.jpg "Road to the west end of Titus Canyon in Grapevine Mts Death Valley NP CA")
Road to the west end of Titus Canyon in Grapevine MtsAfter the wind buffeting at Ubehebe Crater (I love that name), we continued our explorations of Death Valley National Park and drove to the mouth of Titus Canyon for a hike into “one of the largest and most scenically diverse canyons in the park” according to the park’s newspaper guide.
.jpg "Entering Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Entering Titus CanyonA single lane gravel road in the dry wash can be traveled by foot or, one-way east to west 26 miles (41.84 km) by high clearance vehicles. Not us.
.jpg "Mosaic of rock Titus Canyon in Grapevine Mts Death Valley NP CA")
Mosaic pattern on canyon wallsWe drove to the canyon’s mouth from the west on a short section of two-way road. I say road, when really it’s just the packed rock of the alluvial fan spreading infinite rounded pieces of the mountains beyond carried by water.
.jpg "Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Jeremy in canyonOur hike would be opposing traffic through this narrow 1.5 mile (2.4 km) canyon, down to 20 feet (6 meters) wide. It continues past a spring where Bighorn Sheep are often sighted, petroglyphs, and a ghost town called “Leadville” that only survived one year. But we didn’t get that far.
.jpg "Bird's nest Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Bird’s nest in erosion holeImagine the power of water moving rock, described as a cement slurry, that it took to carve this canyon during the last 3 millioin years.
.jpg "Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Water carved rock and Jeremy in backgroundHow I would love to be somewhere safe, watching a giant flood pour through and feel the towering cliffs tremble. (Ok, so maybe I got carried away with the tremble.)
.jpg "Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Earth ArtBut then what about going back in geologic time some 1.8 billion years to see the settled multi-colored volcanic deposits and watch a fast forward of the mountains uplift followed by the erosion and carving of the canyon that left earth art upon the walls.
.jpg "Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
Gneiss rock.jpg "Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
We saw no vehicles and very few people after entering the canyon. I could barely imagine driving thru this narrow cut..jpg "Gaelyn in Titus Canyon Death Valley NP CA")
We probably walked about a mile in and turned around as it was getting late in the afternoon and we still wanted to stop at the Mesquite sand dunes.
I love your photos, Gaelyn. We are having snow squalls today. I've shovelled the deck 3 times! Glad you like my cat on the rail. It was a gift.
So have you ever given consideration to, and weighed evidence for a young earth?
bsolutely gorgeous, Gealyn!
Interesting rock formations. Whenever you are around natural wonders like these it definitely humbles you.
A beautiful, awesome and mind boggling canyon. Amazing what water can do. I like the natural art you found.
How Amazing! Thanks for sharing…
Great earth art there. It's always amazing to see the effects of wind and water on rock.
Gaelyn: Very cool capture in the canyon.
You really give a great idea of how big this is and how powerful mother nature is….Michelle
Gaelyn, I just gazed and gazed at your beautiful photos. I LOVE "hard" landscapes and couldn't get enough of your descriptions and images. Thanks!
Absolutely gorgeous! You hear "Death Valley" and you don't expect this kind of beauty. Thanks for sharing your experience and lovely photos~!
I so enjoy taking these hikes with you. I love the west.
http://www.alwayslingerawhile.blogspot.com
Amazing–absolutely amazing. I am just astounded. (My 'A' words)
I always am awed by the sheer size of the rock that make up the mountains up here. I sometimes just stop and stare at them. and then to think (at least in these Cascades) that roads were cut through them. Not by the huge tools of today but pick and shovel days. All the A words put together. MB
Beyond words almost. I can only echo Small City Scenes' words. I'm endlessly fascinated by strata.
HI Gaelyn,
Catching up after a busy weekend. I really like the photo of Jeremy in the Canyon – it has a 3 dimensional effect. Also, that last of teeny you and the huge wall!
I'm trying to imagine a flood in this dry area and water rushing down this canyon. Probably doesn't happen much anymore.
I'm glad there's a person standing in the one photo t show how immense the canyon is. The power of wind and water is incredible.
ou have a wonderful passion for the outdoors. And you seem to have a wealth of knowledge. Is this something you've picked up over the years or have you studied formally or informally?
Love Titus Canyon! How often do you get to drive through the middle of a mountain? I hope to do it this February on our field trip.
I truly enjoyed all these photos of the rocks, minerals and the blue sky; makes me feel a little warmer somehow.