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Hiking, camping and 4WD in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley and Eastern Sierra
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A few days hiking Nevada July, 2018
439
Solitude and social days in Death Valley, March 2018
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Back to Eureka Valley to see more, November 2017
588
White Mountain Peak and Glass Mountain, Inyo National Forest, September 2017
340
Destination Moho Mountain in Nevada's Excelsior Range, July 4th week, 2017
296
Let's see more of the Saline Range in Death Valley Park, April 2017
694
Argus Range and Panamint Valley, January 2017
491
Eureka Valley and Saline Range, Death Valley Park, October 2016
562
Inyo National Forest, south and north: July 4th week, 2016
453
Northwestern Death Valley National Park: a week in April 2016
551
Around Panamint Valley, Death Valley National Park, a week in January 2016
479
Bodie Ghost Town and Crater Mountain (Mono Craters): an October 2015 weekend
142
Mono Craters and Glass Mountain Ridge: a September 2015 weekend
125
Granite Mountain Wilderness, east of Mono Lake, an August 2015 weekend
126
Owlshead Mountains and Johnson Canyon, Death Valley National Park, May 2015
479
Mojave National Preserve and Owlshead Mountains, February 2015
535
South Death Valley National Park and area, Fall 2014
480
Burt Canyon, Mono Lake and Mount Patterson: another Eastern Sierras weekend, September 2014
193
Emma Lake and Mount Patterson: a weekend in the Eastern Sierras, August 2014
122
Highland Lakes: Carson-Iceberg Wilderness Day Hike, July 4, 2014 weekend
96
Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley National Park, Spring 2014
624
8287 photos
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Owlshead Mountains
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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
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
Deep sand ahead? Uh oh...
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"
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
Another look at Owl Hole Spring: the water doesn't look so clean
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
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
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
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
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
What a beautiful day it is out here in the Owlshead Mountains
So many ridgelines ahead
Not much traffic out here!
The lighting really is perfect right now
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
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
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
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
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
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
A more modern "Keep Out" sign stands guard nearby
Hmmmm.... ordnance remains
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
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
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
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
Owl Peak looks great from here, perhaps I'll try hiking it tomorow
Here's the microwave tower
I'm treated to excellent views from the Owlshead Mountains microwave tower
Lighting becomes increasingly horizontal
We cast shadows at sunset
I ponder the awesomeness of miles of miles and miles of undeveloped expanse, feeling small
Layers of ridgelines under the setting sun
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
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
No traffic out here in the Owlshead Mountains!
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 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
Owl Peak is straight ahead, but you can't get there by walking straight
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 guess I'll walk up this drainage to the saddle above
I can still see the microwave tower over there
The easiest way to approach Owl Peak should be from the left side
I cross the head of another canyon
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!
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
My view down to the Crystal Hills just got better
I see a little dry lake down there in Wingate Wash
My route to Owl Peak is straight up this hill
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...
From Owl Peak, I can see across the valley to the Black Mountains
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
So many photos to take...
Another photo to take
Another look at Lost Lake
This photo needs to be taken too!
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
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!
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
Where to go? Not sure: I'll follow this ridgeline and find out
Let's check out this canyon here...
A few patches of red buckwheats grow in the head of the canyon
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
I follow a faint burro trail; no human footprints here
Steep gullies are carved into the adjacent hills
Let's see what's around the next corner...
The canyon opens up a little as it descends gently
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