Slog Alpinismo: Route 395, Owens Valley, and Death Valley

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Route 395, Owens Valley, and Death Valley

I recently drove from Eureka, CA to Death Valley...crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains via Highway 50 on the way to the valley; and then during the return trip, north on Route 395 all the way from Lone Pine to Susanville, CA. The continuous wall of mountains making up the Eastern Sierra is truly remarkable, particularly near Lone Pine, where Mount Whitney and other granite spires rise nearly 10,000 feet from the Owens Valley floor. The Alabama Hills, which sit immediately west of Lone Pine, were another interesting geological feature. I'm guessing these hills represent a pressure ridge occurring due to right-lateral motion along the Owens Valley Fault Zone. In fact, geologists estimate nearly 30 feet of instantaneous lateral motion occurred along the fault near Long Pine during an 1872 earthquake. Furthermore, the general north-south oriented trench located east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is estimated to take up 15-25 percent of the motion occurring along the Pacific and North American plates, and may in fact be the future location (in several million years) of a major transform fault as the Mendocino Triple Junction continues moving north, and the San Andreas Fault subsequently jumps eastward.

That will be an interesting phenomenon indeed. But in the meantime, I enjoyed the areas scenic beauty, and maximized three days worth of hiking in Death Valley. I got lucky upon arrival to the Valley. I had not made a hotel reservation in the area, and instead took a chance that Stovepipe Wells would have available lodging. My roll of the dice worked. They had a room free for use during a 4 night stretch. The hotel room was simple, but who really cares in the middle of the desert? Despite the basic sleeping quarters, the amenities at Stovepipe Wells are pretty awesome. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served every day. There is a fantastic bar, and a gas station plus general store are located across the street from the hotel. It's a top-notch place to stay for those visiting Death Valley.