Dantes BM/Dantes Peak, Death Valley National Park

Trail to Dantes BM/Peak

When is a mountain not a mountain? When the mountaineering community says so, of course! Dantes Peak or “Dante’s BM” as it is known in the climbing community will never confuse anyone with Mt. Everest. For starters, at over 29,000 feet, Mt. Everest is the prime diamond jewel in the climber’s crown. At 5,704 feet, Dantes Peak is more like a climber’s emerald toe ring. There’s also the unfortunate fact that Dantes Peak is over four times smaller than Everest, and over two times smaller than Mt. Whitney. Heck, even its neighbor – Telescope Peak – is almost twice as big as it at 11,049 feet. But you know what? Not everyone gets to climb Mt. Everest, and not every mountain has to be Mt. Everest. Sometimes, things should just be enjoyed for what they are. And, for what it is, Dantes Peak is a great beginner’s hike with great views of Death Valley from the Black Mountains. 

Astute readers have likely noticed that I keep calling the mountain “Dantes Peak” and not “Dantes BM”. My reasons for doing so are the following:  if you’re at Badwater, which is at -282 feet below sea level, and you look up toward the East, you see a huge rock wall with a sign perched precariously above (282 feet above) that says “Sea Level”; 5,704 feet beyond that is, you guessed it, the summit. In terms of math, we’re talking about something that stands between 5,704 feet from sea level, and 5,986 feet from Badwater. I don’t know about you, but something that big sounds like a mountain to me. Also, on a personal level, calling it “Dantes BM” for Dantes Benchmark seems a little strange to me. Exactly what is a benchmark? Is it like a butte – or a coral reef? In my book, why not call a mountain a mountain. No one will confuse it with Everest, and there are smaller peaks out there with the same name. So, if you want to tell people you climbed Dantes Peak, be my guest – and tell them I told you to do it. Or, if you want to be elusive, tell people you climbed a benchmark, and wait for them to wonder what you were really doing.

 View from Dantes BM/Peak

Directions: From Furnace Creek, drive southeast for eleven (11) miles. You will then make your only turn; a right turn onto Dante’s View Road, which you will follow for thirteen (13) miles until the road ends. Do note that due to the windy nature of the road, vehicles over twenty-five feet are prohibited on the last section. From the parking lot, walk down the road, until you see the trailhead (which should be readily apparent, even without the above photo). From the road, it is approximately a half mile, all uphill to the summit. During this half mile walk (.5) you will ascend approximately 160 feet in elevation; so it is somewhat of a workout. After a half mile, you will be at the top along a ridgeline. Other than the spectacular views of Death Valley and the surrounding area, and the rocks, there will be two items of note. One is a USGS benchmark that says, “Marker 2” and one is a USGS benchmark that says, “Dantes”. I’ll leave it to you, the reader and explorer to deduce which mark delineates the correct Dantes Benchmark/Peak. Once you have found the correct mark, or incorrect, whichever suits your fancy, follow the route you came back to the parking lot for an easy one (1) mile roundtrip hike.

Tips: If you’re interested in photography, the views from the Benchmark/Peak are better than what you would find at the Dantes View Overlook, a half mile below. They are also usually less congested. If you’re looking for a challenge, you can continue along the ridgeline to Mt. Perry, for a roundtrip hike of four miles, or if you really want a challenge, you can head down to Badwater, as described by Steve Hall below.

More Information: http://www.summitpost.org/dante-bm/391640, http://www.hikespeak.com/ca-desert/dv/dantes-view-in-death-valley/, http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/DEVA/Dante_Peak/_Dante.htm, http://www.panamintcity.com/dantestobadwater/dantestohades.html

Golden Canyon to Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park

Golden Canyon trail, passing the Manly Beacon

There’s a lot of hikes in the National Park system that get a lot of press as the “best hikes”. And, when I say “press”, I am not just talking about articles written by journalists and bloggers. I am talking about word-of-mouth hikes that are discussed between hikers and non-hikers; discussions that percolate world-wide about places that should be seen or, in some cases, depending on who is talking, have to be seen. A lot of these hikes deserve the reputation and the discussion that they get; and a lot of these hikes don’t deserve the reputation that they get. I’m not going to weigh in about which hike deserves what as it’s a matter of personal opinion in my book. What I will say, is that the best secret hike in the National Park system is the hike(s) I’m talking about here and last week: Golden Canyon.

It’s the best secret hike in the National Park system because not many people know about Death Valley. It just doesn’t have the cache of a Yellowstone, Yosemite, or Grand Canyon. Even people that know about Death Valley don’t talk about Death Valley. In this sense, knowing about Death Valley is like knowing about Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club, and knowing about Death Valley is not to talk about it. It’s the best secret hike because of what you get to see: as I talked about last week, there’s amazing slot canyons to walk through and explore, there’s the Red Cathedral, there’s the Manly Beacon, there’s abandoned mines, and to top it all off, the reason the terrain is so spectacular is that you’re walking in an area that used to be a giant lake – Lake Manly. As an added bonus, this hike is full of opportunities to explore. Many times, on many trails, you are left with limited opportunities to see what else is out there. In Golden Canyon, there are ample places to wander off to and things to see. For these reasons, I rate it as the best hike in the National Park system that you’ve never heard of. So, if you like “best hikes”, this is a must-do in my book.

 Golden Canyon trail, looking back toward the Panamint Range

Directions: Follow the directions I discussed last week here: http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/3/6/golden-canyon-to-red-cathedral-death-valley-national-park.html to get to Golden Canyon. From Marker 10 of the trail discussed in that previous post, you can turn out to the Red Cathedral or continue on to Zabriskie Point. To get to Zabriskie Point, follow the signed turnoff, whereupon the trail will become markedly steeper for the next half mile (.5). To your immediate left (North) will be the Manly Beacon, which you will eventually pass before heading down into a series of gulches before heading up again toward Zabriskie Point. At around three quarters of a mile from the turnoff (.75), there will be a number of mines that you can peer into before continuing toward Zabriskie Point. It is worth noting that through this stretch of trail, the trail is not well marked, in that there are not many signs, and there are a few areas to navigate where if you are not familiar with the area, you could get momentarily lost.

 View from Zabriskie Point to Gower Gulch

However, this area is well worn by the soles of many hikers, and one should be able to follow the worn trail in areas where there are not trail markers. While I don’t generally recommend following foot trails blindly, this is an area where you should not get lost; and if, in the worst case scenario, you are not carrying a map and do get lost, I recommend that you climb to a high point (of which there are plenty) in this region, and look either East, whereupon you will see the highest point: Zabriskie Point which you then can head to. Once you reach a wash at one mile past Marker 10 (2 miles from the Golden Canyon parking lot), you will see a sign directing you toward Gower Gulch or Zabriskie Point. At this point, you can either head back down Gower Gulch, and toward the Golden Canyon parking area, for a roundtrip distance of four miles (not counting diversions to the Red Cathedral); or you can head up the last half mile of trail to Zabriskie Point.

 View from Zabriskie Point toward the Red Cathedral/Manly Beacon

This last half mile of trail is steep, and does ascend a fair amount of vertical distance to Zabriskie Point; but the end result is worth the effort, as the view from Zabriskie Point encompasses the Manly Beacon, Gower Gulch, portions of Golden Canyon, the badlands surrounding them, and in the distance, Telescope Peak. From Zabriskie Point, you can either drive to other park destinations, should you have someone picking you up, or you can walk back down Golden Canyon for a total roundtrip distance of five miles (again assuming no additional stops). My personal preference is to head back to Golden Canyon through Gower Gulch (http://youtu.be/J_ndksa2t6s), which has interesting formations and slot canyons, for a total hike of six and a half miles (6.5), and this distance does include a stop at the Red Cathedral on the way to Zabriskie Point. Alternatively, you can start at Zabriskie Point and work your way down on these same routes.

Tips: Do take a map and plenty of water on this hike; as I noted above, there is the potential to get mildly, or if you are truly talented, excellently lost at places on this hike. Do also be aware that the majority of this hike is exposed, and you will get quite hot on it even in the wintertime. In addition to the tips described last week and today in the main body of the blog, a great spot for photos is once you are next to the Manly Beacon, facing West. You will have great views of Death Valley proper and the Panamint Range.

More Information: http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=205476, http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/DEVA/Golden_Cyn/_Golden.htm, http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/DEVA/Zab_Golden/_Zab_Golden.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabriskie_Point

Update on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 5:00PM by Last Adventurer

And, weirdly enough - don't just take it from me, Paul and Lisa were just at Golden Canyon/Gower Gulch, and had a great time as well: http://drivinginertia.com/1352/death-valleys-gower-gulch-loop-hike-through-golden-canyon/

But shhh - it's a secret!

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, April 2010

If you play your cards right, you can follow the previous posts from a snowy 11,000 foot peak (Telescope Peak), past some unique structures (the Charcoal Kilns and Eureka Mine), through an ancient canyon with cracked granite blocks (Mosaic Canyon) down to rolling sand dunes (Mesquite Flat) all within a day. That alone should make Death Valley a “must-do” in anyone’s book – I personally can’t think of another place world-wide where you can traverse such a variety of terrain in a day or less. Granted, if you’re going to do all of those things in a day, you’re going to need to get an early start, and move quick, but it is indeed possible.

What I’d personally recommend, however, is that you spread out these things over a couple days – no need to rush these things. The park’s been shaped over several eons, so you’ll definitely be able to see most of these things the next day, or the day after that as well. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are one of several dune fields within Death Valley, but are the most accessible to the majority of park visitors. If hiking the Kelso Dunes (http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/1/20/kelso-dunes-mojave-national-preserve.html) is like being an extra in Star Wars, hiking the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is a bit like being in the Sahara – surrounded by tall peaks, and in the path of trading caravans – or tourists. While the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes don’t speak and rumble like the Kelso Dunes do, and are usually full of tourists, they still have a fair amount of magic in their shifting grains of sand.

 Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, June, 2009

Directions: The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are three miles South of Stovepipe Wells, directly off of Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park. As of 2010, there is a nice new NPS parking lot, interpretive panels, bathroom, and signs directing visitors where to park. From the parking lot, it is a short walk into the dunes. Perhaps the most common complaint by hiking purists and other members of the backcountry community is that these dunes are too well-traveled and too busy. While it is more likely than not that you will encounter people within the first quarter mile of the parking area, once you enter into the dunes, the odds of encountering people decreases exponentially. While the dunes are not as remote as say, the Kelso Dunes, or the Eureka Dunes in Death Valley National Park, plenty of opportunities still exist to enjoy these dunes on your own.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, June 2009

As you can see from my photos above, taken in 2009 and 2010, I was at the dunes by myself. However, as I noted regarding Mosaic Canyon, timing is everything in life. Will the Dunes be busy when you are there? In predicting this, my outcome is hazy, but I say this: forget about whether it’s busy or not. Whether you enjoy it, people or no people, is all in your mind.

Tips: There is no “approved” trail into the dunes or to the top of the tallest dune. From what I’ve heard and experienced, the average person will likely walk two miles around the area. But, that distance is up to you – it could be more, it could be less. If you really want to get away from it all, I’d say you’re probably going to walk more than two miles, especially if you want to explore. What do I like to do in these dunes? I like to head up to the summit of the tallest dune and stare at the alien and varied expanse of Death Valley. If I had a sled, I’d definitely go sledding, much as I do in the Kelso dunes. I also like to head out and around to other dunes, looking for the remnants of old desert lakebeds and other strange things. What I will always do is make sure to have a map; or keep a visual reference on my vehicle, or some other fixed point so that I won’t get lost; and, I always make sure to have plenty of water in the valley of one of the world’s hottest (and in this location, sandiest) deserts. Also, if you're going to take photos of the dunes, the best time is early morning - sunrise, or shortly thereafter.

See you in the sand!

 Mesquite Flat San Dunes, April 2010

More Information: http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/sand-dunes.htm, http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/mesquite-flat-sand-dunes-in-death-valley/, http://www.panamintcity.com/sanddunes/mesquitedunes.html 

Wildrose Peak, Death Valley National Park

Early portions of the Wildrose Peak Trail

Some people climb mountains for the challenge; some people climb mountains because they have a burning desire to be atop high places; some people climb mountains for the physical activity; and some people climb mountains just because they’re there. There’s a million reasons why people climb mountains, and if you run into people on the trail, it’s always interesting to hear why people are there, what they are doing, and if they are lost, help them out by giving them directions and encouragement. One of the most honest reasons I’ve heard for climbing a mountain was on Wildrose Peak by a transplanted Frenchman named Bernard who was living in Los Angeles. Wildrose Peak, incidentally, is the small sister of Rogers, Bennett, and Telescope in the Panamint Range of Death Valley, clocking in at 9,064 feet. On that trip, I had been on a climbing tear – I had powered up Whitney in winter conditions on Saturday, and bagged Telescope, Bennett, and Rogers on Sunday. It was now a Monday, and rather than take it easy – I decided to climb Wildrose Peak.

I hadn’t had time to talk to anyone on Whitney, except for a few words to climbers at the Portal – too much snow, too little daylight; and there hadn’t been anyone for me to talk to on the Telescope trifecta. After a couple hours alone on the Wildrose Peak trail, I felt like I was going to not talk to anyone for at least another day. Then, there on the summit was Bernard. We talked for a minute or two; and then he laid his reason for climbing Wildrose Peak at my feet. He said, “I come here every year to get away from my wife.” Now, I’ve been climbing for a long long long time. That’s probably the funniest – and most honest answer I’ve ever heard anyone give regarding why they were climbing a summit. So – Wildrose – good for getting away from spouses – and a good hike.

 Looking up at the Wildrose Peak Summit from the trail

Directions: If you’re headed to Wildrose Peak, you’re going to want to start from the Charcoal Kilns parking area. Directions to that parking area can be found here: http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/2/21/charcoal-kilns-death-valley-national-park.html. From the parking area, the trail is clearly signed and starts from behind the kilns. The trail starts out gradually, and provides gentle elevation gain for the first mile. At around the first mile, you will start to notice one of the unique things about the trail, namely that it used to be used for logging before Death Valley was a national park. A little bit after one mile of distance has elapsed, you will pass a former USGS gauging station in a wash; however, there isn’t much to see there anymore, but it is yet another curiosity. The trail, for the most part to this point, is gradual uphill; and in most places, covered with shade from the pinyon pines and other trees.

Summit view to the Northeast from Wildrose Peak

However, once you have gone about two miles, the uphill section of the trail becomes much steeper, and this again raises the question of whether this is a “strenuous” hike. Again, like Telescope, you are gaining a fair amount of elevation – just over two thousand (2,000) feet from the charcoal kilns. But, again like Telescope, you have some distance to gain that elevation – 4.2 miles one way. The first time I climbed Wildrose – when I met Bernard, my legs were a little tired from the two days prior, and in between miles two and three of the ascent, I remember thinking that this was the hardest peak in the Panamint Range.

But, when I went back on other occasions, while I found the hike steep at times, it didn’t seem like anything difficult at all. Again; judge your skill level accordingly, and that of your group.

Summit, Wildrose Peak

In my opinion, however, the steepest section of the trail comes after a preliminary set of switchbacks leaves you on a saddle just below the summit of the peak. At this point, you will have hiked 3.1 miles; however, you will have to gain ~900 feet of elevation in the last 1.1 miles to reach the summit. For most of this ascent, you will think that you are going to be on the summit when you reach the visible top. Not so! This is a false summit that is close to the actual summit. Once you are on the false summit, however, you are a mere stroll from the actual summit. The actual summit is a broad, flat expanse, which is a large contrast to the summit of Telescope, which is narrow and cramped. The views, again, are stunning from the summit, and there is still a three hundred and sixty degree panorama of the surrounding terrain. When you are ready to return; you will head back down the way you came.

Tips: Even though the temperatures at Wildrose will not be in the hundreds during summer, it still can get quite hot on the mountain, even with the patches of shade, so do bring plenty of water. As I noted above, there’s a couple of interesting items to be seen on the trail as well. I’d say this is a great hike for anyone to attempt, whether they are experienced or not; and whether they are looking to get away from anyone or not. And, as discussed before – if you are going in winter, do bring the proper gear!

More Information: http://www.panamintcity.com/panamint/wildrosepeak.html, http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/wildrose-peak-death-valley/, http://www.summitpost.org/wildrose-peak/152443, http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/DEVA/Wildrose_Pk/_Wildrose.htm

Telescope Peak, Death Valley National Park

Telescope Peak in summer

Telescope Peak, in my mind, is a hike full of contrasts. In 2002, I solo climbed Mt. Whitney in day at the end of May, and then got in my car and drove into Death Valley to camp at Mahogany Flat. At sunrise, I was up and on the Telescope Peak trail, and after a few hours of vigorous hiking, had summited Telescope, Bennett, and Rogers well before the day was half over. On that day, it felt like the trail positively flew away under my feet. Then again, I suppose anything after Mt. Whitney the day before would seem easy. However, on a subsequent trip to Telescope Peak, the stretch of trail from Arcane Meadows to the summit seemed to me to be the longest trail ever created. Two things are clear about the Telescope Peak trail: first, that it winds up and around to the 11,331 summit of Telescope Peak, which is the highest mountain in Death Valley National Park and the Panamint Range; and second, that it has stunning views of the surrounding terrain.

 Telescope Peak in early winter (Yes, there is snow!)

Directions: If you’re headed to Telescope Peak, you’re going to want to start from the trailhead at the Mahogany Flat Campground. Directions to Mahogany Flat are found here in my post covering Telescope’s neighboring peak, Rogers Peak: http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/2/22/rogers-peak-death-valley-national-park.html.

From Mahogany Flat, the trailhead is readily apparent as it starts from the parking area adjacent to the campground. You will want to sign the logbook before starting on the trail, in order to let the National Park Service know where you are headed in case you have a problem for whatever reason. From the logbook, the trail heads up along the Eastern side of Rogers Peak. Alternatively, if you want to bag Rogers, Bennett, and Telescope in a day, you can start your hike by heading up the NPS access road described in my Rogers Peak post above, before meeting up again with the main Telescope Peak trail at Arcane Meadows. At this point, let’s discuss how the trail to Telescope Peak is: if you read the NPS account, and many of the links below, as well as others, the hike is described as “strenuous”, as you gain ~3000 feet in elevation to the summit from Mahogany Flat over the course of seven miles (7) one way.

 View of the Sierra Nevadas from Arcane Meadow

To a certain extent, I agree: any fourteen mile round-trip hike at an elevation between 8,000-11,000 feet is not easy. But strenuous? I think this depends on your physical conditioning, and whether you are acclimatized. In my opinion, if you are hiking this trail in spring, fall, or summer, when there is no snow, it is a moderate hike. During these times, your biggest concerns will be two things: dehydration and acclimatization. I find the hike during these times to be very relaxing and a moderate hike. Yes, you are experiencing substantial elevation gain; but then again, you have a long distance to do so – seven miles each way. I think the elevation gain is by and large, very gradual over the distance involved, which in conditions with no snow, makes it moderate in my book. If there is snow – which if you are going in winter, you should be prepared for with the appropriate gear – ice axes and crampons – the hike is definitely strenuous – but at that point, it’s more of a climb than a hike.

 View of Death Valley proper, from the Telescope Peak summit

In any case, as you head up from Mahogany Flat, the trail is well marked, graded, and winds around up toward Arcane Meadows. During the last half mile before Arcane Meadows, you will be on a section of trail that drops off to the South. Through this stretch, I would recommend watching your footing on the shale rocks so as to avoid a nasty fall. After this section of trail, you will crest a slight rise and be in Arcane Meadows at  9,263 feet; you will know you are in Arcane Meadows as it is nearly completely flat (the definition of a meadow), and there is a rock cairn built by former hikers next to the trail. From Arcane Meadows, the trail continues its slow-but-sure ascent up to the summit of Telescope while passing Bennett Peak. During this time, there are fantastic views to the West (of the Sierra Nevada) and to the East (of Death Valley proper). The last section of trail before the summit is the steepest; however, if you have made it this far, there is probably little doubt that you will make the summit. From the summit, there is an amazing three hundred and sixty degree view of the surrounding area; and on a clear day, to Charleston Peak by Las Vegas, and to the Sierra Nevadas to the North and West. Once you’re done taking in the view, you will head back down the way you came, unless you are traversing over Bennett and Rogers, as described in my previous post.

 Tips: As discussed above, and in the post about Rogers, if you are heading out to attempt this hike or climb in winter, do take the proper gear, as there will be ice and snow. It is also worth noting that most, if not all of the hike is exposed after Arcane Meadows, and even in the summer, there can be strong gusting winds that can affect a hiker. And, while this is a great summer hike to beat the 114 degree heat of Death Valley proper, do take lots of water to avoid dehydration as it is quite dry, even at that elevation.

 Telescope Peak summit, looking North.

More Information: http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/Telescope%20&%20Wildrose%20Peaks-2.pdf, http://www.dankat.com/swhikes/tscope.htm, http://www.summitpost.org/telescope-peak/150584

Rogers Peak, Death Valley National Park

NPS Service Road up toward Rogers Peak

My favorite thing about Death Valley National Park is the variety that the park provides. The park has the things that everyone expects – blazing hot temperatures, Badwater, and classic desert terrain. But the park also has innumerable things that most visitors don’t expect, such as the Charcoal Kilns (http://lastadventurer.com/last-adventurers-fieldnotes/2012/2/21/charcoal-kilns-death-valley-national-park.html) and great mountaineering. Yes, that’s right, I said great mountaineering. The most popular mountaineering is on a cluster of mountains – Telescope Peak, Rogers Peak, Bennett Peak, and Wildrose Peak - that are located in the Panamint Mountains. Out of these mountains, Rogers Peak, at 9,994 feet is the easiest to summit, and is a great short day hike from the Mahogany Flat campground.

Directions:  From inside Death Valley, you will follow Emigrant Canyon Road for twenty one miles; after twenty-one miles, the road is known as Wildrose Canyon Road. Continue following the road, and at mile marker twenty four, the road will become unpaved, mostly graded gravel. If you are entering the park on Wildrose Canyon Road, you will turn right at the stop sign and continue up the road. After the Charcoal Kilns, the road ascends uphill to Mahogany Flat, and depending on the season, or NPS road repair, may be uneven and or rutted out. I personally would recommend some sort of AWD or 4WD vehicle to ascend the last section, but I have to admit that I’ve seen daring sedans climbing the mountain. Do also note that in winter the road may be impassable due to snow or ice as the base elevation is around ~7500 feet.

 Looking down toward Death Valley from the NPS Rogers Peak Service Road

From the Mahogany Flat campground parking area, there is a trailhead that is clearly marked with an entry box that heads toward Telescope Peak, as well as a fire access/service road. If you want to head up the Telescope Peak Trail, you can do so, and travel cross-country toward the summit of Rogers Peak once you reach Arcane Meadows (at approximately three miles). You will know that you are headed for the correct mountain as Rogers Peak is covered with NPS communications and weather watching equipment. At this point, you can head back down the fire access road for a roundtrip loop of around six miles.

Alternatively, you can head up the fire access/service road from Mahogany Flat toward the summit of Rogers Peak. This is the route I took with my climbing group in 2010, and it was a great pre-Mt. Whitney warm up. The route follows the road, and it is impossible to get lost from: all you have to do is follow the road (just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz). While the route is rather steep, it also has some great flat expanses, and great views of the Panamint Range, as well as Death Valley below. Once you reach the summit, you can marvel at the view of Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park to the South, and the three hundred and sixty degree view of Death Valley, the Sierra Nevadas, and many other geologic features that are all around you.

 Snow! It does exist in Death Valley (taken 6/2010)

You can also crack jokes, like my group did about the NPS equipment at the summit, and if you are fans of the television show Lost, you may think that you have found a sonic fence to block the smoke monster. Or, since Lost is long over, you can come up with your own purpose for the NPS Roger’s Peak Outpost (aliens? Zombie survival?). Following the road, and the road only, the hike will run you five and a quarter miles (5.25) roundtrip. Roundtrip, I’d say the hike is moderate, as it is all downhill on the way back (easy), but all uphill toward the summit (strenuous).

The most popular way to climb Rogers Peak is part of a three-or-two peak summit bid involving Telescope Peak and Bennett Peak. If you are headed to Telescope Peak first, you can follow the Telescope Peak Trail, and then travel cross country on your return trip over Bennett, and then across Arcane Meadows, as described above to Rogers, before heading down the road, or, start your hike on the road to Rogers, then Bennett, then Telescope, before returning to Mahogany Flat.

Part of the Rogers Peak "sonic fence"? :) 

Tips: I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this as Rogers Peak is over 9,000 feet, but a common assumption is that since this peak is in Death Valley, there is no snow or ice on the peak ever. The Panamint Range does receive a substantial amount of precipitation during the winter, and during this time, it is common for all three of the peaks – Bennett, Rogers, and Telescope to be well-covered in snow. As such, should you be planning a winter ascent, be prepared for the winter conditions, just as you would in any other mountain range. Fun fact: if you are over six (6) feet tall, your head will be at or above ten thousand feet, and your feet will be in the nine thousand foot range should you find the high spot at Rogers’ summit of 9,994 feet.

More Information: http://www.summitpost.org/rogers-bennett/172096, http://www.birdandhike.com/Hike/DEVA/Rogers_Rd/_Rog_Rd.htm, http://socalpeaks.com/2011/07/telescope-peak-rogers-peak/, http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/Telescope%20&%20Wildrose%20Peaks-2.pdf

The unexpected lurks everywhere in the desert, from factories in Trona, to snow in Death Valley.

An expected desert view, hot, dry, and dusty atop Wildrose Peak

I could hear the slight rumble from my engine as I stood next to the car. Actually, it was more of a feeling. The vibrations of the idling engine were pushing heat against my hand as I stood and wondered what exactly I was looking at. The stacks from the larger buildings pushed against the black sky, and the yellow lights spat cold light in every direction lower, partially illuminating the mountains and valley. I knew it was a factory. I could hear it grumbling and rumbling as it did something with the sounds of industry. What was odd, though, was that I didn’t see any people. It was like something out of a post-apocalyptic novel, in which the denizens of the town around the factory were consumed by the machines, or where the survivors gathered to hold off hordes of enemies. It was also cold. I shuddered, climbed back into my car, and made a mental note that I’d come back later.

A year later, I was in my car under the cold skies of late spring driving across the Searles Valley when I remembered that mental note. Oh yeah, this was the place I saw that weird factory. For a second, I chalked it up to some sort of midnight mirage – I had been driving too long, and had been too tired, and imagined the whole thing. Then, I saw it again. Not only it, but all of its attendant buildings. The town of Trona. I stopped again. Pulled over my car, and stared. It was 2:14 p.m. There were no sounds of people, but only machines. The wind whistled around me. I looked at the dull bits of the factory; the stripped paint of older buildings; and where people had repaired and built newer structures. It seemed a bit more reasonable, but still – off. I considered walking into the town, strolling between buildings, looking for people, but decided that such an action was first a little weird, and second, maybe a little rude. After all, people definitely lived here – probably liked it (hopefully), and they didn’t need some person poking around their alleys just because he had an overactive imagination. Also, I decided against looking around because I had visions of undead residents chasing me down hard packed empty streets.

Later, I did the research, and found out that Trona has always been a mining town – mining borax and other salts – was a company town, and might still be considered one today. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trona,_California, http://www.trona-ca.com/). And, as far as anyone knew, there were no zombies there, or, apparently, green grass on the football field. Certainly, to me it serves to illustrate that even in the remote corners of the world, man and his work lurks, for good or evil. The drive from Trona, through the Searles valley, in my mind is also pretty as the neighboring ranges sprout up from the ground in brown and granite walls. Certainly, as you drive into the Panamint Valley, the road sports some very interesting scenery.

Snow atop the above pictured peaks during the winter/spring season.Back in April, my view was obscured by swirling high clouds that clung to the peaks as the last remnants of a spring storm blew through. As I pulled into Death Valley National Park through the Wildrose Road/Pass, the clouds were clearing, and I could see snow in the Panamint Range. This goes to illustrate a second point about deserts: while you might expect deserts to be dry, arid places, at times, they can receive all sorts of interesting weather. I’ve been on both Wildrose and Telescope Peak in scorching weather, but never had I seen the amount of snow on these peaks like I had after the storm. It was such a sight that I had to stop and stare at the snow covered fields, with visions of ice axes, crampons, and glissade descents in my head before realizing that I had been planning on hiking a certain canyon that day, and daylight was fleeing. Sometimes, there’s just not enough time for all the adventures, mental, or otherwise, one wants to do. With that, I snapped my mental pictures, and continued on.