Sunday’s short hike was up to Saddlerock Mine. This particular mine was one of the discoveries that led to the boom of Skiddo.
The bottom of the old road heading up.
As the road climbed views got better and better.
Eventually you arrive at this old house. Not much left.
One of the mine openings.
From the inside.
Lemogne Canyon is named after a famous French miner who use to work a mine west of Stovepipe Wells. This is the turn off from the main highway.
The road up is pretty rough. Actually.. it is one of the worst I’ve seen in Death Valley.
Judging by these rusty remains…more than a few folks didn’t make it up.
Eventually the road ends.
As I started hiking… I took one last look back at the truck.
Various pictures of the route up
Arriving at the old mining camp you are greeted by this sign. 
This is Lemoigne’s old cabin. It doesn’t look like much now but it was said that Mr. Lemoigne kept this cabin clean, cozy, and stocked with books when he lived here back in the late 1800′s. 
There isn’t much left now.
The next few pictures are of another cabin in the area that was built sometime in the 1950s. This cabin use to be visited regularly by off road drivers back in the 70s and 80s before the road closed for good.
Many early visitors signed their names on the walls.
Looking out an old window. 
Few old relics around the camp….
Last view before heading down.
Back on the rough road out…
Took this picture on my way to Beatty right at sunset. Funeral Mtns in distance.
Off the bus from Shiragawago… we arrived in Kanazawa to a freezing and snowy day. Our first stop was a local food market for lunch. We spent some time walking around….
My favorite stand… fried goods.
We ate lunch at this local seafood restaurant.
Most of the locals and Darian got this sushi bowl.
I opted for this fried monstrosity.
We then headed over the a pretty famous garden. Did I mention how cold and snowy it was?
Me destroying a Japanese snowman.
Back at the train station. Bye Bye….
The trip to Shiragawako starts with a train ride. Some of us got a little sleep.
Darian did a good job preparing sweets.
It was snowing when we arrived. Actually.. it never really stopped snowing the whole time we were there.
Taking the bag to our hotel.
Me checking out the gateway near a small temple.
The snow was up to our waists.
Darian always seemed happier in the cold then I was.
The entire village is visible from this small hill.
We stopped in this restaurant for lunch.
Food was pretty good.
Outside a small cafe that we decided to try.
Big communal table with a pot of red bean soup on the fire.
The owner.
Some pictures from inside our hotel.
The sweet lady who ran the hotel. 
Bye Bye Shirakawago….
Back to Kyoto to visit Darian 
Saw this interesting statue on the way to a temple. Being a gaijin… I of course had to climb up for a closer look.
Tada!
An old couple watching a fountain.
In front of the temple.
Can’t get much more Japanese than this.
Someone in Kyoto had this beautiful El Camino. First time I’ve ever seen a classic American car in Japan. Wow.
Local bakery
Selling these cut chocolate hearts for vday.
Eating mine…
Yummy Korean bbq in Kyoto.
Kanazawago Pics to come.
Robbie finally came to visit so I took my old side kick out to Death Valley. We started out early Saturday morning from Ridgecrest. As you can see… it actually rained overnight and the morning fog burning off created an amazing picture against the Sierras. 
Turning East to Death Valley.
The beginning of Saline Valley Road.
Adding gas for the long drive.
Saline Valley Road slowly climbs up to South Pass. Lots of Joshua trees.
At the top of South Pass. This is Mill Canyon below.
Eventually we turned up Lippincotte Road. This is an old mining road. The pictures really don’t convey how steep and rough this road was.
Near the top. If you closely you can see the road below.
Eventually we made it Racetrack valley and out hike of the day.
This is the racetrack below. 
We found some old copper mines to explore.
This is Saline Valley.
For dinner we headed to Nevada and a local bar.
Robbie gave it thumbs up.
They had this out door stove which I enjoyed.
Breakfast the next morning at the Diner with the locals.
Next it was time to gas up with some of that cheap Nevada petrol.
Around 9am we set off for our hike up Thimble Peak. We started from Red Pass off Titus Canyon Road. 
Even from the trailhead things were beautiful.
Getting higher. The car got smaller and smaller. You can barely see it now…
Robbie forging ahead.
Here I am in front of Thimble Peak (distance).
Close up view of it.
Robbie heading up the steep part. This is about as steep as I like to get without a rope.
Me heading up
This was the drop off to the North slide. Yikes….
Robbie looking down the South slope. 
At the top… breathtaking.
On the way home there two notable events:
One: The drive through Tutus Canyon.
Two: Getting caught in my first sandstorm.
The experience was just surreal. Oppressive yet beautiful at the same time. What a weekend.
Workout of the day
12 burpee pullups
50 jumping lunges
30 wall balls
9 burpee pullups
40 jumping lunges
20 wall balls
6 burpee balls
30 jumping lunges
10 wall balls
Time: 11:15
