TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
Looking up the long wide wash from the parking area along Badwater Road:
Stefan ready for his fourth and final hike on our February 2013 trip to Death Valley:
Hiking up a very rocky wash with small boulders everywhere:
Our large group split up into smaller groups as we all hiked at our own pace:
Using the umbrella once again on this hike to keep the sun off of Stefan:
Eventually the wash narrowed down and small hillsides formed on each side:
Steve and Stefan seeking out shade on this warm day:
The hike up the wash toward the canyon doesn't have a lot of routes good for walking. You have to look around to find the easiest way:
A lot of the routes end up like this with all kinds of rocks making it harder:
Looking back down the wash toward the edges of the hillsides:
In the next two pictures, notice how the cliffs really start to take shape on the sides of the wash:
The size of the cliffs can be seen if you look at our hikers at the bottom center:
Approaching the mouth of Foundry Canyon just ahead:
The canyon starts out with tall rocky cliffs on the right side:
There is a sharp bend to the left and then this long straight section:
Progressing up the early canyon with the walls really growing in height:
Soon, the canyon turned to the right and we cut the corner:
There was lots of green rock nettle growing in the wash through here:
And also some coyote gourds were growing. Coyotes are said to eat the seeds of these gourds:
Up ahead, we could see the dramatic entrance to the narrows of Lower Foundry Canyon:
More rock nettle just outside of the narrows as you can see in the next two pictures:
Looking straight into the dark entrance:
A closer look at the sculpted rock making up the entrance:
This alternate angle reveals the height of the walls at the narrows entrance:
Steve and Stefan just inside of the narrows:
Rounding the first corner in the narrows and looking ahead:
Tobin snapped this picture of Steve and Stefan as they walked through the early narrows:
Two more pictures taken near the beginning of the narrows:
Beyond the first section of quick turns, the canyon stays narrow:
It looks as if this canyon could come to a quick end:
But it continues through some surprising quick twists and turns:
Here we have reached the minor dry fall of Foundry Canyon. We split into two groups here and took turns watching Stefan below the dry fall, although it was easy to climb:
Looking down the slanted dry fall from above it:
Past the dry fall, the canyon continued to be very interesting:
The next obstacle was this rockfall area of fallen boulders:
The bouldering area was not too difficult and all of us made it through this:
The grand finale of Lower Foundry Canyon is just ahead in the visible high slot to the right:
The slot entrance is more clearly defined in this picture taken as we got closer:
A lizard scrambled up the wall as we passed and looked for a hiding spot:
Full view of the very impressive slot entrance:
Looking straight up out of the early slot at the towering walls:
Jered and Annie wanted to see some canyon narrows and they saw some of the best inside the Foundry Slot:
Charlie taking a picture of Jered in the solid rock slot narrows:
Looking back out of the slot entrance:
In this picture of Steve, you can see the first of two boulders which are wedged high up in between the canyon walls:
The walls had pretty shades of blue, white, and red:
A picture of Tobin with the first wedged boulder:
And a picture of Charlie at the same spot:
Looking straight up, you can see how the boulder is larger than the slot narrows and so it got stuck:
Breathtaking scenery through here. It is surprising that this hike and canyon is not more well known with the beauty on display:
Jered and Charlie standing behind the second wedged boulder which is near the major dry fall:
Nice colors and lighting in the early afternoon during our hike:
This is the major dry fall at the end of Lower Foundry Canyon:
Looking up the dry fall, there were quite a few tons of boulders stacked up:
Charlie in the shadows underneath the second wedged boulder:
Our group analyzing the major dry fall. On the right, you can see Jered inside a small cave partway up. Our group realized that it was too dangerous to attempt a climb, so we all stopped our hike here. The rest of the canyon is only accessible to professional climbers or canyoneers:
Passing underneath the first boulder on the way back out the slot:
Steve and Stefan below the minor dry fall:
Stefan enjoying yet another hike in Death Valley in his carrier:
Our group says goodbye from our February 2013 trip. Left to right, that's Tobin, Steve, Stefan, Daria, Annie, Jered, and Charlie:
