping a distance

The wild burro is definitely watching me as I walk around, but keeping a distance

It's an interesting "stare-down" that I'm having with that burro up there

It's an interesting "stare-down" that I'm having with that burro up there

OK, you keep watching me, it's time for me to move on

OK, you keep watching me, it's time for me to move on

A short walk back down to the FJ and then onward we'll continue

A short walk back down to the FJ and then onward we'll continue

After Owl Hole Spring, I drive Owlshead Mountains Road, further out into the wild

After Owl Hole Spring, I drive Owlshead Mountains Road, further out into the wild

I pull up close to the forbidden gate to see what the signs say

I pull up close to the forbidden gate to see what the signs say

My road forks off to the right, but there's an intriguing gate off to my left

My road forks off to the right, but there's an intriguing gate off to my left

The road was briefly outside Death Valley National Park, it enters it again here

The road was briefly outside Death Valley National Park, it enters it again here

What a beautiful day it is out here in the Owlshead Mountains

What a beautiful day it is out here in the Owlshead Mountains

So many ridgelines ahead

So many ridgelines ahead

Not much traffic out here!

Not much traffic out here!

The lighting really is perfect right now

The lighting really is perfect right now

The road dips down to the south end of the Owl Lake basin

The road dips down to the south end of the Owl Lake basin

It's time to start looking for a campsite for the night

It's time to start looking for a campsite for the night

I think I'll stop here and enjoy the sunset while setting up camp for the night

I think I'll stop here and enjoy the sunset while setting up camp for the night

A tarantula saunters by when I start to set up my tent

A tarantula saunters by when I start to set up my tent

I'm enjoying a good cup of coffee on a beautiful sunny morning in the Owlshead Mountains

I'm enjoying a good cup of coffee on a beautiful sunny morning in the Owlshead Mountains

Near my tent is a huge crack in the old pavement that exists in a few places on Owlshead Mountains Road

Near my tent is a huge crack in the old pavement that exists in a few places on Owlshead Mountains Road

I pack up the FJ and drive a few more miles up Owlshead Mountains Road

I pack up the FJ and drive a few more miles up Owlshead Mountains Road

I park next to a sign that indicates the trail over to Crystal Hills, today's hike

I park next to a sign that indicates the trail over to Crystal Hills, today's hike

Feeling quite relaxed, I finish up my pipe of Orlik Golden Slices tobacco and start my hike toward the Crystal Hills

Feeling quite relaxed, I finish up my pipe of Orlik Golden Slices tobacco and start my hike toward the Crystal Hills

After some walking down the Wilderness trail, I arrive at old gates to the military base

After some walking down the Wilderness trail, I arrive at old gates to the military base

A well-weathered sign issues the command to stay out of the military base

A well-weathered sign issues the command to stay out of the military base

I follow the old road along the fence toward the Crystal Hills

I follow the old road along the fence toward the Crystal Hills

A more modern "Keep Out" sign stands guard nearby

A more modern "Keep Out" sign stands guard nearby

Hmmmm.... ordnance remains

Hmmmm.... ordnance remains

It's a serene place to rest for a not-so-serene object

It's a serene place to rest for a not-so-serene object

Shrubbery on the fan leading up to the Owlshead Mountains is rather minimal

Shrubbery on the fan leading up to the Owlshead Mountains is rather minimal

The remains of an old mylar balloon greet me on the way over to the Owlshead Mountains

The remains of an old mylar balloon greet me on the way over to the Owlshead Mountains

One more "final" look back at the Crystal Hills

One more "final" look back at the Crystal Hills

Yeah, it's another "The FJ is waiting for me" moment

Yeah, it's another "The FJ is waiting for me" moment

Time to look for a campsite, and a drive toward the old microwave tower

Time to look for a campsite, and a drive toward the old microwave tower

Winds are fairly strong up here, so this sheltered spot along the road should make a good camp

Winds are fairly strong up here, so this sheltered spot along the road should make a good camp

I'll go for a walk up to the microwave tower and take in the setting sun from up there

I'll go for a walk up to the microwave tower and take in the setting sun from up there

Owl Peak looks great from here, perhaps I'll try hiking it tomorow

Owl Peak looks great from here, perhaps I'll try hiking it tomorow

Here's the microwave tower

Here's the microwave tower

I'm treated to excellent views from the Owlshead Mountains microwave tower

I'm treated to excellent views from the Owlshead Mountains microwave tower

Lighting becomes increasingly horizontal

Lighting becomes increasingly horizontal

We cast shadows at sunset

We cast shadows at sunset

I ponder the awesomeness of miles of miles and miles of undeveloped expanse, feeling small

I ponder the awesomeness of miles of miles and miles of undeveloped expanse, feeling small

Layers of ridgelines under the setting sun

Layers of ridgelines under the setting sun

Yes, Owl Peak over there, that will be tomorrow's adventure

Yes, Owl Peak over there, that will be tomorrow's adventure

But for now, I'll walk back down to that really tiny FJ down there and set up my tent

But for now, I'll walk back down to that really tiny FJ down there and set up my tent

Looking forward to tomorrow's adventure, I arrive back to the FJ and set up my tent

Looking forward to tomorrow's adventure, I arrive back to the FJ and set up my tent

My campsite is reasonably sheltered from the wind, which served me well last night

My campsite is reasonably sheltered from the wind, which served me well last night

No traffic out here in the Owlshead Mountains!

No traffic out here in the Owlshead Mountains!

My hike begins by walking a short distance up the road toward the microwave tower

My hike begins by walking a short distance up the road toward the microwave tower

I'm heading toward Owl Peak, that big lump in the middle

I'm heading toward Owl Peak, that big lump in the middle

I take a final look down at the FJ before continuing my walk over the hill

I take a final look down at the FJ before continuing my walk over the hill

The Owlshead Mountains is a maze of low, but often steep-sided hills

The Owlshead Mountains is a maze of low, but often steep-sided hills

Owl Peak is straight ahead, but you can't get there by walking straight

Owl Peak is straight ahead, but you can't get there by walking straight

Always follow the burro trail: I'm following this one

Always follow the burro trail: I'm following this one

I can still see the microwave tower as I cross the head of this canyon

I can still see the microwave tower as I cross the head of this canyon

I guess I'll walk up this drainage to the saddle above

I guess I'll walk up this drainage to the saddle above

I can still see the microwave tower over there

I can still see the microwave tower over there

The easiest way to approach Owl Peak should be from the left side

The easiest way to approach Owl Peak should be from the left side

I cross the head of another canyon

I cross the head of another canyon

To avoid the steep canyon-head at my right, I'll hike over this hill ahead

To avoid the steep canyon-head at my right, I'll hike over this hill ahead

That light patch down there is the Crystal Hills, where I hiked yesterday: nice view!

That light patch down there is the Crystal Hills, where I hiked yesterday: nice view!

I'll try hiking straight ahead and then turning right toward Owl Peak

I'll try hiking straight ahead and then turning right toward Owl Peak

I think one could spend more than a day just walking all the unwalked ridgelines around here

I think one could spend more than a day just walking all the unwalked ridgelines around here

My view down to the Crystal Hills just got better

My view down to the Crystal Hills just got better

I see a little dry lake down there in Wingate Wash

I see a little dry lake down there in Wingate Wash

My route to Owl Peak is straight up this hill

My route to Owl Peak is straight up this hill

Up on Owl Peak, it's fun to look at hills and rocks

Up on Owl Peak, it's fun to look at hills and rocks

And there's Lost Lake down there, I haven't been down there yet...

And there's Lost Lake down there, I haven't been down there yet...

From Owl Peak, I can see across the valley to the Black Mountains

From Owl Peak, I can see across the valley to the Black Mountains

Even the sky is beautiful today up here on Owl Peak

Even the sky is beautiful today up here on Owl Peak

Owl Peak provides a nice view across the Lost Lake basin over to the middle Owlshead Mountains

Owl Peak provides a nice view across the Lost Lake basin over to the middle Owlshead Mountains

So many photos to take...

So many photos to take...

Another photo to take

Another photo to take

Another look at Lost Lake

Another look at Lost Lake

This photo needs to be taken too!

This photo needs to be taken too!

I start walking down from Owl Peak and take a look back

I start walking down from Owl Peak and take a look back

On the way down the hill, I'm staring at yesterday's hike into the Crystal Hills again

On the way down the hill, I'm staring at yesterday's hike into the Crystal Hills again

I want to check out this canyon ahead that looks like it might lead down to Wingate Wash

I want to check out this canyon ahead that looks like it might lead down to Wingate Wash

Hey, there's a tarantula to distract me for a minute or three!

Hey, there's a tarantula to distract me for a minute or three!

I see a couple of steep drop-offs in the canyon ahead, so I won't be hiking down to Wingate Wash right now

I see a couple of steep drop-offs in the canyon ahead, so I won't be hiking down to Wingate Wash right now

I climb up the next hill, looking down at Wingate Wash and the little dry lake

I climb up the next hill, looking down at Wingate Wash and the little dry lake

Where to go? Not sure: I'll follow this ridgeline and find out

Where to go? Not sure: I'll follow this ridgeline and find out

Let's check out this canyon here...

Let's check out this canyon here...

A few patches of red buckwheats grow in the head of the canyon

A few patches of red buckwheats grow in the head of the canyon

I look back to see a low peak towering over me

I look back to see a low peak towering over me

And here's another of those mylar balloons that blow into remote areas from faraway places

And here's another of those mylar balloons that blow into remote areas from faraway places

I follow a faint burro trail; no human footprints here

I follow a faint burro trail; no human footprints here

Steep gullies are carved into the adjacent hills

Steep gullies are carved into the adjacent hills

Let's see what's around the next corner...

Let's see what's around the next corner...

The canyon opens up a little as it descends gently

The canyon opens up a little as it descends gently

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