Harmony Borax Works
The Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail is located in Death Valley. At its full operation three tons of borax was produced per day. The Harmony Borax works employed 40 men. To transfer all this borax required a 20-mule team. The operation became famous because of the large mule teams and double wagons.
During the summer months it became too hot for the borax to crystalize. So, the work was moved to the Amargosa Borax Plant near Tecopa, California.
The Twenty mule team consisted of eighteen mules and two horses attached to these wagons. They travelled across the Mohave Desert traveling 165 miles to the nearest railroad. They could pull nine metric tons of Borax
The 20-mule team has become a symbol for the Borax Industry.
The Harmony Borax Works trail is .4 mile long. It is a loop, so you do not have to walk back. Very easy trail. During my visit it was so peaceful, the silence was deafening. Since Death Valley is designated a dark sky park, this is an excellent location to stargaze.
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Portable Gas Generator Ban has passed in California. Will it be illegal to run your portable generator at a campsite? Will you be able to own a portable generator at your place of residence? The California Air Resource Board (CARB) was considering a regulation to ban small off-road engines, which included portable gas generators used… Read more: Portable Gas Generator BAN - Harmony Borax Works
The Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail is located in Death Valley. At its full operation three tons of borax was produced per day. The Harmony Borax works employed 40 men. To transfer all this borax required a 20-mule team. The operation became famous because of the large mule teams and double wagons. - Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Furnace Creek Visitor Center features small museum and small bookstore. You can speak to rangers, pay park fees, or buy a yearly national park pass. Some exhibits include short films about Death Valley. There is a large 3D display map showing where all the popular sites and attractions are located. You can verify weather conditions… Read more: Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Trona
Visiting Trona Pinnacles is other worldly. It is one of my favorite places to visit. I decided to let the pictures speak for themselves. The trip is a few hours out of Los Angeles. Once you get to Ridgecrest fill your gas tank and get anything you might need according to your length of stay. From Ridgecrest it is another 20 minutes to the beginning of the dirt trail in.
It can take another 20- 40 minutes on 7 miles of dirt road. Fair warning, this road is a bit daunting. However, it can be managed by regular vehicles with good tires (regular tread). I’ve seen many cars make it in, but you cannot traverse to the very back of Trona Pinnacles without a 4×4 vehicle. You don’t need to though, because the very large Pinnacles are in front as you arrive at this geological feature.
The Trona Pinnacles are off the 178, then south on Trona Rd.
Types of Tufas
Towers: rise to about 40 feet and are taller than are wide.
Tombstones: stubby and rise to about 30 feet
Ridges: massive and toothy, these tufa ridges rise to 140 feet and are 500 feet wide and 80 feet long.
Cones: small, less than 10 feet tall, coned shape, considered dumpy.
Camping at Trona Pinnacles
Trona Pinnacles is designated a National Natural Landmark. Dispersed Camping is allowed for a period of 14 days. There is one vaulted toilet. All trash needs to be packed out. There is no potable water. Do not drive off existing roads.
- Hilipert KF94 MaskHilipert KF94 Fish Type Face Mask Questions? Is your mask comfortable? Do you have an upgraded mask? Staying safe is an issue we all face. I came across this mask by accident. I didn’t even know its worth. I just knew, it was more comfortable than my former masks. It turns out the Hilipert KF94… Read more: Hilipert KF94 Mask
- Lithium Battery price dropLithium Battery price drop. I have added another link for the next seller until this item is restocked, This seller is AMAZON’s choice with 5 year warranty. Link at bottom of page I keep seeing prices drop for lithium batteries. This is a new low price for a LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery at 100-amp hours with… Read more: Lithium Battery price drop
- Portable Gas Generator BANPortable Gas Generator Ban has passed in California. Will it be illegal to run your portable generator at a campsite? Will you be able to own a portable generator at your place of residence? The California Air Resource Board (CARB) was considering a regulation to ban small off-road engines, which included portable gas generators used… Read more: Portable Gas Generator BAN
- Harmony Borax WorksThe Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail is located in Death Valley. At its full operation three tons of borax was produced per day. The Harmony Borax works employed 40 men. To transfer all this borax required a 20-mule team. The operation became famous because of the large mule teams and double wagons.
- Furnace Creek Visitor CenterFurnace Creek Visitor Center features small museum and small bookstore. You can speak to rangers, pay park fees, or buy a yearly national park pass. Some exhibits include short films about Death Valley. There is a large 3D display map showing where all the popular sites and attractions are located. You can verify weather conditions… Read more: Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
Piedras Blancas (white rocks)
This is the largest elephant seal rookery on the west coast. This national park is open year-round. Parking is free and there is boardwalk access to view the elephant seals. At times, there can be thousands of seals. Depending on the month these elephant seal will be birthing, molting, breeding and fighting and resting. During my visit most were basking in the sun. If you live in California, this is a wonderful day trip, and it is free.
Driving up the coast of California is beautiful. In 2017, Piedras Blancas became part of the California Coast National Monument.
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Piedras Blancas Light Station – HOME is nearby. You will see it from the rookery.
December – March
Birthing and Breeding
Adult males fight for dominance. Most births occur in January. Mating season peaks in February.
Pups are weaned when their mothers leave and finally weaned pups depart toward the end of April.
April – August
Molting
Molting begins by shedding old hair and the outer layer of skin.
Molting for females and juveniles begins in spring. Males molt during the summer.
September – November
Fall Haul-Out
“Male and female elephant seals that are to young to take part in the breeding season, haul out to rest in the fall. This is a good time to see young males practice fighting.”
Notable History
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Dante’s View
Death Valley is part of the Mohave Desert located in the eastern part of California. Dante’s View is 13 miles up on Dante’s View Road off HWY 190. It is located 11 miles southeast of Furnace Creek or 18 miles North of Death Valley Junction. There is a 25-degree temperature change at the top of this mountain range, so fair warning, Dress warm… even though this is Death Valley, the hottest recorded temperature on recorded is 134 F.
Once you reach the top of Dante’s View, you will see a panoramic view of Death Valley. Furnace Creek is visible to the North 31 miles away. To the south is Owlshead Mountains. Looking west and down is the Badwater Basin. Looking straight across to the west is Telescope Peak. Dante’s View is part of the Black Mountains along the Amargosa Range.
Cooking while camping
I use an electric cooker which runs off solar. It’s great. While you can use propane or butane, an electric cooker is another way to go. I even use it while I am driving. I plug it into my pure sine wave inverter and when I arrive at camp my meal is ready to eat.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
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- Lithium Battery price dropLithium Battery price drop. I have added another link for the next seller until this item is restocked, This seller is AMAZON’s choice with 5 year warranty. Link at bottom of page I keep seeing prices drop for lithium batteries. This is a new low price for a LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery at 100-amp hours with… Read more: Lithium Battery price drop
- Portable Gas Generator BANPortable Gas Generator Ban has passed in California. Will it be illegal to run your portable generator at a campsite? Will you be able to own a portable generator at your place of residence? The California Air Resource Board (CARB) was considering a regulation to ban small off-road engines, which included portable gas generators used… Read more: Portable Gas Generator BAN
- Harmony Borax WorksThe Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail is located in Death Valley. At its full operation three tons of borax was produced per day. The Harmony Borax works employed 40 men. To transfer all this borax required a 20-mule team. The operation became famous because of the large mule teams and double wagons.
- Furnace Creek Visitor CenterFurnace Creek Visitor Center features small museum and small bookstore. You can speak to rangers, pay park fees, or buy a yearly national park pass. Some exhibits include short films about Death Valley. There is a large 3D display map showing where all the popular sites and attractions are located. You can verify weather conditions… Read more: Furnace Creek Visitor Center
There are a couple of hiking trails. One short trail and a few longer ones. All of them have great views. I went for the sunrise. I watch the shadow of the Black Mountains falls, I here sunsets are amazing from Dante’s View and Zabriskie Point.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/dantes-view-trail
Great Pacific Air Show – Huntington Beach
This is the largest Air Show in the west held at Huntington Beach, California. The Great Pacific Air Show features – US Airforce, Canadian Royal Airforce, Red Arrows, Thunderbirds, F-35A and more
‘Pacific Airshow is not just an airshow. Since its launch, the spectacle-scale event has grown to become the largest airshow in the United States by attendance attracting millions of spectators to Southern California every fall. PA
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For more information go to: Pacific Airshow