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Searles Valley and Trona
Trona Services and Places of Interest

1. Hairy Milkweed - Funastrum hirtellum of the Dogbane Family.
2. Desert Tomato 01 - Lycium andersonii of the Nightshade Family.
3. Wooden Marker - Some kind of mine claim marker up around 3300 feet.
4. Desert Tomato 02 - A full bush full of tiny red berries.
5. Tailings Pile - Small tailings pile below mine opening at 3300 feet.
6. Mine Tunnel - The tunnel was about fifteen or twenty feet deep.
7. Spine Flower - Chorizanthe brevicornu of the Buckwheat Family.
8. Rusty Pipes - Two old pipes above bypass trail at about 3100 feet.
9. Bypass Trail - Remnant of bypass trail at about 3100 feet. Most of it gone.
10. Mojave Stinkweed - Cleomella obtusifolia of the Cleome Family.

1. Donkey Trail - A trail runs all the way to the top.
2. Prince's Plume - Nice flowers up around the 4200 foot level.
3. Sand-Wash Groundsel - Attractive member of the Sunflower Family.
4. Maybe a Fence - There was this bent pole and some barbed wire nearby.
5. Donkeys - These guys were hanging out just above the top of the canyon.
6. Trail Above Canyon - Trail along flat area heading toward Trona Peak.
7. Argus Peak #1 - Looking more or less north toward the peak.
8. Yucca - Interesting plants with Argus Peak in background.
9. Desert Woolly Star - Very small member of the Phlox Family.
10. Argus Peak #2 - Another look at the highest peak above Searles Valley.

1. Desert Calico #1 - Loeseliastrum matthewsii of the Phlox Family.
2. Desert Calico #2 - Lots of this small, but colorful plant in the lower canyon.
3. Desert Gold Poppy - Eschscholzia glyptosperma of the Poppy Family.
4. Argus Peak - Looking up Wilson Canyon towards Argus Peak.
5. Desert Woolly Star - Eriastrum eremicum of the Phlox Family.
6. Desert Pincushion #1 - Chaenactis fremontii of the Sunflower Family.
7. Desert Pincushion #2 - This plant was especially abundant.
8. Death Valley Goldeneye - Lots of flower buds on these plants.
9. Button Brittlebush - Encelia frutescens of the Sunflower Family.
10. California Buckwheat - Eriogonum fasciculatum of the Buckwheat Family.
11. Cloak Fern - Cheilanthes parryi of the Brake Family.
12. Desert Tomato - Lycium andersonii of the Nightshade Family.
13. Wishbone Bush - Dried sepals of Mirabilis laevis of the Four O'Clock Family.
14. Mexican Bladdersage #1 - Salazaria mexicana of the Mint Family.
15. Mexican Bladdersage #2 - Also known as Paper-Bag Bush.

1. Larkspur #1 - Delphinium parishii of the Buttercup Family.
2. Larkspur #2 - There was a lot of larkspur in bloom on this outing.
3. Donkeys #1 - A total of fifteen donkeys were sighted on this hike.
4. Larkspur #3 - More larkspur. It was a good day for larkspur!
5. Larkspur #4 - Even more larkspur.
6. Milkvetch #1 - Layne Milkvetch located near the collapsed tunnel.
7. Milkvetch #2 - Astragalus layneae of the Pea Family.
8. Milkvetch #3 - Another look at a milkvetch plant.
9. Donkeys #2 - Small group of donkeys, including a foal.
10. Donkeys #3 - Another group of donkeys hanging out in Wilson Canyon.

1. Argus Peak - The highest peak in Searles Valley as seen from due south.
2. Chemical Plant - Looking down on the chemical plant from and elevation of 3200 feet.
3. South Searles - View of the southern portion of the valley.
4. Trona - Focusing in a little bit more on the houses and school.
5. Purple Mat - This highly attractive belly flowers was quite prevalent.
6. Pioneer Point - Looking down on the northern part of Pioneer Point.
7. Woolly Daisy - More belly flowers and there were lots of these!
8. Notch-Leaf Phacelia - Another plant that was quite plentiful.
9. Yellow Frocks - Healthy plant producing lots of flowers.
10. Hike Map - Out and back hike (8.5 miles) beginning in Pioneer Point (1600') to Trona overlook area (3200').

1. Mine Entrance - Entrance to mine near Christmas Tree Spring.
2. Christmas Tree Spring - Pool of water and tree at the spring.
3. Dry Pipe - A narrow pipe is buried almost directly above the wet pipe.
4. Wet Pipe - The wet pipe produces the water which feeds the pool at the spring.
5. Fenced Area - The BLM erected a fence around the spring to protect it from donkeys.
6. Obstacles - The BLM went to great lengths to discourage vehicular traffic at the springs.
7. Alternate Road - Off-roaders made a new road leading to the springs.
8. Campfire - Apparently some people think that BLM barriers make good logs for a campfire.
9. Bench - Bench outside formerly wet tunnel about a half mile below Christmas Tree Springs.
10. Telescope Peak - Snow on Telescope Peak in early October.

1. Coreopsis #1 - By far the most abundant flower on his hike.
2. Coreopsis #2 - Close up of a single flower.
3. Coreopsis #3 - Coreopsis is also known as tickseed.
4. Coreopsis #4 - Patch of coreopsis blowing in the wind.
5. Coreopsis #5 - Raindrops on bright yellow petals.
6. Devil's Lettuce - The devil needs a little roughage in his diet too!
7. Fiesta Flower - Plenty of this plant growing in shade of rocks and bushes.
8. More Fiesta Flower - A close look at small flowers of this plant.
9. Phacelia #1 - Insect on phacelia flower.
10. Yellow Frocks #1 - Another member of the Sunflower Family with yellow petals.
11. Bouquet - An arrangement of yellow frocks and desert pincushion.
12. Phacelia #2 - The stamens show up quite sell on this one!
13. Purple Mat - Colorful, low-growing wildflower.
14. Chia #1 - Look closely at the bottom part of the flower. It almost looks like a frightened face.
15. Phacelia #3 - Interesting infloresence of the phacelia.
16. Yellow Frocks #2 - A close look at a single flower.
17. Cryptantha - A close look at the flowers of a tiny crytantha plant.
18. Desert Trumpet - Leaves forming a basal rosette.
19. Desert Tobacco - Clump of desert tobacco growing amongst boulders.
20. Chia #2 - Another look at a group of chia flowers.
21. Chia #3 - Another look at the scared little faces on the chia flowers.
22. Larkspur - No flowers yet.
23. Coreopsis #6 - Another patch of coreopsis blowing in the breeze!
24. Coreopsis #7 - Side view of coreopsis flower.
25. Coreopsis #8 - Another close look at tickseed flower.
26. Woolly Daisy - Another colorful belly flower.
27. Yellow Peppergrass - Lots of this common plant scattered around.
28. The Jail - Obligatory picture of "The Jail" at mouth of Wilson Canyon.
29. Milkvetch - Close look at flowers of milkvetch plant with its leaves in the background.
30. Coreopsis - One last cluster of coreopsis being tossed about on a stormy day.

1. Snowy Pines - Snow on pine trees and mail box.
2. Snowy Cacti - Snow on cacti, house, and trees.
3. Snowy Yards - Looking down street with snow in front yards.
4. Snowy Stump - Stump and small pine tree covered in snow.
5. Snowy Trees - Large trees coated with snow.
6. Snowy Lot - Empty lot filled with snow.
7. Snowy Bushes - The snow almost looks like foam in these bushes.
8. Snowy Palms - Palms trees and snow.
9. Snowy Truck - Notice that the snow didn't stick to the street.
10. Snowy School - A snowy scene at Trona High School.
11. Snowy Field #1 - Football field lightly covered with snow.
12. Snowy Field #2 - Baseball field lightly dusted with snow.
13. Snowy Gas Station - Not much snow except for on the palms.
14. Building Snowman - Approximately 8:00 AM - Lots of snow.
15. Melting Snowman - Approximately 11:30 AM - Most of the snow is gone!

1. Water Route - Section of water pipeline from Indian Joe Canyon to Pioneer Point.
2. Old Car - Abandoned, rusty, old car near mouth of Indian Joe Canyon.
3. Old Sign - All words washed away. Must not have been too important!
4. Milkvetch - Many milkvetch plants already gone to seed in area.
5. Pincushion - Desert pincushion growing with burrobush.

1. Horses - Horses hanging out at Pioneer Point Corrals.
2. Corral Fire #1 - Burnt area the day after small fire at corrals.
3. Corral Fire #2 - Overview of burnt area.
4. Corral Fire #3 - Another overview of burnt area.
5. Searles Lake - View of Searles Lake from corrals.
6. Junk Buggy - Junk buggy behind corrals.
7. Corral View - View of corrals and upper portion of Pioneer Point.
8. Corral Fire #4 - Another overview shot of burnt area.
9. Slate Range - Bird and horse with Slate Range in the background.
---- Added October 2009 ----
10. Tank Hill - Water tank on hill south of Pioneer Point.
11. Datura Flower #1 - Bee gathering pollen from datura flower.
12. Datura Flower #2 - Another shot of bee an datura flower.
13. Buzzard #1 - Buzzard hanging out in a tree waiting... just waiting.
14. Buzzard #2 - Another view of the buzzard up in a tree.
15. Slate Range - View of Slate Range from Pioneer Point.
16. Datura Seed Pod - Close up of datura seed pod.

1. Gravel Ghost - Gravel ghost flower growing at edge of Pioneer Point.
2. Pioneer Point - This view includes the majority of houses in Pioneer Point, but not quite all of them!
3. Larkspur - Close up of larkspur flowers growing in hills above Pioneer Point.
4. Mojave Aster #1 - Mojave Aster plant in wash up in the hills.
5. Brittlebush - During spring time the hills can be covered with blooming brittlebush!
6. Chia - Some chia plants growing next to wash above the valley.
7. Desert Hyacinth - Close up of desert hyacinth, also known as Blue Dick.
8. Desert Pincushion - Cluster of desert pincushion plants.
9. Yellow Frocks - A fair number of these plants were mixed in with the desert pincushion plants!
10. Argus - Argus and the southern part of Searles Valley.
11. Chemical Plant - A view of the main Trona plant.
12. Smoke Stacks - A closer look at the plant.
13. Mojave Aster #2 - A lady bug on a Mojave aster flower.
14. Mojave Aster #3 - Some kind of beetle on a Mojave aster flower.
15. Snake's Head - The bud of this plant might be more impressive than the flower!
------- one week later -----
16. Poppies - Poppies growing near the mouth of Wilson Canyon.
17. The Jail - Remains of building often referred to as "The Jail."
18. Foundation Stones - Remains of structure near The Jail.
19. Apricot Mallow - Blooms of apricot mallow in side canyon.
20. Lip Fern - Fern plant growing under rock overhand.
21. Brittlebush - Brittlebush growing on small hill.

1. Wilson Canyon Mine - Mine tunnel at Xmas Tree Springs.
2. Christmas Tree Srings - It's not even a coniferous tree!
3. Brittle Bush Seeds - Close up view of mature seeds.
4. Mine Tunnel - Opening of mine behind Xmas Tree Springs.
5. Jail #1 - This structure is located near the mouth of Wilson Canyon.
6. Jail #2 - Another view of The Jail.
7. Old Car - Picture taken at extreme southern end of Argus Range.
8. Argus Dunes - The Argus Dunes are located in the extreme southern end of the Argus Range.