Stopping for photos while driving up and over the portion of Gold Valley Road which connects 4238T to 4188T. The unique minor flat-topped peak seen at the right is peak 5021T.
This one-mile connector road is a shortcut but it is very rough and should not be driven without HC and 4WD:
The eastern face of Smith Mountain could be seen from here. The summit is on the right side and looks slightly lower (but is not) from this angle:
We parked about 1/4 mile before the end of the road due to the rough spot seen at the bottom of this picture:
Check out the impressive red rock formations rising up out of this high hillside:
This is where the actual Gold Valley spur road comes to an end. The hike begins by passing through the gap seen here:
The moon was bright in the sky above a distant ridge:
A number of small washes converge past the gap but the key is to turn south and choose a good wash heading up:
Looking back after beginning the cross country portion of the hike:
Zooming in, some colorful rock formations are visible on the closer hillside, while the distinct shape of Funeral Peak (6,384 feet) can be seen at the background middle:
From the parking area to the saddle, we gained 450 feet in elevation. The last stretch was the steepest part:
Final climb up to the saddle between this side and Upper Scotty's Canyon on the other side:
Looking back from the saddle toward the route we had climbed up:
View looking to the north from the saddle toward Funeral Peak:
Zooming in on the unique features and rock formations surrounding Funeral Peak:
The rock formations of peak 5035T really stood out when viewed from the saddle:
Panoramic view looking down the head of Scotty's Canyon from the saddle above:
Both Desert Hound Peak (left side) and Ashford Peak (middle on the ridge behind) can be seen from here:
Zooming in on Desert Hound Peak (4,472 feet), which was one of the first Death Valley peaks I ever hiked on April 26, 2007:
From far away, there was an outstanding view of Owlshead Canyon (left) and Talc Canyon (right):
Talc Canyon is the northernmost officially named canyon in the Owlsheads and has a massive headwall above it:
Owlshead Canyon is one of the most wide open canyons in the range but it does narrow down and have some major dry falls toward the end:
The mouth of Contact Canyon and Contact BM (red arrow) were also visible:
Despite being some 19 air miles away, Owl Lake was partially visible:
The low point in the saddle where we decided to drop into the head of the canyon:
The drop was fairly steep to begin with but definitely manageable:
A small rough wash was beginning to take shape:
An old relic of mining days that is becoming fully buried in the wash:
Looking ahead, the wash far below looked like it would require a huge elevation drop to reach:
Entering a gorge area that raised concerns about potential dry falls within due to past experiences:
The gorge was narrow, steep, and full of rough rock walls:
The gorge ended at the rim of the 1st major dry fall. It was time to backtrack and look for a bypass:
We found a bypass route that we would rate as being highly difficult:
Arriving back in the wash and looking up at the steep bypass slope:
This picture was taken during the hike back, but it is included here to show the intense steepness of the bypass route. The 1st major dry fall can be seen on the left:
Looking up at the very prominent peak 5172T and clouds above it:
We passed through a section of canyon which had very colorful rocks. Notice the pink color here:
This boulder had a blue coloring to it:
The wash became much easier to hike in, which was a huge relief for all of us:
Also, the canyon walls began to take more of a distinct shape, rather than just being sloping hillsides:
The wash trends to the south but has a lot of continuous curves:
The main feature of the wash, however, is that it drops elevation quickly:
A really neat spot in the canyon where the walls form a diagonal gap to pass through:
This is the 2nd major dry fall. We probably could have climbed it down if we really needed to, but there was a plant growing in the worst possible spot:
After completing a bypass by cutting two washes over, we took a closer look at the 2nd dry fall:
Resuming our exploration of Upper Scotty's Canyon having bypassed (with some hardship) the 1st and 2nd dry falls:
Very rugged rock making up the canyon walls:
This rock wall was overhanging one side of the canyon:
Desert Hound Peak was almost always visible in front of us like a beacon:
Very large plants with yellow blooms in the wash:
Notice how sandy the wash bottom is and how it is clearly frequented by Bighorn sheep:
A very distinct rock on the right side as we headed around yet another bend:
We found several patches of coyote gourds (or melons) growing in the wash:
Coyote gourds are squash fruits that are inedible to humans because of being so bitter:
These green gourds will eventually ripen by turning yellow in color. It is said that indians made use of the gourd seeds for food after grinding them down:
I had previously come across coyote gourds during other Death Valley hikes (such as in Monarch Canyon), but this was the largest display I had ever seen:
A wide open section with a clear view of the Desert Hound ridgeline:
Check out the series of natural rock shelves above the wash:
The slopes of Desert Hound Peak become more visible as progress is made down canyon:
The easiest wash hiking of the entire route is found between the 2nd and 3rd dry falls:
A very pretty view looking back up canyon:
Zooming in on peak 5172T, which looks especially impressive from this angle:
I was doing both photos and video on this hike, which really slowed down the pace and kept me at the back of the group:
A boulder has rolled down the hillside here and gotten lodged right in the middle of the wash:
Some more very nice canyon scenery that continued to get better:
Spotting a Bighorn sheep ram up on the ridge watching our group of hikers pass by:
The Bighorn sheep started walking along the top of the ridge:
Here, he is scrambling down some rocks and will soon pass out of view:
Lowell standing at the rim of the 3rd major dry fall:
It was kind of frustrating to run into yet another huge obstacle because we felt like we were getting somewhat close to Timpapah Spring:
Looking straight down the 3rd major dry fall. It had some polished rock with exposure, so we weren't comfortable trying to climb down it:
From the high point of the bypass we took, we could see the junction between the main canyon and a large side canyon:
This bypass route was the most treacherous and challenging of all three that we attempted during the day:
It was a great relief once we finally made it down safely and were back in the main wash. Here, we are looking back up at the 3rd major dry fall:
A short time later, we had to do some small climbing drops in order to continue down canyon:
Looking back up at one tricky spot that was harder to climb back up later in the day than it was to get down:
Looking back at the junction between Upper Scotty's Canyon (left) and the large side canyon (right). We originally hoped to attempt looping back up the canyon on the right but were unable to try it:
Past the junction, the walls on both sides of the canyon grew to incredible heights:
Some very long grasses which were growing out into the wash:
These were the best narrows of the entire hike:
Passing through one of the narrowest sections of canyon where you can touch both walls at the same time:
Very nice smooth rock on both sides, much different from the rugged sharp rock seen higher up canyon:
Looking back after passing through an awesome section of narrows:
One final narrow spot before the canyon opens up once again:
We encountered a number of minor dry falls and chutes to climb down:
As we approached the middle canyon, the terrain became quite a bit different with solid rock extending down into the wash:
From this point on, the canyon descended even more rapidly as it dropped elevation:
It was fun climbing down some of these polished chutes:
Another minor dry fall with an easy drop:
You can imagine the scene when a flash flood comes down this canyon and overflows on this polished rock:
The canyon continues winding its way down around numerous bends:
Looking up at canyon walls some 500 feet in height above us:
More solid rock crossing the canyon from one side to the other:
The long section of dry cascades continued in the canyon:
We worked our way down this minor dry fall by using the ledges seen on the right:
There are some really impressive spots within these narrows just before reaching Timpapah Spring:
On the right side, you can see the bypass slope which leads above the canyon and to the overlook points of the spring:
Reaching the rim of the 4th major dry fall which provided our first view of Timpapah Spring in the distance:
Stains from recent water flow show that this is not always a dry fall:
Once we safely climbed above the canyon, we had some nice views of Timpapah Spring. Notice the sheep trail visible just above the green tree:
An incredible view looking down canyon from the spring with a large rock pinnacle rising up above on the right side:
It wasn't possible to scramble safely down to the surface water of Timpapah Spring:
Here, you can see surface water flowing over the edge of a waterfall:
Small trees and plants thriving off the spring water:
A small moss-covered waterfall which is benefiting from the surface water:
Timpapah Spring would be fun to explore more thoroughly, but even if someone got down into the wash, there are waterfalls all around to contend with:
These old cans were perhaps used by Death Valley Scotty and his friend Bill Keyes:
This side canyon major dry fall is usually the first dry fall rappelled down by canyoneers who are descending Lower Scotty's Canyon:
We were pleasantly surprised to see this Bighorn sheep lamb appear above Timpapah Spring:
This was perhaps the first time ever that this adorable lamb has seen humans:
Bighorn sheep ewe and lamb side by side above the spring:
The Bighorn sheep mother was no doubt concerned upon seeing us and perhaps wondered if we were a threat:
A close-up of the Bighorn sheep ewe:
One final look as the mother stares straight across the gorge at us. Such a beautiful coat of fur:
This is the view looking down and out Lower Scotty's Canyon:
The view looking out the canyon is really spectacular as it shows three major Death Valley peaks. Left to right, they are Sugarloaf Peak, Needle Peak, and Manly Peak:
On the hike back, we found a live tarantula crossing the wash:
A really nice close-up of the tarantula in the afternoon sun:
The afternoon shadows provided for perhaps the most dramatic view of Desert Hound Peak:
After completing the hike, we drove the clockwise loop through Gold Valley and enjoyed this nice sunset:
Sunset over the Panamints as seen from Upper Willow Canyon:
