In the first picture, we are standing on the ridge high above Corkscrew Canyon looking at this very tempting drop-in route which heads into the canyon:
Tiffany starting down from the ridge. Notice my footprints in front of her, which reveal what the terrain was like early on:
This first portion of the drop had lots of gravel, sand, and soft dirt. The areas of solid rock were more slippery and had to be avoided:
Walking got a bit harder as the wash tightened up, the angle got steeper, and there were more potential slippery spots:
You can see why I did not savor the thought of climbing back up this later if the route failed:
Tiffany continuing to work her way down the long steep grade:
Up ahead, the canyon was transitioning from a steep gravel ravine into a boulder-strewn narrow wash:
Navigating through the transition phase requires attention to detail and smart route-finding:
Zooming in on Tiffany as she works through the final very steep grade:
The wash was a total nightmare, so we decided to stay to the left and use the steep gravel slides as much as possible:
Sinking and sliding down the gravel slopes was much easier as hiking terrain:
Tiffany following in my footsteps as she circles around an impassable area of the wash:
We took frequent rest breaks during the descent as the obstacles and challenges were continuous:
The next two pictures show the greatly varied terrain as the canyon began taking shape:
Upper Corkscrew Canyon is a majestic place of massive vertical walls and rugged but breathtaking terrain:
Zooming in on a natural window (or arch) that was visible on the ridge above the canyon headwall:
More perfectly angled gravel slopes began dropping into the canyon from the left side:
This provided for yet another magnificent view of upper Corkscrew Canyon to appreciate:
The headwall above Corkscrew Canyon is one of its dominant features:
I found a better angle of the natural window above the headwall from a little farther down canyon:
Walking up to the rim of the 1st major dry fall of upper Corkscrew Canyon. From a distance, it looks impassable:
But we were able to find a bypass route to the left in order to climb down (seen on the right side here):
Tiffany demonstrating how to bypass the 1st major dry fall:
I took a peek up a side canyon which joined the main one and spotted this major dry fall a short distance in:
You can see how the canyon closes up tightly to form a dry fall in between the two pinnacles:
The hillsides, wash, and canyon walls were so fascinating to check out throughout the entire upper canyon:
Rounding a bend with nervous apprehension and the dreadful feeling of having to turn around if this doesn't go through:
We abruptly came upon the edge of the 2nd major dry fall and things did not look good:
Fortunately, it turned out to be a relatively easy climb down:
Looking back at the mountain block which is divided by the major dry fall, I can't help but wonder if the two sides used to be connected and perhaps even contained a magnificent natural bridge at one time:
Up ahead, we spotted the Corkscrew Mine. It was at this moment that we knew the route was successful and we had made it through:
Tiffany getting a picture by one of the covered mine openings:
A new fence completely surrounds the ore bin structure at Corkscrew Mine to keep visitors out:
The workshop building is still standing and in fairly good condition:
A half-buried bucket is slowly getting covered by gravel:
Inside the workshop, not much remains except the work table and some odds and ends:
View of the wooden four-chute ore bin structure through the workshop window:
Rail tracks emerge from the adits in order to dump the ore into the chutes for processing:
Ore can be crushed, sorted, and processed after it has been dumped at the top:
From 1953 to 1955, colemanite was recovered here and used to form a boron-based fire retardant that the U.S. Forest Service used to fight forest fires:
The chute mechanisms look like they are still operational:
This is such a huge structure to stand under. One of the largest and most well-preserved in Death Valley:
View from the north side of the ore bin structure where a ladder goes up to the middle platform:
The workshop (or cabin) with colorful mountains in the background:
Notice how the ore bin structure is now completely enclosed by a fence:
During my first visit in 2008, there was no fence here:
Continuing down the main canyon after we finished checking out the Corkscrew Mine area:
This small pinnacle marks the entrance to the main side canyon of Corkscrew Canyon:
The main side canyon starts out with this section of high vertical walls which have eroded and formed an opening:
A rock-topped pinnacle rising high above the canyon walls:
The continuously winding curves of Corkscrew MSC begin:
The canyon quickly transitions into a tight slot canyon with a very narrow wash:
Long mud drip structures flowing down the canyon wall:
The sheer height of the walls make this slot canyon even more impressive:
At several bends in the canyon, the walls close up so tight that your clothes get dirty while squeezing through:
Emerging from an incredibly tight bend in the canyon:
The soft texture of the slot walls is quite incredible throughout:
Notice how Tiffany cannot stand up straight in the wash, but she has to lean over while passing through:
Entering one of the darkest bends of the slot which has been created by a massive overhang:
Tiffany preparing to enter into the darkness:
Looking up at the overhanging section of canyon. If this ever collapsed, the slot could become impassable:
The wash in the bottom remained very small and free of debris:
Three pictures showing the mixture of light and shadows through the overhanging section of curving slot:
The next two pictures show how the overhang extends out high above the canyon wall:
There are some fun and easy climbing sections while progressing through the slot:
Time for some crawling in order to get under this wedged boulder:
This is "Corkscrew Bridge", formerly considered a major natural bridge but now correctly labeled as a false natural bridge:
Getting a picture in front of the formation, which is still interesting to check out despite being removed from the list of major natural bridges:
Looking up at the section of wall which collapsed, thus creating the false natural bridge:
Very nice samples of mud drip structures near the formation:
Good lighting looking in this direction back down canyon at the "bridge", as seen in the next two pictures:
I had to include one picture of myself at "Corkscrew Bridge" from the 2008 hike about 9 years ago:
Past the bridge formation, there are some additional sections of incredible slot narrows:
The walls are high, tight, and completely enclose hikers at uncomfortable angles:
Light once again has difficulty filtering into the slot narrows:
The dramatic canyon bends continue, as they have nonstop since near the main side canyon mouth:
The canyon finally straightens out and heads toward a wide-open area:
There is so much variety on display within this one section of canyon wall with different rock shapes, angles, and types:
Rounded blocks of canyon walls push out on both sides:
A pretty section of canyon where the wall curves down into the wash and up the other side:
This was all new scenery for me as my 2008 hike had stopped when the slot narrows ended:
Jagged formations with sharp edges rise high above the canyon:
The Corkscrew Main Side Canyon continued to impress as we headed farther up canyon:
While there were no more true slot narrows, the canyon constricted every once in a while:
A gentle climbing section leading into a long straightaway:
The canyon continued much farther than I was expecting as we entered this enclosed valley with high cliffs:
Yet another constriction appeared when it was least expected:
Climbing through a short beautiful passage in the upper canyon:
Toward the end of the canyon, majestic formations rose up high above us all around:
This is the spot where we decided to turn around and head back down canyon:
While heading back down the upper part, we had this view of the colorful mountains and cliffs above the main canyon:
Zooming in, you can actually see part of the route we took down from the ridge in upper Corkscrew Canyon. Note the center of the picture where a sloped gravel wash comes down from right to left. And I'm pretty sure that the giant boulder visible on the ridge is the same one seen when we started down (back in the third picture):
Upon exiting Corkscrew Canyon, I was dismayed to see this new No Trespassing sign on the gate. That's sad that hikers are denied the opportunity to see this beautiful area:
