9239 De Adalena Street
Rosemead, California 91770
October 21, 1978
Dear Barbara,
Haven’t seen you since Baja! Nor a DPS trip in many moons. I’m still alive!
So you need. SPS input! I’ve just come up with at idea, so use this for copy if you wish.
Here ‘tis:
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I received my current Desert Sage and just finished reading with enthusiasm the Shelberg—Grams account of their TOWNE-PANAMINT BUTTE trek from Highway 190 made last January.
After having been in the Cottonwood Range last fall I think I can conjure a hike that might even be one better than their proposed traverse to the Big Four mine.
I can add burro herds to their list so with plenty of bighorn, mustangs,and burros (yes, the latter is bad news but I still enjoy seeing them!), my traverse adds up to a DPS—must.
Traditionally, the DPS avoids the upper Panamints and the Cottonwoods (hope nobody minds the Sierra—type plurals), but I guess only because of their inaccessibility.
Being a new Cottonwood Canyon fan, I encourage this TOWNE-DEATH VALLEY EXPLORATORY.
Beginning at Towue Pass, we can do the Towne-Panamint Butte thing presumably with Shelberg—Gram ease. About two miles on up the Panamint crest is shown an old trail that whisks one off the Panamint Butte topo sheet onto the Marble Canyon quadrangle. Within a mile Cottonwood Springs is reached—the reason for the bountiful livestock I’d say. So the first day amounts to some 12-14 miles and camp can be struck at the Springs, where we ought to be able to scoop away enough burro dung to lay sleeping gear, amid the cottonwood groves(?). The stream runs for three miles! At real groves, the water ends and a jeep trail is met that goes down the Canyon past the Marble Canyon confluence. Soon the last bend is reached and the Death Valley scene opens up in full bore, after which it is about ten miles into Stovepipe Wells, guided by the Stovepipe Wells topo sheet. Most standard cars can reach the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon fron Stovepipe Wells without losing more than a tailpipe or two. The car—sitters may rendezvous at Stovepipe.
So if this type of traverse sounds like a winner, I’ll twist Jon Inskeep’s arm and volunteer to lead it next spring. Total hike looks to be about 20—24 miles.
To my knowledge, this route has never been penetrated by DPS fans. Anyone to the contrary, please so signify.
As you can picture, this would be rather a downhill weekend!
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