I will still be posting small things for the next few days, and I have notes that I've been writing down, but It's just too much updating this the way I'd like using only a smart phone.
I left Death Valley yesterday rather content. It was beautiful there and I'm happy with the amount of trails I got to do, but you need a buddy to properly adventure there. There are only so many marked trails, but you are allowed to wander anywhere. Unfortunately, it was a little dangerous wandering solo in 116 degree heat. With a hydration pack and some extra food, I Did pretty well, but my last hike hit me pretty hard. I ended up using the "solar parasol" Andy gave me, them proclaimed he saved my life. Hyperbole just isn't as much fun when
No one is there to hear it.
My last night in Death Valley was probably my most ridiculous, in hindsight. After going to Dante's View (I have a pic attached) where you can see the highest and lowest places I'm the park, and all of the main valley, I decided to do one last trail, the Wildrose Trail. Unfortunately, everyhing in DV is at least an hour away from everything else, and it took about two hours to get to the Trail head. Then I made the mistake of really the Trail guide. Without out any explanation or elaboration, it simply states, "this is typical mountain lion territory".
I'd seen no cars for the last 40 miles of road, and only one parked at the Trail head, but decided to not be a coward and do the hole anyway. It was only 4pm and I had four hours of sunlight. Besides, mountain lions couldn't possibly be hanging out here.
Then I saw scat. But it was dried, so it was probably old, and I didn't want to be a coward, so I continued on. Please note, this was the only trail I'd been on where I couldn't see miles around me, as this was a forest path. All others had been desert/canyon trails. So I continued on, and saw my first non-avian wildlife in the park: lizards. Tiny little guys.
Then I saw more scat. Fresh scat, and I turned my ass around. That is how I survived a mountain lion attack. I have a picture of the scat and as soon as I get a chance, I'll identify it. For now, it was mountain Lion.
I decided to get to a campsite, and, because of my. Extra time because of the whole lion thing, I decided to go to a different camp, which means an hour or two away, but I got to see a new part of the driveable valley. Cut to two hours later, the sun is going down and I'm set up in a 40 site campground by myself. It was right next to a wash at the foothills of the eastern mountains, and I set up camp fast. I decided to just sit around and write some in my notebook, which meant going between the cat and the picnic table. I put some music on and was having a lovely evening. On the way in to camp I'd seen my first desert rabbitt, and, as the sun went down the nocturnal jamgarooouse came out. No pics of either unfortunately, but you can prob find better ones online, if you'd like. Is loom for a video of the mouse; they're adorable.
With my thoughts written down and a belly full of trail mix, and my first cold drink in a few days, I decided to go to bed. And as I went to unzip my tent, I heard coyotes chatter behind me.
Sounds travels pretty far in DV but I was in a bit of a canyon/valley, so I'm reading this as they were within a mile of me. And I assume they eat rabbits and mice, which are all around me, at this point. I decided not to lay down to sleep just yet. Then I hear them again, and promptly decide that I'm sleeping in the car. So, I break down camp, and head to sleep. I do hear them a few more times throughout the night.
DV does not do a real good job offering info on the mammals you might run into in the park. I knees out snakes, scorpions, and spiders, but never once heard about coyotes or lions, except "don't feed them".
Ah well.
So, this is taking a long time and I need to head out soon, so my Nevada story will be brief, and attempt a highlight list:
-Two half hour waits in traffic in the desert and I realize too late that there are no gas stations until my next destination, and I'm getting lower on gas.
- passing two brothels, that had big, though not very lurid or alluring billboards.
- a ghost town.
-very windy, mountain roads, and valleys, that I didn't properly enjoy because of the gas concern.
Now on to figure out what today will bring me. Yosemite will be today or tomorrow, and I have no idea where I'm sleeping as this area apparently isn't as empty as the valley is. In the Sierra Nevada,this is apparently the busy season. And I'm looking for a campsite on a Friday.
This is what happens when you don't plan for the second half of your trip. Good-bye from Bishop, CA.
