TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
This was our parking spot located up Ellie Iron Mine Road past Owl Hole Springs:
Roughly the first mile of the hike is along the road as it climbs toward two mines:
This is the ore bin of the Black Magic Mine. It is really well preserved and interesting to check out:
The road soon crests and continues along the top of the range toward Spring BM:
This is the first of what would be many outstanding views of Owl Lake:
There are some steep grades to climb on the road as it gains elevation, loses it, and then gains it again:
Spring BM comes into full view on the left side:
This is the crossover spot from the road to Spring BM. It must be one of the easiest park summits to reach for those with a 4WD Jeep:
This is the Spring BM benchmark located at the summit (3,342 feet in elevation):
Looking to the west from the summit of Spring BM toward where the hike started:
Owl Lake is located to the north and is partially obscured by foothills of the range:
The summit of Mill BM is located northeast of Spring BM about 3 1/2 air miles away. But getting there requires about 5 miles of hiking from this spot:
Zooming in on Mill BM, which can be seen at the high point in the middle of the picture. In the background range, Ibex Peak (4,751 feet) is visible at the upper left:
View to the east from Spring BM showing Kingston Peak (7,336 feet) in the background range:
A portion of the Ibex Sand Dunes are visible from the summit of Spring BM:
After briefly enjoying the summit views, we headed northeast to begin crossing along the top of the range:
The hidden dry lake soon comes into view from above:
Walking along the cracked mud surface of the dry lake:
Taking a closer look at the mud crack patterns on the dry lake:
At the northern end of the dry lake, we picked up a burro trail leading the way:
We next had to drop into a small wash that took us downhill for a short distance:
For the first half of this hike, we traded off hiking in small washes with hiking along hillsides and areas of flat terrain above:
We knew that we could not keep descending down into the range, so we used this burro trail to climb up above for the next crossing:
The burro trail led us to this long flat plateau that we had to cross. Peak 966T was our guiding landmark. We had to stay to the right of this minor peak:
Passing directly below the slopes of peak 966T:
Looking back toward Spring BM, which we had descended from not too long ago:
After passing by peak 966T, we dropped into a larger wash which once again took us downhill:
The wash passed through this small section of narrows with decomposed granite side walls:
We found a small area of quartz as we climbed out of the wash and began another short crossover:
Once again, the key is to not descend down into the range too far but to stay high. Here, our next target would be the main ridge located to the left of peak 931T (seen on the right side):
Our hikers heading up another wash toward the top of the range:
We have now reached the main ridge along the top of the range. We would mostly try to stay along this high ridge for the rest of the journey:
Owl Lake looked even more impressive once we reached the main ridge:
Zooming in on the eastern edge of Owl Lake:
This small rock outcropping is a good target to head toward which confirms you are on the right track:
Looking up at peak 931T, which is very close now and the next objective to reach:
Peak 931T contains some of the steepest hiking of the entire route:
Looking back, we came down and around the small rocky black bump at the left-center of the picture. But on the hike back, we hiked around the black bump to the right (in the visible wash) and it was a little bit shorter:
Our hikers arriving on the summit of peak 931T:
Peak 931T provided a nice spot to take our first break and enjoy the views:
The view of Owl Lake from peak 931T was my favorite of the day:
The white-banded cliffs of Owlhead BM (4,409 feet) are very distinct and help to easily identify the summit location:
At first, we thought this distinct peak in the distance was Con BM. But it is actually just an unnamed summit in between Smoke Tree Canyon and South Smoke Tree Canyon. The open area at the bottom right actually leads to the head of Sand Canyon:
Leaving peak 931T behind, we continued hiking along the top of the range:
The ridgeline kind of circled around an area of cliffs, first turning east and then going north once again:
Spotting peak 921T far off in the distance across the cliffs (which we circled around):
Zooming in on peak 921T, which our group would nickname "The Castle":
As we circled around the area of cliffs, we found this crashed Dart resting on the ground:
Getting my picture next to the crashed Dart:
The hook at the end of the tow cable which pulls the Dart when up in the air:
A picture of Lowell with the Dart, which appears to be about 12 feet in length:
The strange looking metal piece attached to the back of the dart is likely a radar reflector:
More Dart remnants that were found on the ground a short distance away from the main piece:
Our view of Owl Lake continued to change as we gained more mileage hiking along the ridge top:
Lowell posing next to a large Cottontop cactus found along the ridge:
The Castle is a minor peak rising up high made of giant decomposed granite boulders:
We headed toward the left side of The Castle (peak 921T) so we could maintain our elevation but not climb too high:
Past The Castle, the terrain completely changed. Before, it was mostly just dirt hillsides and ridges. Now, it was covered by typical Owlshead rocks:
The next section was the least clear as far as figuring out the best route. So we just tried to keep our elevation as high as possible:
Check out the fields of decomposed granite boulders we had to work our way through:
We had to choose between cutting straight across this area or working our way around it:
The Owlsheads are well known for giant boulders of decomposed granite:
Looking back at some of the crazy terrain we crossed after leaving The Castle (seen rising up far in the distance):
A huge rock outcropping found along the top of the range:
Approaching peak 934T, which is the last minor peak that served as an important marker along the route:
At peak 934T, the route shifts to the east as we approach the end of the hike:
The summit of Mill BM (seen at the top center) looks so close now:
Our hikers continuing along the top ridge with the summit in view:
There is one final large drop down into a valley and then a 200-foot elevation climb to the summit:
Getting a picture with Mill BM in the background. It had been quite a journey across the top of the range from Spring BM to Mill BM:
At the bottom of the small valley, we found a hillside covered with quartz, which made sense because South Quartz Canyon is the next major canyon to the north:
Climbing the final 200 feet in elevation to reach the summit:
Another boulder field to cross on the slopes of the summit:
These upright boulders stood out among the smaller ones all around:
Lowell happy that we have finally made it to the summit of Mill BM:
The benchmark for Mill BM was placed in 1947. Notice that it lists the elevation as being 3,135 feet, while topo maps show it as being 3,130 feet:
Getting a close-up picture with the benchmark. If I remember right, I started this tradition on the summit of Con BM some 8 1/2 years earlier:
The views from Mill BM start by looking to the west toward Owl Lake:
Brown Mountain (5,124 feet) is always a distinct peak that can be seen from most Owlsheads summits. However, this peak is not accessible to hikers because it is located on military land:
Owl BM (left side) is the highest peak in the Owlshead Mountains at 4,666 feet:
Looking out at Owl Lake. There are better views of Owl Lake from along the ridgeline. Behind Owl Lake, the peak rising up high at the right-center is Manly Peak (7,196 feet):
A zoomed view showing the northern end of Owl Lake along with Owlhead BM:
Owlhead BM (4,409 feet) is the most challenging peak to summit in the Owlshead Mountains:
View looking across the range to the northwest:
The large basin area seen here is located north of Owl Lake and is seldom visited by hikers:
Zooming in on three very high major peaks located in the southern Panamints. Left to right, they are Mormon BM (8,270 feet), Porter Peak (9,101 feet), and Sentinel Peak (9,634 feet):
A great view of Telescope Peak as seen from Mill BM:
Zooming in on Telescope Peak, which is located some 41 air miles away:
Rogers Peak (left) and Wildrose Peak (right) were also clearly visible:
The dark hills seen in the center of the picture form part of the ominous headwall above Talc Canyon (right middle):
Con BM is just barely visible in the center of the picture. To see it, follow the somewhat flat ridge across from the left side of the picture. Con BM is located just above the V-shaped notch in the hillside in front of it:
Zooming in on the head of South Smoke Tree Canyon:
View looking due north from the summit of Mill BM:
Smith Mountain (5,913 feet - left side) is a major summit visible from Mill BM:
Funeral Peak (6,384 feet - center) is yet another major summit visible:
Epaulet Peak (4,766 feet) has become my favorite of all summits to view from Owlhead Mountains peaks. It is extremely colorful and really stands out:
Zooming in on Epaulet Peak, which I had stood on some 9 years earlier on December 26, 2010:
Brown Peak and Salsberry Peak are both visible looking to the northeast:
Zooming in on Brown Peak (4,947 feet - left side):
Salsberry Peak (4,255 feet - left side) really stands out with its white coloring:
Looking across the valley to the northeast. The open basin of Quartz Canyon is partially visible at the left side:
Looking to the east now, McClain BM (4,326 feet) is the most prominent peak visible (at the left-center):
Zooming in on the dry lake bed near the Harry Wade Road Amargosa River crossing:
Behind the dry lake bed, Summit Dune, the highest recognized point of the Buckwheat Sand Dunes, can be seen:
A lot of wide open desert is visible looking due east from the summit:
This zoomed picture of the Ibex Hills appears to show some sand dunes that haven't been documented before:
Our hikers enjoying the views looking out to the southeast:
Looking at the vast Avawatz Mountains. About halfway down, you can see the portion of the Avawatz Mountains which is now located within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park:
Zooming in, this is Toga BM (1,119 feet) which is an Avawatz Mountains peak added to the park in March of 2019:
View looking due south from the summit:
Zooming in on Spring BM as seen from Mill BM:
Zooming in on the portion of the Quail Mountains which is located outside of park boundaries on military land:
Quail BM (5,103 feet), the highest point of the Quail Mountains is visible as the bump near the center:
Steve and Mike pictured on the summit of Mill BM:
Lowell and Mike getting a picture just before Mike headed out to complete his one-way journey:
Lowell and Steve completing a successful double summit hike:
Long-time Death Valley hiker Shane also enjoyed this hike immensely:
During the hike back, I took this picture with Owl Lake in the background near peak 934T:
On the way back, I also got this nice picture of The Castle:
We spotted a live tarantula just before we made it back to the truck:
