Jack Hamm

Peak 5940 Black Mountains and USLM 120, Death Valley

The Greenwater Valley and former boom town of Greenwater are among our favorite Death Valley regions. We've been meaning to explore more of the Black Mountains from the Greenwater Valley so today we decided to do a little hike off Kunze Road and find US Location Monument 120

A Wild Loop Through Death Valley: Saratoga Spring, Pongo Mine, and Old Ibex Pass

🥾If You Go Distance: ~12-15 miles, depending on how much wandering you do. Difficulty: Moderate. Some route-finding, no shade or respites from the sun, soft sand will be very tiring for those unaccustomed with desert hiking. Water: There is none. Bring all you need, and then some. Gear: Navigation tools,

Western Talc Mine (main ore body) and Dunn Mill near Tecopa, San Bernardino County

The Western Talc mining complex was once one of the largest talc operations in the Death Valley region. Talc proved to be one of the area’s most valuable resources. This is often a surprise to people who hear the stories of the lost silver and gold mines but the

Grimshaw Mine, Ibex Dunes, Death Valley

This write up is comprised of images of two trips to the Ibex Dunes which is why the weather looks so starkly different between them. The target was an ore bin I'd seen in the distance from Saratoga Springs Road on several occasions. 💡A note on terminology: I&

The "Battle" of Wingate Pass

The wife and I did our first trail run of the year up on the southern end of the park up Wingate Wash towards Wingate Pass, location of one my favorite Death Valley tales: The infamous “Battle” of Wingate Pass. Another antic of the wonderful Walter Scott, aka Death Valley

Scotty's Canyon and The Holdout

📏Total distance of this hike is 6 miles with 1,250 feet of vertical gain. The surface is typical wash bottom with some easy 3rd class obstacles. Tucked away in a little-visited canyon south of Death Valley’s main tourist routes, the hike through Scotty’s Canyon winds past the

Ibex Mine in Death Valley

The Ibex Mine is a former Cu-Ag-Zn-Pb mine located in sections 21 & 29, T20N, R5E, SBM in the Black Mountains across Buckwheat Wash from the Ibex Hills. The local geology is Precambrian rocks, undivided, “unit 1 Death Valley”. There were numerous foundations and retaining walls typical of these operations.

The Gunsight or maybe Apex Consolidated Mine, Inyo County, California

Nestled near the town of Tecopa, California, the Gunsight Lead-Silver Mine, also known as the Apex Consolidated Mine, sits within the rugged Kingston-Resting Springs Mining District. This historic site, now part of the Kingston Range Wilderness, played a modest but vital role in the region’s early 20th-century mining boom,

From the Archives: The Truth About Death Valley

💡"The Truth About Death Valley" from the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 2, 1931 (Please be patient as the images load, they are very high resolution to make it easy to read when you zoom in)

Black Peak and Rainbow Mountain, Beatty, Nevada

On this hike, we hit Black Peak and Rainbow Mountain which overlook the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada. Rhyolite, located near the eastern edge of Death Valley, emerged as one of Nevada's most famous ghost towns during the early 20th century. Founded in 1904, Rhyolite quickly grew during

Carrara and Lee, Nevada

It was a cool day today, only 100F in the Amargosa, so decided to go out and visit a few spots south of Betty. First Stop: Carrara, Nevada The discovery of a fine white marble outcropping in the mountains southeast of the gold town of Rhyolite, Nevada, near Death Valley,

Further afield: The Quest for the Lost Cement Mine

The Sierra Nevada mountains are rich with legends, but few are as captivating as the tale of the Lost Cement Mine. For over 150 years, this elusive gold-rich vein has sparked the imaginations of treasure hunters, adventurers, and history buffs alike. With its origins steeped in the Gold Rush era

Monsoon season in the Mojave

Went out for a drive to watch some of the afternoon monsoon storms roll through the eastern Death Valley region between Death Valley Junction and Shoshone.

Stirling (Sterling) Mine, Spring Mountains, Nye County Nevada

The Stirling Mine (also spelled Sterling), nestled in the northern Spring Mountains just over the Clark County line in Nye County at 36.48976N, -115.95803W (PLSS Mount Diablo Meridian, Township 017S, Range 054E, Section 07, Quarter Section SWNW) at an elevation of 5,901 ft. It was a significant

Lucky Group, Lathrop Wells, Nevada

The Lucky Group mine (also known as Looney Copper and the Lucky Claim), is a minor occurrence of copper located in Nye County, Nevada approximately 5 miles southeast of Lathrop Wells in the Striped Hills. Positioned at geographic coordinates -116.34754, 36.64386 (PLSS Mount Diablo Meridian, Township 15S, Range

Mining in Long John Canyon, Inyo Mountains

Mining in Long John Canyon, located in the Inyo Mountains of California, has a rich history that reflects the broader trends in mining across the Western United States, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Inyo Mountains were part of the larger mining booms that occurred in

Ashford Mine, Black Mountains, Death Valley

❗This trip was taken in January 2021 and there was major flooding in the region during 2023 so I cannot comment on current conditions. The Ashford Mine and Mill's history is a tale of ambition, persistence, and the harsh realities of gold mining in Death Valley. Discovered by

Further Afield

Divide Mining District, Nye County, Nevada

The Divide district, originally known as Gold Mountain, is situated about 5 miles south of Tonopah in the Klondyke Hills. Renamed Divide after new discoveries in 1917, it is centered on the divide along the Tonopah-Goldfield road, west of Gold Mountain (6,647'). Nearby, the Gold Reef district lies

Mining

From the Archives: Another Big Smelter in Greenwater District.

Rainy day at the Queen of Sheba Mine

The history of the Carbonate and Queen of Sheba Mines in Death Valley provides a compelling narrative of the mining industry's evolution in one of the most challenging environments in the United States. Situated in the Panamint Range, the Carbonate Mine was initially located by Clarence E. Eddy

American Mine, Ibex Hills

The Ibex Hills are a rugged and relatively isolated mountain range located in the southeastern part of California, situated on National Park Service wilderness land (Death Valley National Park/Death Valley Wilderness). This area is part of the Mojave Desert and is known for its dramatic landscapes and ecological diversity.

Desolation Canyon, Death Valley

Desolation Canyon in Death Valley National Park offers a unique and relatively less-traveled hiking experience, showcasing the park's dramatic desert landscapes. This canyon is named for its remote, rugged beauty, providing a sense of solitude and desolation that can be profoundly moving. Here are more details about the

Scotty's Castle Flood Recovery Tour

The Death Valley Natural History Association offer an amazing opportunity to see Scotty's Castle during the flood recovery work. Stella and I recently had to opportunity to go on one so posting some of my favorite photos from it. Scotty's Castle, also known as Death Valley

Gerstley Mine Shoshone, California

⌛This is a writeup for a trip on Dec. 31, 2022. The Gerstley Mine, nestled near Shoshone, California, adds a unique chapter to the extensive mining history of Death Valley and its environs, marking its significance in the mining narrative of the Western United States. Discovered in 1922 by Johnny

From the Archives: EIGHT DIE OF SUNSTROKE: Terrible Heat in Inyo Gold Fields Overcomes the Miners. Thermometer at Ballarat Registers 135 at Noon, Falling to 114 at Midnight.

Thermometers back in the day were not all that reliable it's unlikely the temperatures measured in this article are correct. Unfortunately, at the extreme heat levels of the Death Valley region, that distinction doesn't leave one any less dead.