February 26-28, 2019 Shoshone, California

66 and sunny today. High winds.

Wild wind clouds at sunset tonight. 

Wild wind clouds at sunset tonight. 

Yesterday the B2B hikers hiked into beautiful Amargosa Canyon. These are some photos I took earlier this year when we went in to clean up a few places on the trail. Judy P and John entering the canyon. Judy P and John navigating over a washout. 

Judy P, John and I doing some trail maintenance in January. John and Judy P on one of the last standing bridges of the railroad bed in Amargosa Canyon.  

The palisades in Amargosa Canyon. Today it was in the 70's, sunny, and windy. I drove to Dublin Dunes, met up with the B2B hikers and picked up John and Tanya. They  hiked from Tecopa to Sperry last night, camped and then hiked out 5 miles to where I waited. It was perfect timing. I got there just minutes before they came around the bend.  

Judy P, Tanya, John, Bec and Judy D by the car.  Judy P, Judy D and Bec continued on toward Death Valley and Badwater.  It was windy , the dunes were blowing around in the air. 

Sunset tonight. We topped off the propane tank at Shoshone Propane and shopped for supplies. 

We headed down to Death Valley. at the visitors center it was 87. It felt WONDERFUL. The current masterpiece so far. Glass beads and I made the glass center.  

The bus at Sunset campground with the last light on the surrounding mountains. 

Sunset with three palms. We had dinner outside. It has been awhile since it has been warm enough to do that. It was wonderful to be on our own again. 

February 23-26, 2019 Shoshone to Tecopa, California

High 50's and sunny. The hikers made it to Shoshone around 3 pm. I drove to Las Vegas and picked up Bec, another hiker who joins the group for the second half of the hike.

Snow on the pass to Las Vegas. Fortunately the roads have melted off since the big snowstorm on Thursday. Sunset tonight in Shoshone. 

Dinner tonight was left overs from the Death Valley Junction dinner. Judy made a nice salad. John, Judy D, Judy P and Bec. Evening light on the phragmites.   

Sunset and some cool rocks I saw hiking around today. Rock sandwich, fossils or crystals, cool designs , a horse graffiti and a crack that looks like an EKG tracing. 

I hiked the leg of the B2B from Shoshone to Tecopa with the group.  Judy behind  me on the old railroad grade. Lunch near a collapsed railroad bridge.

Judy and Bec hiking by the remains of an old railroad bridge abutment. A close up of the old railroad bridge abutment.  

John and Judy trucking along. John, Judy and Bec in sight of Tecopa. Alison and Judy D are way in the distance to the right. 

There is this tangle of river arroyos in the foreground but the light was totally wrong to get a good shot of them. Bec, Judy and John way ahead walking over the white salt deposits.

A view of Grimshaw lake and Tecopa peak in the distance. The Resting Springs and Nopah ranges over the wild hot spring area. 

Crystallized salt deposit on the ground, A Rock N' Chair, and some desert art found on the railroad grade.  

Our room at the top and happy hour in front of the other two rooms at the Tecopa Hot Springs Resort, our destination for the night. We had a wonderful meal at the Steak and Beer in Tecopa. Liz, Susan, Judy D, Bec and Judy P around the table. Behind them Eric proprietor and cook behind the bar and John. 

Tues morning the group headed out. Judy D, Tanya, Bec, Judy P and John in front of their rooms. In front of the Tecopa Hot springs resort sign are Judy D, Bec, Tanya, me, John and Judy P. They will walk 13 miles thru Amargosa Canyon to Sperry today. I got a massage and sat in the hot springs. Tomorrow I will pick up John and Tanya by the Dumont Dunes. The rest of the group will hike into Death Valley to Badwater by Sunday. 

February 21-22, 2019 Shoshone to Death Valley Junction back to Shoshone California

Highs in the 40's, very windy and cloudy. Cleared up at the end of the day.

Judy sent this photo of the snow in their campsite yesterday morning. They were snug and warm in their tents and sleeping bags. But it was very cold. Storm heading to Death Valley Junction. 

Eagle mountain with the dry lake in front of it lit up. They hiked past that today. Yesterday at  historic Amargosa hotel and opera house. We are meeting the hikers here tonight.  

View from Amargosa hotel and opera house. This is our room. They put a brand new comfy king sized bed in it since we were last here. Loved the bed. But it covered up some of the peacock feather painted on the wall. Marta Becket, resident artist and ballerina gave one woman operas and ballets into her 70's. She also painted murals on the walls in the hotel, like this one and an audience on the walls of the opera house.  

The dining area, complete with cats in front of the fire. More of Marta's murals. They look so realistic. The arches are painted on the walls. John and I catered dinner tonight. Hot spaghetti, red sauce, home made bread and veges. This morning John modeling his waaaayyyy too big rain pants. He is wearing them because there are still high winds and the rain gear is a wind break. He is joining the girls for the next two days. He bought a new lighter pack and sleeping bag. Last time he started this hike he was carrying a 40 lb pack and after two days and 30 miles his hip gave up the ghost and I had to go pick him up. This year he has a 24 lb pack. I didn't get a call to come get him today so he must be doing well. 

The hikers this am departing the hotel. They look like gunslingers ready to head to town to me.They stopped at the cafe on the way by for treats. 

I sat in the hot springs in Tecopa today and got a massage. Evening light on the salt deposits near the dry Lake Tecopa. Looking out over  the dry lake Tecopa bed in the distance. 

Sunset over the Grimshaw natural area. Sunset over the county campground and hot springs in Tecopa.

A shrubbery and salt like hoar frost on the rocks in the salt deposits.