TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
The parking area at the end of the spur road is on a flat area at the top of a small hill. This is the 1st ridge where the hike begins:
Taking a closer look at some of the rugged mountain terrain we would be crossing today:
Zooming way in, the actual summit of Tucki Mountain is visible from the parking area. If you look back at the first two pictures, you should be able to identify the rounded summit:
These two blooms found near the parking area let us know that we were taking our hike at a good time of year and elevation for wildflowers:
This Wilderness Restoration sign has been installed to ensure that visitors know where they must park and begin walking on the closed portion of the old road:
Just past the sign, there is a good view into the 1st valley between the first two ridges:
The hike begins with a very steep descent down the old closed road:
Zooming way in, we could see Old Martin Cabin off in the distance. Charlie had already been there, while I had not:
The old road (now a hiking trail) turned sharply to the left and began a more gradual descent:
Once on the valley floor, we hiked through soft powdery dirt. I heard that when vehicles were still allowed down in this valley, they would sometimes get stuck in the mud through here:
The Old Martin Crossing sign has faded greatly in the last few years if you compare it to other photographs found online from the past decade:
We stayed to the right at the junction and followed this fork of the road up a small wash:
We chose this spot to leave the road and begin climbing up toward the 2nd ridge:
Looking back, you can see how the road fork we were on continues a ways past where we exited it:
There were some nice specimens of barrel cactus during the hike:
Upon reaching the 2nd ridge, we could see our vehicle parked back on the 1st ridge. We were currently at about the same elevation as where we started (5,425 feet). But in crossing the valley, we had gained and lost hundreds of feet:
On the 2nd ridge, we turned left and began following it uphill for almost 1/2 mile:
Beautiful snow-capped Telescope Peak came into view:
Charlie up ahead leading the way along the 2nd ridgeline:
Panoramic showing the valley which separates the 2nd and 3rd ridges (click to enlarge):
Looking due east, there is a very prominent ridge which rises up above Tucki Wash to the south and Trellis Canyon to the north. Both Charlie and I have been planning a hike to this viewpoint for several years now and hope to make it there someday:
In this picture, you can see the various forks of the old road and the steep drop from where we parked:
The terrain got a little bit more rocky as we continued climbing:
Two pictures of beautiful wildflowers that we found along the 2nd ridge:
Just about to our high point along the 2nd ridge where we would head down into the 2nd valley:
One of the aspects of hiking Tucki Mountain is that figuring out the best routes up the ridges and through the terrain can be quite confusing. Here, Charlie can be seen pointing toward the 3rd ridge:
We had to drop about 250 feet in elevation to reach the bottom of the 2nd valley:
These pretty orange flowers were literally covering the hillside as we hiked down a gradual slope. This is a desert mariposa lily (Calochortus kennedyi):
Three pictures showing a beavertail cactus in full bloom:
Up ahead, it appears that a minor canyon forms and splits the two hillsides:
The small canyon contains a dry fall made of conglomerate rock:
Looking to the east, this canyon eventually flows down into Tucki Wash. Based on satellite imagery, however, it does not look passable as a hiking destination:
The climb up to the 3rd ridge is probably the hardest part of the hike and begins with a very steep portion:
More barrel cactus growing out of the steep slopes:
It's a little hard to make out in the picture, but we had a window through which we could see Furnace Creek from this spot:
The terrain doesn't level out briefly to give you a break until you've pushed hard up 700 feet in elevation:
Notice that above the steepest part, the minor canyon off to the right also levels off a bit:
Zooming in through our "window" at Furnace Creek, central Death Valley, and Pyramid Peak:
When we reached these rock outcroppings, we stayed to the right and worked our way around them. The terrain was easier and the wind wasn't as fierce:
Panoramic showing our route halfway up to the 3rd ridge and the surrounding hills (click to enlarge):
The terrain all through this area provided for easy hiking and good footing:
Off to the west, we had a great view of Pinto Peak:
To the south, we could see deep into the Panamint Mountains:
Can you pick out Telescope Peak and Rogers Peak in this picture?:
The roads of the Skidoo area could be seen to the southwest:
Eroding cliffs that are falling away were above the canyon off to our right while hiking up:
The clouds high above did a nice job of keeping the weather cool enough for hiking:
Soon, the hillside became completely covered by bushes containing yellow flowers:
To reach the top of the 3rd ridge, we would need to hike up to the high point on the left and then cross over to the high point on the right:
Looking back down a flat section of the ridgeline which seems to tower above the surrounding landscape:
The next two pictures show us continuing to gain elevation:
Once again, the prominent ridge above Tucki Wash came into view in the distance:
Completing the 1,100 feet of elevation gain necessary to go from the 2nd valley to the top of the 3rd ridge and looking back down:
This small rock arch was at the top of the 3rd ridge:
Nearby the arch, this tree has found a way to grow through the rocks and thrive:
View of the summit (left side) as seen from the top of the 3rd ridge:
Zooming in on 6,726 foot Tucki Mountain summit:
The dramatic ridge above Tucki Wash becomes even more defined as seen from this spot:
To reach the Tucki summit, you have to drop down into the 3rd valley and climb up to the 4th ridge:
It is about a 200 foot drop down into the valley and then a final climb of 350 feet to reach the summit:
An outcropping of shale rock seen on the way up:
Final climb to the rounded summit bump and top of the 4th ridge:
The two arrow benchmarks at the summit are labeled as Death BM. The main benchmark appears to be missing:
This is what it looks like at the actual summit of Tucki Mountain:
Here was my entry in the summit logbook. We noted that the previous hiking group had been there only two days earlier:
The views start to the north across Mesquite Flat with the Cottonwoods to the left:
Zooming in through the haze to look at the Niter Beds and Leaning BM (lower left peak), which had been a past hiking destination for Charlie and I:
Dry Mountain (left side) was faintly visible popping up above the Cottonwoods and so was Tin Mountain (right peak):
A close-up of Tin Mountain as seen from Tucki Mountain:
With my powerful zoom, I was able to capture this close-up of Dry Mountain as seen from Tucki Mountain:
Looking over at the Grapevines, P8460 is the far left peak. Grapevine Peak is in the center:
Zooming in on the always distinct Wahguyhe Peak. A few pictures are overexposed due to the haze:
View to the northeast of some unnamed peaks in the Grapevines:
Looking to the east, you can see that there are some obstructed views:
A close-up look at Schwaub Peak as seen from Tucki Mountain through the haze:
Pyramid Peak could also be seen clearly from Tucki Mountain:
The northern foothills of the Black Mountains are visible at the right middle of the picture:
View to the southeast with Artist's Drive cutting through the middle portion of the picture (the darker rock):
5,716 foot Mount Perry can be seen clearly as the high point of this picture (right center):
Moving over to the right a little bit, I managed to capture Dante BM (center) and Funeral Peak (right) in this picture. Funeral Peak is about 40 air miles away from Tucki Mountain:
Taking a look at the salt flats of central Death Valley:
Turning our attention to the view to the south of the eastern Panamints:
Panoramic view to the south of the Panamint Mountains (click to enlarge):
Wildrose Peak dominates the left side of the picture and Telescope Peak the right side:
Taking a closer look at Wildrose Peak, one of the park's great hiking destinations:
Telescope Peak was covered with snow as there had been a storm a few days before we arrived:
This was the view looking over to the southwest:
Zooming in on the flat rounded summit of 7,508 foot Pinto Peak:
Looking to the west at Hwy 190 climbing to Towne Pass:
I turned my attention back to the Grapevines to search out familiar peaks. This peak soon captured my attention. This is located about 1 1/4 miles east of P6136. GPS coordinates for this peak are 36° 48.155'N, 116° 58.156'W:
Finally, I was able to figure out where Thimble Peak was hiding in the haze:
A slightly closer look at Thimble Peak as obscured by haze created by the hot weather:
In these two pictures of me taken on the summit of Tucki Mountain, you can see how I was trying hard to stay warm despite this being mid-May:
A picture taken while heading back with Tucki Mountain summit in the background:
Two more pictures of nice wildflowers found during the hike back:
When we got to the 2nd ridge, we turned to the right instead of the left. The plan was to hike straight down to Old Martin Cabin:
Zooming in on the cabin while hiking down from the 2nd ridge:
Looking up the 1st valley with Old Martin Crossing which is situated in between the 1st and 2nd ridges:
There were a number of historical artifacts outside of Old Martin Cabin, including the tanks in the next two pictures:
This looks like an old wall heating unit:
The northern side of Old Martin Cabin has a porthole to allow light inside:
An old trailer is permanently resting at this location:
The front side of the cabin has a window facing the old road:
This Martin Crossing Cabin marker was posted on the cabin wall:
The cabin has a sign-in sheet which has not been used very often:
Notice the sink and hoses that are hooked up. I'm not sure where this cabin managed to get water from:
The cabin once had a working stove for cooking meals:
Probably the nicest part of the cabin is this hanging assortment of pots and pans:
Note the roof outside of the southern side of the cabin. Boulders have been placed on the roof to prevent it from being blown off in windstorms:
Charlie and Steve completing another successful Death Valley hike:
