May 10-20, 2019: Ballarat -> Butte Valley -> Panamint Pass loop, plus day hikes

[wbdeford]

Panamint City: https://www.flickr.com/photos/168127823 ... 0072413337

Excessive focus on the smelter stack....my favorite man-made object in the park. When I saw the shadeow of the crown on the ground, I got the idea for taking the pictures of it eclipsing the sun:

[wbdeford]

Panamint Pass -> Ballarat -> 2000 ft in Pleasant Canyon....15 miles, 7000 ft descent. By the time I was heading up from Ballarat, I wanted to drop my backpack and pick it up on the way out. But I decided that would be cheating.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/168127823 ... 0124502336

[wbdeford]

Day 7....1st half of the day mostly spent getting pictures of familiar spots under thick cloud cover--Stovepipe Wells...Mesquite Flat Dunes....Zabriskie's...Devil's Golf Course....Artist Drive...20 Mule Team Canyon

https://www.flickr.com/photos/168127823 ... 0294269461

[wbdeford]

Day 7 afternoon: Keane Wonder Mine.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/168127823 ... 0787443777

[Death Valley Dazed]

I love viewing your images so thanks for posting them. I keep forgetting how truly expansive DV is. My favorite shots of yours were of The Stipped Butte, The Panamint Smoke Stack, and the one where you labeled all of the peaks along the Panamint Ridge Line. Time in DV is time well spent and thanks again for documenting your adventures.

[wbdeford]

I love viewing your images so thanks for posting them. I keep forgetting how truly expansive DV is. My favorite shots of yours were of The Stipped Butte, The Panamint Smoke Stack, and the one where you labeled all of the peaks along the Panamint Ridge Line. Time in DV is time well spent and thanks again for documenting your adventures.

YW. I take all these pictures because I know one day, if I am blessed to live so long, that I won't be able to visit these places anymore and I want to be able to see them as long as I can see.

[Death Valley Dazed]

I want to be able to see them as long as I can see."

I still go back once in a while during the winter and review my video collection. Sure brings back those wonderful memories.

BTW I was on top of Telescope Peak over Labor Day (cold and rainy) and I was disappointed at my inability to spot that Maple Grove you encountered during your hike from Badwater to Telescope and back. If I had been able to spot it clearly I would have hiked down to take images of those lovely trees. I was dumb and forgot to take a copy of the thread of your hike with me to help make the spot. Maybe next time?

Here's what I'm talking about:

[wbdeford]

On a clear day, the red rock area where those trees are is unmistakable. You have to descend about 1500 vertical feet to get to the top of it, and the easiest way to do it is from the ridge that meets the trail about 9900 ft:

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=36.1855 ... at&o=t&n=0

[Death Valley Dazed]

On a clear day

I'll use the excuse it was gray, cloudy and rainy for my missing your spot. I hope to get it right the next time.