Death Valley Geoloy Tour

New Death Valley Geology Tour
When: Nov 20, 2009 - Nov 22, 2009
Category: SCLR Events

Description

New Death Valley Geology Tour 11-20-09
Frank BuddenbrockUpdates available here on the Roverboard
I’m doing another Geology Tour in, around, and through Death Valley, but covering different parts of the park this time, for the most part. There will be a little overlap with our previous trip.

This is mostly a sight-seeing trip, a geology education, and photo opportunity bonanza. No hard-core driving on this trip.A number of people really wanted to go on the last one, but couldn’t make it. Here's your chance! The weather should be fantastic in late November. Bring layers- it can get pretty cold in the evenings especially at higher elevations.My friend Allan Shareghi, a senior geologist with the Dept. of The Interior, will again narrate the geology we discover on our trip.

Stock trucks should have no problems. Please bring a full-size spare. Bring a teakettle for our Teakettle Junction stop and obligatory photo op. Lunch will be on the trail on Saturday and Sunday.Time frame: November 20-22, 2009, Friday through Sunday (the weekend before Thanksgiving).

If you can't make all three days, join us for the days you can.Here is the itinerary.Friday, 9 am.Meet at Pearsonville on Highway 395, north of Inyokern.Stop at Fossil Falls- Fossil Falls is a unique geological feature. Volcanic activity in the Coso Mountain range, along with meltwater from glaciers in the nearby Sierra Nevada, played a role in the creation of the falls.

The rugged and primitive features of Fossil Falls are the product of volcanic activity. As recent as 20,000 years ago, lava from the local volcanic eruptions poured into the Owens River channel. The erosional forces of the Owens River acted upon this volcanic rock, forming the polished and sculptured features that now can be seen at Fossil Falls.

Stop at Red Hill just north of Fossil Falls- The red cinder cone visible to the north is the result of the violent ejection of trapped gases and molten material into the air from vent in the earth's crust. Cooling quickly when exposed to the air, the molten material formed a porous rock known as scoria, which built up around the original vent forming a cone-shaped hill.

Possibly investigate pumice mines northeast of Coso Junction.Brunch/lunch at Olancha Ranch Café. Phone: 760-764-2363Head east over to Swansea Grade, outside of Keeler and make our way up the grade with Cerro Gordo as our desired destination. This will be the most challenging part of the entire weekend. There is a definite opportunity for some California pinstriping, or at least there was last time through there.

We’ll make a stop at the Salt Tram at the crest of the Inyo Mountains. The BLM has been busy refurbishing the structures here.Head over to Cerro Gordo, once probably the most productive silver mine in California. We’ll stop for some photos, maybe a short tour, and some home-brewed root beer the The American Hotel. It's strange to stand in Cerro Gordo and realize that there are about 29 miles of tunnels beneath the town, in 13 different levels!!(We can’t spend the night in the bunkhouse at Cerro Gordo- darn!- the owner has been ill.)>From Cerro Gordo, we’ll run through the Joshua tree forest at Lee Flat and daylight permitting, head over to Darwin, Darwin Falls, and the China Garden Spring, replete with goldfish, before our first night stop at Panamint Springs.Panamint Springs has accommodations, camping, showers, real bathrooms, a restaurant, gas, and a general store. Phone: 775-482-7680 Saturday 8 am.

If it was too dark for Darwin on Friday afternoon (the sun goes down very early in late November), we’ll hit Darwin first thing Saturday morning.After Darwin, we’ll head over to the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, then Aguereberry Point (our tentative lunch stop overlooking Death Valley) and the mining town Skidoo.>

From there, we’ll head over to Marble Canyon, west of Stovepipe Wells. Time (daylight) permitting, we may make a run up to Mosaic Canyon as well.Saturday’s night stop will be at Furnace Creek Ranch. Furnace Creek Ranch has accommodations, camping, a couple of restaurants with GREAT dinner and breakfast, gas, and a general store. Phone: 760-786-2345Sunday 8 am.Sunday morning, we’ll head northeast into Nevada to Rhyolite before making our way through Titus Canyon. Rhyolite has some great photogenic “ruins” and a Bottle House made from over 30,000 beer bottles.

Once through Titus Canyon (an incredible visual and geological treat), we’ll head north again to Scotty’s Castle, which will probably be our lunch stop. There’s no food (nor gas) at Scotty’s Castle- bring your own. If you gassed up at Furnace Creek Ranch you'll be fine.We’ll probably take one of the tours at the castle, then head over to Ubehebe Crater, a volcanic crate a half mile across and about 500 deep. >From there, it's down to Teakettle Junction (don't forget to bring a teakettle to hang here and take a photo), The Racetrack with its “racing”rocks, and then Lippencott Mine Road (the next most challenging section of this trip) before ending up in Saline Valley. It’ll probably be dark by now. South through Saline Valley, up through Grapevine Canyon back to Hwy 190. Air up the tires before heading back to Olancha for dinner.I may also invite a couple of friends who don't own Land Rovers- feel free to do the same.