Day 11: 66 bicycle miles from Furnace Creek to Tecopa Hot Springs via Funeral Mountains at 3300 feet elevation in 100 degrees
To avoid the forecasted 110 degrees in Death Valley today, I climb out of Death Valley slowly over the Funeral Mountains, starting at 280 feet below sea level and peaking at about 3300 feet.
I am surprised at how well I'm acclimating to the heat. I drink lots of water, as often as is practical.
It's not quite as hot up on the summit of the Funeral Mountains, after which I descend back into the heat at Death Valley Junction, Shoshone, and, finally, Tecopa Hot Springs, today's destination.
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Date: April 28, 2007, 11h00
Size: 44 items
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Just before leaving Furnace Creek
... one last stop at the public washroom near the laundromat.
Date: April 28, 2007, 11h00
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OK, I've really left Furnace Creek now
Just starting the climb out of Death Valley on Highway 190, I look back down toward the valley.
Date: April 28, 2007, 11h15
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On the way out of Furnace Creek
... the old motel along Highway 190.
Date: April 28, 2007, 11h20
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Lots of greenery a little further up Highway 190
A stream trickles along the highway, from the natural springs in the area.
Date: April 28, 2007, 11h45
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I stop for a toilet break at Zabriskie Point, just above Death Valley
Tourists taking in the views at Zabriskie Point.
Date: April 28, 2007, 12h15
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Looking down toward Highway 190 from Zabriskie Point; my world is slanted
The tour bus that released the tourists at Zabriskie Point is visible down in the parking lot.
Date: April 28, 2007, 12h15
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Leaving Zabriskie Point
The tourists return to their bus at the Zabriskie Point parking lot; this tourist returns to his bicycle, which is also parked there.
Date: April 28, 2007, 12h15
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I reach the 1000-foot point of elevation gain on the way out of Death Valley
Ah, now I'm getting somewhere. Only a bit more than 2000 feet to rise before I start to go downhill again!
Date: April 28, 2007, 12h45
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Higher above Zabriskie Point on Highway 190
Higher above Zabriskie Point on Highway 190; looking back down past the area of 20 Mule Team Canyon.
Date: April 28, 2007, 12h45
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Rising up into the Funeral Mountains on Highway 190
I'm now up around 2000 feet.
Date: April 28, 2007, 13h15
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Higher up in the Funeral Mountains and looking back down
I'm well past the turn-off from Highway 190 to Greenwater Valley Road, which is the route I used to enter Death Valley on the way in from Gold Valley.
Date: April 28, 2007, 13h45
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3000 feet, I'm almost at the top of my climb out of Death Valley
I still have a couple of miles and a few hundred feet of climbing left, but it's so gentle that it almost feels level to me at this point.
Date: April 28, 2007, 14h00
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At the summit of Highway 190 in the Funeral Mounatins is the remains of an extensive RV camping park (or something like that)
I simply can't pass by here without checking it out, lover of abandoned stuff that I am. I stop to explore.
Date: April 28, 2007, 14h30
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Standing in the middle of what was probably the campground's office
Only the old tiled floor of the building remains.
Date: April 28, 2007, 14h30
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More of the old tiled floor at the former campground's entrance
Not all interesting patterns out here in the desert are natural earth features.
Date: April 28, 2007, 14h30
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