Lowest to Highest Day 2: I had a terrible night’s sleep last night; it turns out there are still plenty of insects active at night this low in the desert (I didn’t set up my shelter). . I begin the morning in the dark with already-warm temperatures. I’m not using trekking poles and so with my free hands I’ve decided to carry my water (instead of carrying it in my pack). I quickly discover that carrying a water bottle with an attached plastic handle is superior to carrying one with a paper handle attached via stickiness (I hope this description makes sense). The attached-plactic-handle bottle is also more structurally sound (this becomes important later in the day as I’m falling on my water bottle attempting to scramble up scree). . I follow a jeep road up Hanaupah Canyon until I find Hanaupah Spring. There’s a ton of water here and it’s more like a stream than a spring, but I’ll take it. There are signs warning that the water here might be contaminated from runoff from illegal cannabis grows in the area, but I’ve yet to hear from any hikers becoming sick from it. Regardless of the water’s status, I still have plenty of water from my first cache. Still, I fill up a gallon (this turns ou to be way too much) in a bottle just in case I need it. . From the spring the route cuts steeply up to a ridge as it climbs toward Telescope Peak. The climb is steep and I can’t find much in the way of use trails and so most of the climb involves trying to find the least-bad way up the mountain. Many hours of scrambling later, the sun is setting and I’ve yet to reach the top. I can still see where I began my hike last night which is a little sad, but eventually I make it to the ridge below Telescope Peak and collapse in the first sheltered campsite I find (it’s very windy). A full day hiking and just 16.72 mi / 26.91 km to show for it - this route is certainly a challenge (that said, there was 10,548 ft / 3,215 m of mostly off-trail elevation gain). . Day: West Side Road to ridge below Telescope Peak Day’s distance: 16.72 mi / 26.91 km Day’s elevation gain: 10,548 ft / 3,215 m . #LowToHighRoute #DeathValleyNationalPark
