Friday 30 March 2007

Friday morning we drove back down Pleasant Canyon (didn't go around the loop) and drove on the pavement to Panamint Springs for supplies. Gas was $4 per gallon and propane was $6 per quart. (Jon R. says he would charge more than that if he had to live there.) Then we headed north and took the road to South Pass and then down into Saline Valley. As we went down into Saline Valley we were buzzed by a couple of F-18's from China Lake (just south of Panamint Valley). Next we headed up Lippencott Road to cross into Racetrack Valley. Lippencott is rough and eroded, so 4WD was seriously needed. It also has a number of washouts that narrow the road enough to make it very exciting from the passenger seat of a fullsize truck. After lunch at the top of Lippencott, we headed north on Racetrack Road to see the famous "moving stones" on the playa. (Jon says you have to watch out of the corner of your eye to see them move.) At the far end of Racetrack, we stopped at Ubehebe Crater. We camped that evening at the developed campground at Mesquite Spring (much nicer than the campground at Furnace Creek). It was cooler and windier than the previous night.

Photos by Mike D.

.


.


.


.


Joshua tree near Lee's Flat.


.


.


Lunch in the "forest" at the top of Racetrack Valley.


.


.


Moving stones on Racetrack Playa.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.

Photos by John H.

.


.


Going back down Pleasant Canyon.


.


Padre Crowley Point.


Panorama of Panamint Valley from Padre Crowley Point.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


Lippencott Road looking back down into Saline Valley.


.


.


.


Moving stones on Racetrack Playa.


.


.


.


.


.


Teakettle Junction.


.


.


.


Ubehebe Crater.


.


.


.


.


.


.

Photos by Ron P.

going down Pleasant Canyon.


suburban Ballarat in Panamint Valley.


Padre Crowley Point.


.


.


Joshua Trees in Lee's Flat.


.


.


Looking down into Panamint Valley (near South Pass).


.


.


In Saline Valley on the way to Lippencott Road.


going up Lippencott Road -- some real 4-wheelin'.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


Ubehebe Crater.

Photos by Jon R.

.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.

John Hill <jhill@as.arizona.edu>
Last modified: Mon Aug 27 18:12:44 2007