Passing the Charcoal Kilns on the way to Mahogany Flats. I'll be meeting Sooz, Chip and Tom G there tomorrow morning for the hike to Telescope Peak.

The next morning, Joe (me), Tom G, Chip and Sooz at the trailhead at about 8,100 feet.

Starting off on the hike.

Looking to the southeast into Death Valley. Really hazy today.

Chip and Sooz up ahead.

Tom and Sooz wanted to hike to Rogers Peak so they left the trail and hiked up it's east ridge.

Chip and I stayed on the trail and planned to met them up at Arcane Meadow. This is one of the first views we got of Telescope Peak.

Chip on the trail up ahead aapproach Arcane Meadow.

Another view of Telescope Peak and the ridge we will follow to it.

Telecope Peak again and it's east ridge.

Zoomed in on Telescope Peak.

Looking down into Wildrose Canyon from Arcane Meadow.

Sooz and Tom coming down off Rogers Peak. Most people hike it by going up and down this slope, they went up it's east ridge which was a much harder hike.

Tom G

Sooz

Chip

Sooz and Tom left the trail again to hike over the top of Bennet Peak. Chip and I stayed on the trail and are going to meet them further south on the ridge.

Going to take a break on the rocks up ahead while waiting for Tom and Sooz. Telescope Peak looks close from here, but we're just past the half way point of the hike.

Zoomed in on Telescope.

Tom and Sooz back on the trail after coming down the southwest slope of Bennet Peak. She didn't know it yet, but Sooz lost her cap which was on her backpack while hiking over Bennet.

Snack break on the rocks before continuing on.

Back on the trail.

The view into Death Valley got a little better, but still hazy.

This hike starts steep, has about a two mile fairly flat section in the middle which we are on now and finishes with steep switchbacks that lead to the peak.

Suncups by the trial.

This tree is dead, but it's my favorite one on this hike.

Zoom in on the group by the tree.

There was a lot of nice looking trees on the switchbacks.

Chip on the switchback below.

Another nice looking dead tree. We are over 10,000 feet here.

Zoomed in on the trees on the slope to the east.

Chip catching up to me. I Haven't done any big hikes for awhile and this is my first time over 10,000 feet since last summer. I'm feeling the altitude

Sooz and Chip next to a wall of snow.

Looking down the snow wall from higher up.

On the last section of trail to the peak.

Almost there.

Me, Tom, Sooz and Chip on Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet, the highest point in Death Valley.

Looking down to the east at the Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sealevel, the lowest point in Death Valley.

Sentinal and Porter Peaks behind to ridge to the south.

View to the southwest at the southern end of the Panamint Valley.

To the northwest at the northern end of the Panamint Valley and dry lake bed that Hwy 190 passes through.

Zoomed in on the lake bed. Can barely make out the Panamint Dunes on the right, to bad it's hazy.

Tom starting down off the peak.

Looking back at Sooz and Chip as they leave the peak.

The switchbacks on the east side of the peak.

Off the switchbacks and back on the easy section.

Looking back at the peak.

We stopped at the rocks to regroup and take a short break.