Brown Peak CA, near Death Valley Junction

pics by Harlan W. S. & MAH
Jan. 31, 2009

This is another peculiar DPS summit, east of Death Valley, a bit S of Death Valley Junction. You can reach the trailhead from Vegas in a 2.5 hours or less, and could also climb Eagle Peak in the same day if you were feeling energetic. This western approach entails at least 2400’ accumulated elevation gain, as you must cross a few big gullies (and lots of little ones!). The eastern approach from 127, though longer may actually be comparable in difficulty.

The DPS guide is oriented to folks driving from southern California, and gives a round-about way reach the western “trailhead” via the dirt Greenwater Road, followed by a NE 6.5 mile jaunt NE on the Deadman Pass Road. The latter road has not been bladed in some time, and the western portion is crossed by numerous foot-deep washes. Actually, it is easier to reach this trailhead by heading south from Death Valley Junction, and turning right at 36.20992N, 116.38938W (rel to WGS84; see blue line on map below). From this turn it is 6.9 miles to the flat parking area for the peak (as mentioned in DPS guide, on the E side of the road), and the road has just a few shallow washes to cross. However, there is a fair amount of loose gravel, so a 2wd vehicle should carry a few strips of carpet, a board, and shovel in case it gets mired.

		As you head E in the main wash, you can see the table just S of the main summit. The table is made from alternating layers of brownish compact volcanic rocks, and whitish volcanoclastics.
There are numerous dikes of obsidian.	Ali heads SE on the ridge, near 4300’.	View S on the last steep rib to the top, ~4800’
View N, ~4800.	The survey was probably relative to the town of Evelyn,	Recognize anyone? Oops, took the photo before Ali signed in.
The previous page. Incipient Sparkles.	WNW to Telescope Peak	Charleston Peak NV, ENE over Resting Spring Range. (MAH photo.)
The Nopah Range is in mid-distance, with the shrp Nopah Peak at right, and Pahrump Point at left. Potosi is in the far distance.	Kingston to ESE.
I practice my kicks, in preparation for the Superbowl. (MAH photo.)	To Charleston again.	Nopah again
Pyramid Peak to NNW.	Eagle Peak to N.
We came directly down the big wash, instead of sidehilling, and found a few dryfalls, which one could bypass.	Water!
Chalcedony geode.	On the way back to Shoshone, there is an obsidian sill in the tuff, and the latter is baked pinkish.