DAY TRIP: Death Valley Ibex Spring and Saratoga Springs part 1
March is by far the most pleasant month to visit Death Valley. The weather is a comfortable 70 degrees however the park is also plagued with tourists that venture far away from their cars to explore the park, a rarity in the hot summer months. This time we explored the southern portion of the park. We started Right outside Shoshone and headed to the Ibex Springs are that was the site of the Ibex Mine as well as numerous modern Talc mines. We then continued past the Ibex Sand dunes, onto Saratoga Springs. From there we took Harry Wade road which had a river crossing in the middle of the desert, up West Side Rd to Eagle Borax Works and out of the park through Furnace Creek. It was a great day with numerous surprises that only Death Valley can deal out.
Enjoy the pictures.
Our adventure began less than 10 miles from the dirt, still on pavement. Enjoying the leisurely drive I heard a loud clunk and caw something black fly out of the front left wheel. Saw this new hole in the inner fender.
Turns out the front sway bar connecting link somehow managed to loosen up and fall out, 100 yards back scattered all over the road were all but one of the bushings. With a spare socket from the tool box and a washer I found on the side of the road, the front sway bar was fixed and as good as new.
The rest of the day was mechanically uneventful. We drove the short road to Ibex Spring and began exploring this area that had mining activities dating from 1882 all the way to 1968. Truck parked near the Ibex Spring.
Most of the structures at the site were modern dating from 1930-1960 which had plumbing and electricity.
Cross on the roof could potentially have been the church in this camp.
Drywall indicates a later constructed structure in this camp.
Boys climbed out the window to explore more of the area.
Another modern looking building.
Older stone building remains were re-purposed with newer structures during the life of the camp.
My favorite building, a double outhouse that once had running water and real porcelain toilets, all destroyed.
Kids ran into this mine calling it a dog house, the mine shaft was sealed and everyone made it out.
This is possibly the site of the spring, there are pipes running out of this area into the immediate buildings.
Looking into the spring cave, unfortunately the inside pictures did not come out.
We continued up around the corner and up a mining road to the base of the largest mining operation in the area: Moorehouse Talc Mine.
Moorhouse Mine consisted of an intricate 16 claims in this immediate multi-level area connected by rail tracks and shoots.
Looking up the two ore shoots.
Inside the ore shoot.
Mine entrance.
Inside the mine shaft.
View from the top of the shoot.
Following the tracks.
End of the line of the second level tracks.
Looking back on the tracks towards the shoots and the truck parking area across the gulch.
Adventure is continues in part 2.
