Wildrose mountain hike, Death Valley ☃ Snow…

Howdee all,

☃

We decided to check out a different terrain…and took a drive to hike up Wildrose.

I wanted to hike Telescope Peak but it was not suggested this time of year due to ice and snow.

Wildrose Peak
4.2 miles
Moderately strenuous with an elevation gain of 2,000 feet
Begin hike on trail at north end of Charcoal Kilns parking area. Mileage from the kilns to the top of Wildrose Peak is 4.2 miles. Good alternative when Telescope Peak trail is snow covered. Spectacular views.

We travel over an hour to get to the trailhead..

The road looking west…..see the snow capped mountains in the distance…

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

“In 1877 George Hearst’s Modock Consolidated Mining Company completed construction of the charcoal kilns in Wildrose Canyon. The charcoal produced by the kilns was to be used as fuel for two silver-lead smelters that Hearst had built in the Argus Range 25 miles to the west. The kilns operated until the summer of 1878 when the Argus mines, due to deteriorating ore quality, closed and the furnaces shut down.

The Wildrose kilns employed about 40 woodcutters and associated workmen, and the town of Wildrose, a temporary camp located somewhere nearby, was home to about 100 people. Remi Nadeau’s Cerro Gordo Freighting Company hauled the charcoal to the smelters by pack train and wagon.

Each of the 10 kilns stands about 25 feet tall and has a circumference of approximately 30 feet. Each kiln held 42 cords of pinyon pine logs and would, after burning for a week, produce 2,000 bushels of charcoal.

Considered to be the best surviving examples of such kilns to be found in the western states, the kilns owe their longevity to fine workmanship and to the fact that they were in use for such a short time. “

We went into the kilns and stomped on the floor…it sounded like we were.. beating a drum.. We start the hike..this is the view looking west to the snow capped mountains..

A closer look Snow on the trail…we need to watch our step..a bit icy as well

  A different terrain then what we had been experiencing in Death Valley…

Juniper and Pinion pine.. Distant views of Death Valley…

Cactus in the snow..

Shadow shot on rock….

Some great views as we hike the trail

This is Telescope Peak…covered with snow…we were told not to hike it this time of year…

Death valley views in the distance…warm in the Valley and chilly up here..

Another view of the Valley…salty white..

I enjoyed natures wood sculptures…

Getting closer to the summit…more open views of the valley and distant mountains in Nevada.

Yippeee…I made it..

view looking west…. Andrew said he was waiting at least a half hour for us…

Guess I am a bit slow…

Great views of the Valley And then it was time to leave the mountain top….   Cactus amongst the cones…

Cone amongst the snowI don't know what this shrub is..but I loved the flower or whatever this is… I found a wood animal….Andrew said it was a frog…

Andrew on ice….

Another way to play…slide down the ice….And back again…as the sun leaves the Kilns….I really enjoyed seeing this different terrain after being in the Desert… 

We are now in Arizona…working our way to Tucson..

A few more posts of this trip to come…