Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX Xcursion Pictures => Topic started by: Paul on November 12, 2009, 08:24:58 AM
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Part one of five parts - Trona Pinnacles Trail, Slate Range Trail, Mengel Pass Trail, Harry Wade Escape Route and the Ibex Dunes Trail.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/RoughMap.jpg)
(only rough estimate of the trails taken)
The Trona Pinnacles trail starts off of the Trona road and runs 25 fairly easy miles. The toughest part was finding the way though the foothills of the Summit Range where there are hundreds of zig-zagging and crossing mining and motorcycle trails through the Spangle Hills open use area. The trail starts with two rather tough challenges.
The cattle guard.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona01.jpg)
And then an underpass that was a bit narrow.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona02.jpg)
There was an area that had so many trails we couldn't tell where one ended and the next began so we just sort of head in that yonder direction following what we wanted. There were plenty of small 50-75 foot tall hills to climb up and down so we had a bit of fun before finding the real trail again.
The Trona Pinnacles are large calcium carbonate towers deposited in ancient lakes as mineral rich mountain snow run offs settled into depressions in the bottom of the lake. The area is a designated National Natural Landmark and has been the background for many of a movie including: Star Trek IV: The Final Frontier, Dinosaur, the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes, and one of my favorites: Pitch Black.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona00.jpg)
The area was used by wagon trails from miners harvesting the rich mineral deposits. It's claimed that the area is the richest mineral deposit in the world with 50% of the known minerals found there. The area has been mined since the 1860s and the efforts continue today.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona03.jpg)
The trail coming from the south and west doesn't reveal the Pinnacles until half-way point in the trail where you crest a high ridge that overlooks the area ... and the view is stunning. The only restrictions are that you stay on the marked trails and primitive camping is open anywhere.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona05.jpg)
A Verizon commercial in the making ... can you hear me now? This was the only place along the four trails with cell service by the way.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona04.jpg)
We set up camp along the eastern part of the Pinnacles and had a nice meal of carne assada soft tacos, built a small fire in an existing fire pit, and enjoyed the night. There wasn't anyone in the entire valley but us and the Searles Mine workers some ten miles to the north of us. The weather was perfectly still - creepy still and made for some nice photos.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona06.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona07.jpg)
Come morning we were up early to hit the trail to the north. We enjoyed a nice hot shower after breakfast. The morning light brought some interesting shadows.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona08.jpg)
Packed up and ready to go. Day one was an easy day with some very rewarding views to prepare
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/Death%20Valley%20Solo%20Nov%202009/Trona%20Pinnacles%20Trail/Trona09.jpg)
We hit the pavement and drove about ten miles to the Slate Range trail. We filled up at Searles Valley topping off the gas tank and water supplies.
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Great shots Paul. That looks like a place I'd like to explore.
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I've always wanted to visit that place!
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Nice Paul. Hey if you ended up near Tecopa you could have took a dip in the hot tubs there.
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I LOVE THAT MAP YOU POSTED! I really wish all the Xcursions had a map visual like that one you posted Paul. It gives you a good topographic view of the terrain we will cross. Can we do that from here on out?
P.S. How did you manage to post it like that? (that could be a new thread!)
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Very nice, Paul. That was one nasty looking cattle guard, glad to hear you made it across without incident.
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Nice Paul. Hey if you ended up near Tecopa you could have took a dip in the hot tubs there.
We aimed for the hot springs equipped cabin in Butte Valley but it was occupied. :-\
The Zodi shower got a work out and was a primary user of water on the trip but it was worth it. A nice warm shower once the sun came out and started warming the air was a nice treat.
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Very nice, Paul. That was one nasty looking cattle guard, glad to hear you made it across without incident.
That's a google map with some Photoshop work done on it.
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Very nice, Paul. That was one nasty looking cattle guard, glad to hear you made it across without incident.
One of the hardest parts of the trail. This was a truly "stock friendly" ride with just a bit of loose rock in some areas. I don't think I put it into 4WD but once or twice climbing out of a gully here or there. I did air down about halfway as I knew I had some pavement to cover (in black on the map).
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Great pictures Paul. Looks like fun. Did somebody say mining? hmmmmm.
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Very nice, Paul. That was one nasty looking cattle guard, glad to hear you made it across without incident.
Don't underestimate the challenge of any cattle guard - they can be daunting :o