pre-trip: d=rt aka Travis stocking up for the water caches (The itinerary, post-trip: d=rt & Shaggy hiked across Badwater Basin to the base of the Panamint Range, where they followed a route of their own making well up the middle fork of Hanaupah Canyon, then x-country to the crest. After a side-hike to the top of Telescope Peak, they followed foot trail north, bypassing Tuber Canyon, to join Trona-Wildrose Road. The pair then followed the suggested route of the L2H across the Panamint Valley, then made their own route north of Darwin Falls across the Darwin Falls Wilderness. A resumption of the main L2H route took them along the Saline Valley Road to Lee Flat, then up to Cerro Gordo and along the crest of the Inyo Mountains to Long John Canyon. Reaching Lone Pine, Shaggy left the trail while d=rt continued on foot to Whitney Portal and over Mt Whitney, completing his L2H thru-hike, then joining the John Muir Trail for a totally new adventure. The photos here reflect upon a portion of their L2H itinerary.)
en route to Badwater by vehicle
approaching Badwater
the Devil's Golf Course
d=rt at Badwater before the hike
Shaggy at Badwater before the hike
looking out across Badwater Basin toward the Panamint Range
stocking water cache near Long John Canyon / Inyo Mountains before the hike (Sierra Nevada & Mt Whitney on horizon)
starting out at Badwater for an overnight trek across the basin
headlamp cuts through the gloaming while crossing Badwater Basin
the terrain underfoot
roadwalk up Hanaupah Canyon the next morning
cross-country in Hanaupah Canyon
Hanaupah Canyon
brushy going in upper Hanaupah
d=rt and Shaggy hike beyond the usual climb-out point in Hanaupah Canyon, encountering much brush
climbing along the ridgeline above Hanaupah Canyon
Shaggy takes a breather
cross-country along the ridge toward Telescope Peak
10,000 vertical feet later, reaching the crest of the Panamints
Telescope Peak Trail
A brief diversion in order to summit Telescope Peak
Wildrose Canyon charcoal kilns
crossing the Panamint Valley toward Panamint Springs
basking lizard surviving where few can
Panamint Springs Resort
dozing rattlesnake en route to Darwin Falls
Darwin Falls by headlamp
cross-country in the Darwin Falls Wilderness
further coiled delights
d=rt with horned lizard
approaching Hwy 190
en route to Lee Flat and the Inyo Mountains
Lee Flat joshua trees
ultralight backpack plus not-so-ultralight water load
nearing Cerro Gordo ghost town
Cerro Gordo
stormy weather along the Inyo Crest keeps it cooler than average for early June
Inyo Mountains, approaching Long John Canyon
