GLORIA
Great Basin
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Death Valley National Park
June 23, 2024 - June 29, 2024
This is a week of scientific survey work in the Telescope Peak area of Death Valley National Park. These surveys use the international GLORIA summit survey protocol, which you can find out more about in the Publications and Docs tab. This will be the third survey of the peaks, the previous two taking place in 2013 and 2018. GLORIA volunteers are botanists, students, research scientists, and alpine plant enthusiasts. If you have high altitude experience or are a reasonably competent botanist, we would love to have you!
Camping
Basecamp for the Death Valley target region peaks will be at the Mahogany Flat Campground. Mahogany Flat is at about 7,500 ft elevation in pinyon-juniper forest for a little bit of shade. Campsites have a picnic table, fires pits, and the site has a pit toilet. If Mahogany Flat is full or crowded then we will camp 0.8 miles back down the road at Thorndike Campground. If you are coming late, check Thorndike on your way up to see if we are there. All meals and personal camping gear must be provided by the participant however impromptu pot-lucks are likely. We will eat lunch in the field so plan to bring food that can travel and something to carry it in. If you are short of a piece of equipment, please email and I am sure that we can find something for you.
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There is no water at or near our camp, so you will need to bring all water you will need for the survey period. Plan to bring at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. Bring more than you think you'll need, and if you can bring extra that would be very helpful!
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The Peaks
We will be surveying 4 peaks in the area, two of which are named (Telescope Peak, and Bennett Peak) and two near Rogers Peak which are not (we call them "low" and "mid"). By special permission from the National Park, we will be able to drive up to Rogers Peak, significantly shortening our hiking time. Bennett Peak will require about a 1 mile one-way hike. Telescope Peak will require about a 4 mile one-way hike with some pretty steep sections. Amazing views abound! Check out the NPS route description to Telescope Peak here. for information and photos about the area
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Price
Entrance to the park and camping will be free to GLORIA volunteers. We ask for a tax-deductible recommended donation of $20 per person per night, and ask you to please make this donation before arrival. Of course, if you are able to donate more to help support students and those who cannot donate, please do! We are very grateful for your generosity and support, year after year. Head over to the donate tab to make your donation.
Schedule
June 23 – Arrival day
June 24 – Low Peak
June 25 – Mid Peak
June 26 – Bennett Peak
June 27 – Telescope Peak
June 28 – Depart/Make-up day
June 29 – Depart/Make-up day
Information
Plant Guides
Map and Directions
From Lone Pine, CA: From just south of Lone Pine, go east on Hwy 136 for 17.5 miles to the junction of Hwy 190. Continue east on Hwy 190 for 33.2 miles. Turn right on Panamint Valley Rd. After 14 miles, turn left on Wildrose Rd. After 9.5 miles, turn right on Emigrant Canyon Rd. Take that 0.5 miles and then continue onto Charcoal Kiln Rd for 8 miles to the Mahogany Flat Campground.
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From Bakersfield, CA: Take Hwy 58 east for about 56 miles. Take exit 167 for Hwy 14 toward Bishop/Mojave for 18 miles. In the town of Cantil, turn right onto Redrock Randsburg Rd for 12 miles and then continue on Garlock Road for 8.5 more miles. Turn left/north on US 395. After 3 miles, turn right on Searles Station Road. After 6.5 miles, turn left onto Trona Road. After 8.5 miles, turn left/east onto Hwy 178/Trona Road. After 17 miles, continue on Trona Wildrose Rd. After 9.5 miles, turn right on Emigrant Canyon Rd. Take that 0.5 miles and then continue onto Charcoal Kiln Rd for 8 miles to the Mahogany Flat Campground.