Pic: Cactus and snow atop Wildrose Peak. Death Valley NP, CA
Inspired by the events at Walker Lake, I pitched my tent under a broad pinyon pine in hopes of shelter in case the weather worsened overnight. When I awoke to raindrops on the roof of my tent, I was disappointed but not really surprised. It was only after I unzipped the flap and got out that I saw that the sky was actually clear, and that the tree I’d sought for shelter was now acting as a snowmelt concentrator. The whole campsite was dry except for broad wet rings around the trees.
Today marked the inaugural hike of the trip: 4.2 miles and 2000 feet up to Wildrose Peak. This was my most strenuous hike in recent memory, but I didn’t put all my junk in storage to shy away from a challenge.
The trailhead begins near some interesting historical artifacts, the Charcoal Kilns:
Pic: Inside a charcoal kiln. It still smells like a campfire, over one hundred years later
“The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns were completed in 1877 by the Modock Consolidated Mining Company to provide a source of fuel suitable for use in two smelters adjacent to their group of lead-silver mines in the Argus Range west of Panamint Valley, about 25 miles distant from the kilns. Although the mines themselves were worked intermittently until about 1900, there is no clear evidence that the charcoal kilns were operational after 1879. Evidently either other fuel sources were located or it was found to be more profitable to ship the raw ore elsewhere for processing. This short life may help to explain the remarkably good condition of these kilns, more than 100 years after their construction.”
—Excerpt from “Charcoal Kilns Historic Structures Report”, 1970
Wildrose Peak has amazing views of the valley and beyond. Unfortunately, these were largely blocked by clouds today. Still, a worthwhile journey to kick off the hiking portion of this adventure.
Pic: Looking down from Wildrose Peak
Danger Beyond This Point 