From Dante's View Peak...

(don't you just love names like that) it's another 4 miles of ridge top scrambling (uphill both ways-really) to Mount Perry.

At 5,750' this ain't no Everest. However, the big sky views and abundant oxygen provide plenty of "oos and ahs." 

I'm not sure about Sherpa guides here. Google it. 

Today's Body Count (other than my own) was one skittering lizard and one flittering bird.

Did I mention it was quiet too? 

Wind and rain in the forecast of Death Valley.

Not screwed this time...

By Corkscrew Peak. Today, there was no wandering around. The cairns guided me up and all I had to do was chase them. Kind of like a bloodhound on a scent!

At 5,801 feet, it's a Colorado anthill. In Death Valley, it's a challenge. (3,300 feet elevation gain in a scant 4 miles). 

OY! I was shvitzing! (Sweating). 

In the most populated state in the U.S (California has 38 million denizens) I saw one lizard, one chipmunk and one fluttering butterfly. Madame Butterfly is now mounted on a pin and can be seen in Barley. Only joking. I may be a lot of things, but I am no lepidopterist. 

Look closely. That's standing water in Death Valley. Surfs up! Dude!

This is one mountain worth the shvitz labor to ascend. 

Good night once again from below sea level,

Jeff

Farblonzhet in ...

Death Valley National Park...

The Yiddish word for lost. I wandered around (remember my blog's title) for over three hours searching for the route up Corkscrew Mountain. I journeyed up washes, gullies and canyons before Eureka! I found actual cairns leading towards the peak. By this time it was too late to continue upon this 9 mile RT hike.

There's only 9 hours and 45 minutes between sunrise and sunset here. A long blink and you can miss it. 

Like General MacArthur I shall return (mañana) and shoot photos to prove it.

Tonight you will have to settle for Mosaic Canyon. In the fire service they told us to always have a Plan B in case Plan A's not working. Here's Plan B photos. 

Enjoy!