Around Again

Jackson Mountains from Jungo Road

Seems to have become a ritual, to wander out into the wilderness on the shortest day of the year.  Into the big empty.  

Jungo Flats on the Winter Solstace

Maybe this more accurately indicates today's low point.  Barren ground, black horizon, temperature dropping, darkness descending.

Found Iron

I recently found this big steam engine, the world's largest, in the rail yards in Rock Springs Wyoming.  It was in a viewing stop as part of the long excursion trip underway.

Union Pacific Railroad's Big Boy No. 4014 was brought back to life by the UPRR in it's shop in Cheyenne in order to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869.

It's now on a long trip from Cheyenne to Salt Lake City, then on to Los Angeles, Tucson, El Paso, Houston, Kansas City, Denver then back to Cheyenne.  It is pulling a long train of vintage cars, including sleepers, observation, dining, and passenger cars. Viewing opportunities available at all points along the way.

I love big machines, and this one is special.  I was able to get up real close for inspection. It was dripping more 90wt oil than my Land Rover.  All the drive mechanisms are interconnected with lots of pins and bushings, and they all require plenty of lubrication.  My schedule didn't allow me to hang around and see it underway, but one day I will.

If you are interested, you should look the engine up on Wikipedia, lots of information there.  UP also has a great website on their heritage fleet, including timetables, along with many great photos and video.

The most up-to-date part of No. 4014 is that it Tweets!  You can follow along @UP_STEAM or here: https://twitter.com/UP_Steam

Kudos to the UP and all the employee's that put it back under steam! It's AWESOME!


 

Darwin Falls

March 2018 Exploration of the Panamint and Saline Valleys

This serene spot at the foot of Darwin Falls is hidden away deep in a canyon along the western boundary of Death Valley National Park. In a vast and seemingly barren landscape this little unexpected treasure would have provided life itself to those that knew of it's existence.  Lauren describes it:

"The trail threads its way through a tangled riparian woodland before reaching the cascade. Goodings willows spread their gracefully arching branches, shading the canyon from wall to wall.  The sound of falling water grows louder and you suddenly emerge from thick undergrowth arriving at the base of Darwin Falls.  The creek cascades over massive, polished boulders, forming two slender falls that plunge into a pool. Mosses and maidenhair ferns grown in spray-drenched pockets alongside the falls. This inviting setting beckons you to stay a while to breathe the cool, moist air and listen to the varied voices of water and songbirds in the trees. Near twilight the red-spotted toad may add its high-pitched trill to the chorus."

 

Stuart and I had just come down the wash in the Land Rover.  Lauren was along as our tour guide by way of her popular Death Valley and the Northern Mojave - A Visitors Guide.  A lovely book coauthored with William Tweed.

We were on a week long camping trip during which we camped at Panamint Springs and then made day trips to explore the valleys immediately west of Death Valley itself.  Mostly it was a way to help me get my feet back under me following the recent death of my wife.

While we were there huge storms were raging against the wall of the Sierra Nevada range just 40 miles to the west, dumping more than five feet of snow on the peaks around Mount Whitney.  From time to time it was real windy and a bit cold for tent camping in the Panamint Valley, but we witnessed some amazing clouds rolling overhead.

My friend Stuart was largely responsible for getting my Rover back in service after it had been sitting broke down in my garage for over ten years.  After we repaired the blown headgasket, hand ground the valves seats, and spent several days cleaning out the "shellac" that was at one time gasoline, he had started talking about how cool it would be to take it to Death Valley, and two years later here we were, living the dream.