Sunrise over Death Valley and the Funeral Mountains, as seen from Mahogany Flat campground.		Here's a typical stretch of the trail, as it hugs the mountain.  Don't think of falling, as loose shale affords little traction.
	About two miles out of  camp, I take a break and snap a photo of myself.		The trail to Arcane Meadows features many beautiful highlights, such as this cactus growing out of a perfect rock garden.

 

From Mahogany Flat Campground, at the 8100 foot level high in the Panamint Mountains, the hike to Telescope Peak is about 7-1/2 miles each way, with an elevation gain of around 3000 feet and it's a hike, not a technical climb. (However those brave enough, or stupid enough to attempt this hike in snowy conditions can expect it to become quite technical, requiring crampons, ice axes and all the winter survival stuff) However, it's not for the loose of foot or the feint of heart as the trail immediately starts to climb and before long, you're hiking a very narrow trail, with a steep bank to your right and a 45-degree slope to your left, dropping hundreds of feet.  If you did manage to fall, you'd have a hard time getting back on the trail, as it's steep and covered with loose, flat rocks that would afford little, if any, traction.

	The trail is now approaching Arcane Meadows and I can't help but to marvel at how steep and difficult the terrain has become.		Looking to the north, we catch a glimpse of Telescope Peak.
	The rock carain marks the summit of Arcane Meadows and the GPS reads 9623 feet.  Yes, I have made it!		From the summit at Arcane Meadows, I look north toward Telescope Peak.

But wait; the view!  It's gourgous!  You have a bird's eye view of Death Valley and you can clearly see into Badwater Basin.  If you like to take pictures, the possibilities are endless.

However, this trail is narrow and tretcherous.  I was manourving myself into position to snap a photo of a dead juniper tree when I slipped on a piece of loose shale (there's lots of it), lost my balance and started to fall.  I was fortunate as I was able to grab hold of a branch from a nearby mountain mahogany tree and hold on.  However, in the process, I pulled a muscle in the back of my left leg.  Ouch!

 

If you look very closely, in the distance you can spot Mt. Whitney to the west, the highest peak in the continental U.S.

Looking to the west from Arcane Meadows, you can see Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America.