GET-YUR-MOTOR-RUNNIN' ROAD TRIP
(Astoria - Santa Fe - Death Valley - Astoria)
Death Valley National Park, CA
November 12, 2013 (Day 29 of 44)
Miles Today: 45 / Trip Miles: 3,324
Photos:
Click on photo for a larger image.
All photos (except Mustard Canyon-1934, Asshole on Mushroom Rock and Mushroom Rock-1939) © 2014 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.
Inn at Furnace Creek:
Mary & I stayed at the Inn at Furnace Creek, This 3-star hotel is the place to stay for Death Valley visits. The inn was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company as a way to save their newly built Death Valley Railroad. Borax mines had closed and a railroad to transport ore was no longer needed, so mining the pockets of tourists seemed a sure way to keep the narrow-gauge railroad line active. The borax company figured that train travelers would need a place to stay, and wealthy visitors accustomed to comfort would be attracted to a luxury hotel.
When opened for business in 1927, the Furnace Creek Inn was an immediate success. Unfortunately for the borax mining company, their railroad closed forever in 1930 when it became apparent tourists preferred the freedom of arriving in their own cars. Designed by architect Albert Martin and landscape architect Daniel Hull, the 66-room inn sprawls across a low hill at the mouth of Furnace Creek Wash.
The dining experience was excellent—what you would expect at a finer hotel. I rarely eat steak, but decided to make an exception based on my cousin Rich's raving about a steak dinner he once had at Furnace Creek. At our first dinner, I ordered filet mignon—it was lean, tender and awesomely delicious. So delicious, I ordered it a second time a few dinners later. (Hotel & Dining Room Rating = A)
Inn at Furnace Creek
Looking at the Inn at Furnace Creek from the Furnace Creek Wash. The inn is located in east-central Death Valley at the base of the Funeral Mountains.
[flickr]
[flickr]
Harmony Borax Works Ruins:
Harmony Borax Works played an important role in Death Valley history. After borax was found near Furnace Creek Ranch in 1881, William Coleman built the Harmony plant and began to process ore in late 1883 or early 1884. When in full operation, the Harmony Borax Works employed 40 men who produced three tons of borax daily. Getting the finished product to market from the heart of Death Valley was a difficult task, and an efficient method had to be devised. The Harmony operation became famous through its use of large mule teams and double wagons to haul borax over the long route to Mojave. The image of the “20-mule team” has become the symbol of the borax industry. When Coleman’s financial empire collapsed in 1888, the Harmony plant went out of operation after only five years of production. In 1974, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Rating = C)
Ford Carcass
Rusted remains of an old Ford vehicle sit in the hills south of the Harmony Borax Works. The Panamint Mountains are in the background.
[flickr]
[flickr]
Cracked Mud
Cracked mud near Harmony Borax Works. Death Valley is very, very hot and dry. Annual precipitation over the last fifty years has averaged 2.2 inches. The greatest number of consecutive days with a maximum temperature of 100° F, or above, was 160 days in the summer of 2001. The summer of 1996 had 40 days over 120° F, and 105 days over 110° F. The highest ground temperature recorded was 201° F at Furnace Creek in July 1972. The maximum air temperature on that day was 128° F.
[flickr]
A one-way dirt road north of the Harmony Borax Works runs through Mustard Canyon. The canyon is devoid of plant life, and was formed by occasional flash floods flowing through a wash that cuts through a series of mustard-colored hills. Star Wars fans may recognize this place as Jawa's hideout from Episode IV. (Rating = B-)
[flickr]
Mustard Canyon:
 |
| Mustard Canyon - 1934 |
Mustard Canyon is devoid of plant life, and was formed by occasional flash floods flowing through a wash that cuts through a series of mustard-colored hills.
[flickr]
Natural
Bridge Canyon:
Natural Bridge Canyon is east of Badwater Road via a rough and rutted 1.5 mile dirt road. This narrow canyon in the Amargosa Range was created when erosion undercut a section of the stream bed. Over time, the erosion created a bridge above the canyon floor. The round trip hike is an easy two miles. The trail quickly enters the mouth of the canyon. Half a mile from the start, the walls of the canyon narrow and a 50-foot tall natural bridge spans the canyon. Natural Bridge has the distinction of being the largest (by volume) natural bridge in the park. Unlike the arches and natural bridges in Utah that are made of sandstone, Death Valley's fourteen arches and natural bridges are made of conglomerate rock (13) or solid rock (1). (Rating = B+)
Natural Bridge Canyon is east of Badwater Road via a rough and rutted 1.5 mile dirt road. This narrow canyon in the Amargosa Range was created when erosion undercut a section of the stream bed. Over time, the erosion created a bridge above the canyon floor. The round trip hike is an easy two miles. The trail quickly enters the mouth of the canyon. Half a mile from the start, the walls of the canyon narrow and a 50-foot tall natural bridge spans the canyon. Natural Bridge has the distinction of being the largest (by volume) natural bridge in the park. Unlike the arches and natural bridges in Utah that are made of sandstone, Death Valley's fourteen arches and natural bridges are made of conglomerate rock (13) or solid rock (1). (Rating = B+)
Mary stands in Natural Bridge Canyon. Over time, erosion undercut a section of the stream bed, and eventually created a bridge above the canyon floor.
[flickr]
Death Valley at Dusk #7
Early twilight in Death Valley, looking west toward the Panamint Range from the Natural Bridge Canyon trailhead.
[flickr]
[flickr]
Mushroom Rock:
 |
| Asshole Standing on Mushroom Rock |
Located about 150 feet from Badwater Road is Mushroom Rock. A large, distinctive outcropping of basalt, this rock has been weathered and eroded over time to form a distinctive mushroom shape. Once known as the Devil's Throne, Mushroom Rock has essentially disappeared from Death Valley maps because irresponsible actions have significantly diminished its unique character. People have broken off small chunks for "souvenirs" or posed on it in groups for pictures. Reportedly a group of boy scouts stood on top of the rock, and broke off a section. Now, Mushroom Rock is no longer marked for visitors, and the parking area has been removed.
Mushroom Rock - 1939
Death Valley at Dusk #8
Mary in the warm light of evening twilight in Death Valley. Light from the setting sun was reflecting off clouds to the southeast. Location: Mushroom Rock looking west toward the Panamint Range.
[flickr]
[flickr]
Death Valley at Dusk #9
Today's Route & Destination:
Overall Scenic Rating: A-
Driving Fun/Road Rating: C
Tomorrow:
Drive Mary to Las Vegas airport for her flight home. Leon returns to Furnace Creek.
No comments:
Post a Comment