After a winter of working and resting my knee, I had three clear days on my calendar and wanted to go on an adventure. I knew a trip would help me test out my knee and my new backpack which I had just sewn. The trip started out with a walk from the lot where I had been living all winter to the bus station, where I took the bus from Bishop to Lone Pine. From Lone Pine I walked south, and got a ride all the way to just past Stovepipe Wells on 190.
The conversation was wide ranging. The driver explained to me why we needed to start hunting mountain lions, and told me about his time farming in the Apple Valley, before moving to Montana. I was really excited to be back in Death Valley after a year away. The views around each bend were soaked with nostalgia from all of my various trips.
Ride #2 was from a geologist. He knew so much about the geology of the park, lots of which went over my head. However, we shared an affinity for the park, and it was clear he had a deep love and respect for the place. He was suprised that I liked the park so much, if I was not an expert in geology. He took me to the junction of Titus Canyon Road. I only had 15 miles to go now.
As luck would have it, a couple from Texas took me the rest of the way to mile 30, where I had ended my last trip in the Grapevines. They were shocked and a little concerned when I told them my plan to walk over the mountains to Saline Valley and hitch out. Overall they did not seem very impressed with Death Valley, ranking it as one of their lower parks. Everything looks small from a car window I suppose.
I walked a few miles down to Mesquite Spring. Boy this backpacking stuff is tough I thought. The heat bore down on me, and the heavy pack dug into my shoulders. I had been romanticizing going for a big trip all winter, but I was completely out of practice. I was used to the frigid cold of winter, not the desert heat. I knew from experience that it would get easier. The six liters of water in my pack would get lighter quickly.
After a brief water stop at the campground, I was again heading across open desert. I began to turn towards the Last Chance Range. After hiking a few miles up towards the mountains, I found a nice spot to camp. It sure is nice camping in the desert and knowing no rain or bears will interfere with a good nights sleep.
The next morning, I made my way up and over the mountains and down into a canyon on the other side. I was greeted with incredible views of the 10,000 foot drop on the eastern slope of the Inyos. Now all I had to do was walk down into Saline Valley.
After crossing the Last Chance Range, I followed the road to Saline Valley. The road is very sparsely populated. I only saw two cars. One even stopped to give me an extra liter of water, which was much appreciated on the hot day. The miles went quickly on the hike down the dirt road. Soon enough, I was a few miles from the hot springs. I took a sunset dip in the natural springs, and found a quiet campspot a mile from the main springs.
The next morning I hiked the last mile to the main springs and took a dip. The views, especially of the Inyos are just pristine. I wish I had planned more time to spend here, but I will have to come back soon. I told myself at 10am I would start physically hitchhiking, but until then I will try to talk to people in the hot springs. As luck would have it, I was didn’t even have to get out of the hot springs to get a ride. Two friends from northern California took me all the way back to Bishop. Our conversation ranged from the characters we met at Saline Valley, to giving birth to differences between the US and Sweden, where one of them now lived. The time passed quickly and soon we were back in Bishop.
I felt reinvigorated from the short trip. Filled from an adventure after a few more sedentary months. Already, I was getting itchy feet. Oh, and my homemade backpack held up great!
Anthony Ottati 