Grand Canyon NP, Mojave Nat'l Preserve & Death Valley NP - January 2014

[Mark Sedenquist]

Weren't they still serving lunch at the Kelso Diner (inside the Visitor's Center)? I've driven down there several times for lunch

More photos from Dublin Gulch... 0h, that's odd I've not published that report on RTA....I'll dig those up.

Mark

[Pmount]

Unfortunately The Beanery is currently closed. The signs posted explain they are currently looking for a replacement concessionaire. I actually sat at the empty lunch counter completing my Junior Ranger.

When posting this I realized I did not take any pictures of Dublin Gulch. That would be great to see some.
Pat

[Mark Sedenquist]

Miners in the southwest sure were a hardy bunch. Here are two examples of "cabin settlements" created by cutting "rooms" into the surrounding rock.

The first four photos are images from 2006 and 2007 of the Rosalie mining area (in the Mojave National Preserve -- about 1/2 mile from I-15). Below this set are five photos taken from the Dublin Gulch area found just outside Shoshone, California near Death Valley National Park.


Looking past the townsite toward the mining tailings
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Tailings from the copper processing plant
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Rosalie apartments near the processing area
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Closer view of those Rosalie apartments
(2006 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

These are images from the Dublin Gulch area (on the outside of Shoshone):
The history is unclear when these homes were first constructed, but it's likely that the first miners arrived as a result of the silver boom in the early 1870's at the nearby silver and talc mines. Some of the caves remained more-or-less occupied into the 1970's. I've wandered around this area and found several more farther up the canyon.


The main area of the Dublin Gulch area
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Same location -- but you can see the highway,(CA state highway 127). Just behind the cliff, you can see the Caltrans facility -- a good landmark when you travel to this place.
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Heading into one of the Dublin apartments
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Same Dublin apartment looking outside
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)


Luxury apartment in Dublin!
(2007 -- Photo by Mark Sedenquist)

More photos by Bill Cook -- and more explanation about this site on his Ghost Towns site.

[Pmount]

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP
Finish: Death Valley NP

Lazy morning in camp. Eventually made our way to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, which was right next to our campground. Got the passport and bonus stamps, and I picked up the Junior Ranger booklet. The ranger on duty told me she had been working on a Senior Ranger program for Great Basin National Park (Nevada) before her assignment to Death Valley. We will definitely add that that to our itinerary for next summer, another favorite park!

Basically a very laid back day, but a successful day for our hobbies; letterbox, postal cancellation, smashed pennies, Junior ranger and passport stamps! In addition the weather was PERFECT; 70s and NO wind. This may be a first for us to be in Death Valley without strong winds.

Temperature


Furnace Creek Ranch

note: Smashed Penny machine on porch



Evening light


Passport Stamps
Death Valley National Park
-Furnace Creek
Death Valley NP - Passport 25th Anniversary





Wildlife Sightings

Coyote

Common Raven
Mallard
American Coot
Brewer's Blackbird
Mourning Dove

[Mark Sedenquist]

I've edited the post above about the mining camps.

Death Valley is one of my favorite places in the USA.

Mark

[Pmount]

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP, CA
Finish: Death Valley NP, CA

Treated ourselves to the breakfast buffet at the ranch. Did a bit of housekeeping at the campsite, then headed up the valley to Scotty's Castle. The drive takes about an hour from Furnace Creek. You are driving north along the valley floor, the scenery is spectacular. It appears January is a quiet month for the park, it is the least amount of traffic we have experienced. The weather was again PERFECT, 70s and NO wind.

We have toured Scotty's Castle in the past, well worth the price of the ticket for the stories and the decor. This time we spent our time working on Scotty's Treasure Hunt for the Junior Ranger award. It was fun exploring the areas outside the normal tour. The sundial was up on the side of the castle. Looking for the wagon took us up to the stables where several old cars were also stored.

Sundial


Cars


Original entrance


Our next stop was Stovepipe Wells. At the Visitor Information Center we got the passport stamp for Stovepipe Wells and I turned in my completed Junior Ranger booklet. Ranger Justin reviewed the booklet page by page with me, then administered the Junior Ranger oath and gave me my Death Valley badge. For $2.50 I purchased the Junior Ranger patch.

We drove up to Mosiac Canyon for a picnic lunch and a short hike. This is one of my very favorite places in Death Valley. The rock formations are amazing. They are also right there- touchable!

Mosaic Canyon





On our way back through Stovepipe Wells we stopped at the motel and purchased showers. $4 per person, towel provided and use of the pool, if desired. Nice hot shower in the pool locker room, and a tall shower head! The pool key card was very pretty, the clerk told me to keep it as a souvenir.

We drove back up the valley, past Furnace Creek and continued along the Badwater Road to Artist's Drive. Spectacular rock formations and colors. It had gotten cloudy as the day progressed so the afternoon light wasn't great for photos.
Artist's Drive


Ended the day at the Corkscrew Saloon at Furnace Creek Ranch for a beer and shared sandwich.

As we left the campground I stopped to take the picture of the propane recycling container. This has been a pet peeve of mine as we travel. We still use white gas in a Coleman stove. I understand the convenience of using the propane canisters, but not the ecological waste. We see them in trash cans or piled up alongside trash cans. I have had numerous discussions with rangers about the waste, they have also been concerned. A few parks have collections bins like Death Valley. In the Winter issue of their Visitor Guide they explain that the valve stem is removed, contents emptied and then the steel is recycled. According to their information if all,of the canisters around the country were recycles 8,000 cars could be produced. Thanks for letting me spend some time on my soap box!

Propane Canister Recycling Bin at Furnace Creek Campground



On a brighter note, right next to the recycling bin was this beautiful flower. Truly the only flower we saw in bloom in the park. Called Desert Gold or Desert Sunflower, depending on which guide you use. Therefore the scientific name is more valuable; Gerara Canescens

The one and only flower we saw in Death Valley



Passport Stamps
Death Valley National Park
Scottys Castle
Stovepipe Wells

Wildlife Sightings

Coyote - heard

Mourning Dove
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Common Raven

[DonnaR57]

As another family that still owns a white-gas Coleman stove, we too were concerned about the disposal of propane tanks. That's quite impressive, 8000 cars if all of them were recycled! People always cite "safety" as a reason to convert to propane, but for us there is little difference in safety!

Beautiful photos --- keep 'em coming! We haven't been through Death Valley yet. Maybe one of these winters after *I* retire from teaching! (I still have a few years to go.)


Donna

[Pmount]

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Start: Death Valley NP, CA
Finish: Boulder City, NV - Lake Mead NRA

Left camp by 9 AM, heading to Beatty, NV for postal cancellation. Stopped by Rhyolite ghost town. Checked out the cemetery which is down slope from the main part of town.

Rhyolite





Followed US 95 south to NV 160 to Pahrump - If You Lived Here You'd Be Home, their logan in the early days! The wind was picking up significantly. We stopped in Pahrump for lunch and gas. Gas was only $3.05 at Smith's, cheaper than Tucson. Usually gas in Nevada is closer to California prices.

Wind and dust as we left Pahrump with stronger winds predicted for the Vegas area. Looks like we ran out of good weather, again!

Stopped at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Visitor Center for passport stamps. Too windy and dusty to enjoy the scenic loop drive which we have done before. A must see when in the Vegas area. The wind was picking up and up. Drove over to Boulder City - love the run-around, SR 215!

Red Rock - windy & dusty




In Boulder City we stopped at the Lake Mead NRA ( National Recreation Area) office for their passport stamps. Then went out to the Visitor Center along US 93, recently renovated. After getting the passport stamps we decided to camp here for the night at Boulder Beach. Campsites here are $10, or $5 with eligible passes. Obviously no hook-ups, but flush toilets and water readily available.


As it was mid-afternoon and the wind was too strong to sit around we went back into Boulder City. This is a very cool town; lots of interesting stores and restaurants. We went through several antique stores, the ended up at Boulder Dam Brewing Company for dinner.

Boulder City pictures




Smashed Pennies
Boulder City, NV - Grandma Daisy's

Passport Stamps
Old Spanish Trail
Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Conservation Area, NV
Boulder City, NV
Lake Mead National Recreation - Boulder City, NV




Wildlife Sightings

Cottontail Rabbit


Common Raven
Great-tailed Grackle
Brewer's Blackbird
American Coot
Cactus Wren

[Pmount]

Friday & Saturday

Start: Boulder City, NV - Lake Mead NRA
Finish: Wikeup, AZ

Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
The wind let up sometime during the night, much appreciated. We had a quick breakfast at The Hacienda, soon to be re-constructed as Boulder Dam Lodge. First time, for us, across the me bridge, back into Arizona, that replaces the trip across the Dam. Fairly anticlimactic after seeing the bridge being built from afar. Not much to see, due to the high side barrier, and you are over it quickly. Concern over crosswinds had high profile vehicles driving in the left lane to cross.

Next stop was Chloride, AZ for a couple of letterboxes. An active mining area with an Old West tourist appeal. Several restaurants and gift shops are currently open. The cemetery (follow the signs) has a number of eclectic markers, well worth the short side trip off US 93.

Chloride - Tin fence


Chloride - cemetery


We cut back over to Laughlin area for a quick stop at Katherine Landing for the passport stamp then over the Colorado River to the county park north of the casinos for letterboxing; one find, one attempt and one box replaced. The trail along the Colorado River is very well done with interpretative signs, restrooms and picnic armadas. Several trails take off from the paved path and it eventually ends up at Davis Dam. A great alternative to the casinos!

Riverwalk


After leaving Bullhead City we drove through Oatman with some beautiful afternoon lighting. Actually got through town without a traffic jam from either cars or burros! A stop at Cool Springs yielded a couple of "treasures" hidden for us to find.

Oatman


Cool Springs


After a stop for gas in Kingman we continued down US 93 towards Wikeup and Wickenburg. After a bite to eat in Wikeup we arrived at Burro Creek campground just at sunset. Another very favorite place to camp.

Passport Stamp
Lake Mead Nat'l Rec Area
-Katherine Landing, AZ

Wildlife Sightings

Seagull
American Coot
Greater Roadrunner


Saturday, February 1, 2014
Start: Burro Creek campground, near Wikeup, AZ
Finish: Tucson, AZ

Woke up to a cool morning, some ice on the windshield. Enjoyed some hot beverage and breakfast before heading home. A couple of quick photos of Burro Creek campground. There is also a picnic area. Across from the picnic area is a Desert Garden with a brochure describing the local plants. During the Springs the cliffs pictured below are a rookery for Great Blue Heron. The creek has water most of the year, great birdwatching area. So if you are traveling US 93 between Wickenburg and Kingman a stop at Burro Creek is highly recommended.

Burro Creek


Barrel Cactus - hanging on!


Not much to report for the rest of the trip. The new Loop 303 on the far west side of Phoenix which links US 93 to I-10 is much improved, maybe 2/3 freeway. Home by mid-afternoon, a memorable trip with exceptional weather!


Wildlife Sightings

Common Raven
Hummingbird - ?
Red-tailed Hawk
Great-tailed Grackle

[Mark Sedenquist]

You went to Chloride and didn't go look at the murals?

And Digger Dave's

Mark