boryaa
03-15-2014, 10:07 PM
March 15, 2014 we went down to Death Valley from Sacramento, Ca. We were planning to do Darwin and later Rainbow Canyons but decided that Rainbow wasn't worth the effort. Darwin proved to be a really cool little route with 2 main rappels. The approach wasn't too long and the canyon itself was great.
The start of the hike. You follow a dirt road until you make a right turn and follow a faint trail up the ridge.
72313
Me climbing up a slope. We accidentally went up thinking this was the way, the actual trail started a bit further. However, after about a 5 minute climb we found the trail traversing the hill.
72314
View from the ridge.
72315
The trail to the top.
72316
Another view. You can start to see the Panamint Valley and its dunes.
72317
Yet, another view of the area.
72318
Starting the descent down to Darwin Canyon. You start to see vegetation.
72319
After descending to the bottom you find this desert oasis.
72320
Inside the vegetation.
72321
Me getting ready to start going down canyon.
72322
The first small waterfall you can get down by climbing on the left side of the canyon.
72323
Pool. The ledge on the right can be used to jump into the shallow end and avoid waist deep water.
72324
Starting the first 110 foot rappel.
72325
On rappel
72326
The pool at the bottom of the rappel.
72327
The last rappel off a small waterfall. We added some webbing here around a tree.
72328
After finishing rappel 2 off the small waterfall you walk down the canyon floor until the walls start to open. The vegetation starts to disappear and after about 20 minutes you get back to your car in the parking area.
The start of the hike. You follow a dirt road until you make a right turn and follow a faint trail up the ridge.
72313
Me climbing up a slope. We accidentally went up thinking this was the way, the actual trail started a bit further. However, after about a 5 minute climb we found the trail traversing the hill.
72314
View from the ridge.
72315
The trail to the top.
72316
Another view. You can start to see the Panamint Valley and its dunes.
72317
Yet, another view of the area.
72318
Starting the descent down to Darwin Canyon. You start to see vegetation.
72319
After descending to the bottom you find this desert oasis.
72320
Inside the vegetation.
72321
Me getting ready to start going down canyon.
72322
The first small waterfall you can get down by climbing on the left side of the canyon.
72323
Pool. The ledge on the right can be used to jump into the shallow end and avoid waist deep water.
72324
Starting the first 110 foot rappel.
72325
On rappel
72326
The pool at the bottom of the rappel.
72327
The last rappel off a small waterfall. We added some webbing here around a tree.
72328
After finishing rappel 2 off the small waterfall you walk down the canyon floor until the walls start to open. The vegetation starts to disappear and after about 20 minutes you get back to your car in the parking area.