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Reilly / Water Canyon Area
This is the southernmost section of the Argus Range in Panamint Valley. The two main sites of interest are the Reilly ruins and Water Canyon. Reilly is a townsite complete with remains of residential structures as well as the mill used to process ore extracted from mines above the townsite. Water Canyon is also quite interesting. It contains many springs. Also there is an old road shooting off to the north out of the canyon that runs almost all the way to Shepherd Canyon. (Click here for area map)
Reilly Water Line (November 2009)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Water Line #1 - Looking south along water line from just below Reilly.
  2. Water Line #2 - Looking back towards Reilly.
  3. Water Line #3 - Another view to the south.
  4. Water Line #4 - Further down the line looking north.
  5. Water Line #5 - Reilly barely visible at top of picture.
  6. Water Line #6 - Another section of water line looking south.
  7. Diatom Plus - Whittaker sign and mounds of white stuff.
  8. Rusted Hopper - Large bin probably for loading trucks.
  9. Hopper View - Looking north toward Telescope Peak.
  10. Water Line #7 - Rocks stacked up to support section of water line.
  11. Water Line #8 - Section going over hill.
  12. Water Pipe - Section of pipe by water line.
  13. Water Line #9 - Section a little north of Whittaker Iron Mine.
  14. Water Line #10 - Looking north from just north of Whittaker Iron Mine.
  15. Whittaker #1 - Tailings piles and retaining timbers.
  16. Junk Car - Bullet-ridden car near Whittaker.
  17. Shack - Shack on dirt road leading to Whittaker Iron Mine.
  18. Large Pipe - Huge pipe sticking out of the ground.
  19. Water Line #11 - Rocks supporting water line just north of Water Canyon.
  20. Loading Bin - Old timber structure at mouth of Water Canyon.
  21. Tanker - Some sort of fuel or water truck.
  22. Mouth to Canyon - Road leading into water canyon.
  23. Water Line #12 - Water line at the mouth of Water Canyon.
  24. Top of Loading Bin - Looking towards bottom of Slate Range Crossing.
  25. Retaining Timbers - Some sort of loading dock at Whittaker Iron Mine.
  26. Retaining Structure - Another loading dock or something.
Water Canyon (May 2009)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Donkeys Grooming? - A couple donkeys nipping at each other.
  2. Tres Burros - Three burros looking at me suspiciously!
  3. Coyote Melon Root - Exposed root of coyote melon plant.
  4. Eriogonum deflexum - Flat-Topped Buckwheat plant.
  5. Wally-Pogs - Or pollywogs, if you prefer.
  6. Grape Leaves - Grape plants clogged the canyon in many places.
  7. Grape Plants - For instance, this is one such place.
  8. Willow Catkins - Willows also clogged the canyon in some places.
  9. Epipactis #1 - Stream orchids were abundant!
  10. Epipactis #2 - This was in the upper part of the side canyon.
  11. Epipactis #3 - Approximate coordinates: N 35 59.844, W 117 24.586
  12. Epipactis #4 - I had hoped to find orchids on this hike.
  13. Epipactis #5 - But I didn't expect anywhere near as much as I found!
  14. Epipactis #6 - It's a pretty good hike to get to.
  15. Epipactis #7 - Lots of thick vegetation.
  16. Epipactis #8 - Pretty good elevation gain/loss too!
  17. Red Spots - Some sort of gall on willow leaf.
    18. --- Added September 2009 ---
  18. White Donkey - White donkey near Doc Scurr rock.
  19. Arrowhead - Arrowhead near Doc Scurr rock.
  20. Stealth - Looks a little like a stealth fighter from this angle.
Reilly Area (October 2008)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Kitty Litter Mine #1 - A view looking down on the Kitty Litter Mine south of Reilly.
  2. Steep Road - Steep road leading up to mining area south of Reilly.
  3. Slate Range Crossing - Looking south toward Slate Range Crossing.
  4. Kitty Litter Mine #2 - Another view looking down on Kitty Litter Mine.
  5. Steep Slopes - Steep slopes above Kitty Litter Mine.
  6. Outhouse #1 - View of outhouse near end of road.
  7. Outhouse #2 - Side view of outhouse.
  8. Outhouse #3 - Another view of outhouse.
  9. Sea Silica Sign #1 - Sign near Kitty Litter Mine.
  10. Riley Mine - Mine entrance of mine near Riley.
  11. Sea Silica Sign #2 - Another view with Cat Scratch kitty depicted on sign.
  12. Reilly Cabin - View of window of cabin at Reilly.
Water Canyon/Reilly (July 2008)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Cottontop Cactus #1 - Cottontop Cactus with plenty of cotton.
  2. Cottontop Cactus #2 - Close look at a flower growing out of cotton.
  3. Coyote - Not a very good picture, but a coyote is visible in this image.
  4. Mine Claim - Old mine claim along side of canyon.
  5. Water Canyon - Looking up canyon in late afternoon sun.
  6. Datura #1 - Datura plant growing in wash.
  7. Datura #2 - Another view of datura plant in wash.
  8. Cottontop Cactus #3 - Cactus growing out of rock.
  9. Telescope - Looking down Water Canyon and across valley toward Telescope Peak.
  10. Punctured Bract - Dried up punctured bract plant.
  11. Mesquite - Mesquite bushes growing in seep/spring.
  12. Seep/Spring - Moist area in side canyon on south side of main canyon.
  13. Datura #3 - Datura plant growing in main canyon.
  14. Milkweed #1 - Close up view of milkweed flowers.
  15. Milkweed #2 - Milkweed plant growing in main canyon about 3 miles from canyon mouth.
  16. Sea-Silica - Sign just south of Reilly at kitty litter mine!
  17. Reilly Cabin - A look inside one of the cabin remains at Reilly.
  18. Cabin Roof - This is probably the only cabin with anything left of its roof!
  19. Mushroom - A little mushroom on road between Reilly and Shepherd Canyon.
Water Canyon (October 2007)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Springs #1 - First springs at bottom of north fork of Water Canyon.
  2. Springs #2 - Another view of springs at bottom of north fork.
  3. Black Tube - Tubing left at first spring area.
  4. Looking Back - Looking down on first spring from a little ways up canyon.
  5. Boulders - Interesting coloration of boulders.
  6. Tube and Water - More plastic tubing left in canyon.
  7. Brush - Thicket of brush at another spring further up canyon.
  8. Reeds and Water - Reeds growing at yet another spring.
  9. Small Pool - Small pool of water below a spring.
  10. Slime Fall #1 - Slimey fall with water trickling over it.
  11. Rock Overhang - Area hollowed out under large boulder.
  12. View Up Canyon - Looking up canyon from mine claim shown in next picture.
  13. Mine Claim - Mine claim on top of ridge above canyon.
  14. Rock Wall #1 - Remains of wall of rocks.
  15. Rock Wall #2 - Another view of remains of rock wall.
  16. Grape Vines - In some places the canyon was choked with grape vines.
  17. Stream - Small trickle of water and slime below another spring.
  18. Large Trees - Large trees near top part of canyon.
Water Canyon (March 2007)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Stuff By Cabin - Junk by cabin about a mile up from highway.
  2. View Down Canyon - Looking down the wash at the bottom of the canyon.
  3. Mining Trail - Mine trail climbing north side of Water Canyon.
  4. Mining Activity - Roads cut into hillside to facilitate mining activity.
  5. Paint On Rocks - Apparently some kind of mine claim.
  6. Rock Formation - Rock formation on south side of Water Canyon.
Reilly Mine Tunnels (September 2006)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Road To Tunnels - Road leading to tunnels at Reilly.
  2. Lower Tunnel - Tunnel above Reilly site.
  3. Metal Gate - Tunnel entrance blocked by metal gate.
  4. Upper Tunnel Supports - Old wooden supports inside tunnel.
  5. Lower Tunnels - Looking down on group of tunnels.
  6. Tunnels North of Site - Tunnels across canyon to north of Reilly.
  7. Telescope Peak - Looking across Panamint Valley from just above Reilly.
  8. Ruins #1 - Ruins of mill at Reilly.
  9. Ruins #2 - Looking out doorway of broken down cabin.
  10. Ruins #3 - Looking out window of cabin.
  11. Ruins #4 - Cabin ruins on hillside.
  12. Ruins #5 - Looking through lined up windows.
  13. Ruins #6 - Chimney in largest cabin remains.
  14. Ruins #7 - Looking across Panamint Valley with cabin in foreground.
  15. Looking South - Looking south towards Kitty Litter Mine from Reilly.
  16. Top of Canyon #1 - Top of canyon a couple miles behind Reilly.
  17. Top of Canyon #2 - Another view at top of canyon behind Reilly.
  18. DC 63 - Numbers and letters painted on rocks. (Doc Cole 1963?)
  19. Doc Scurr - Another name and date painted on rocks.
  20. Exploratory Road - Road going off from main road on high area above canyons.
  21. Water Canyon Road - Main road coming up from Water Canyon towards Shepherd Canyon.
  22. Jack Rabbit - Rabbit up on high area near top of road.
Reilly Area (May 2006)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Reilly Ruins #1 - Informational sign at Reilly site.
  2. Reilly Ruins #2 - Corral configuration on hillside.
  3. Reilly Ruins #3 - Cabin remains and corral area.
  4. Reilly Ruins #4 - Looking up toward mine area above Reilly.
  5. Reilly Ruins #5 - Another cabin structure with more ruins in background.
  6. Reilly Ruins #6 - Yet another cabin with even more ruins behind it.
  7. Reilly Ruins #7 - More ruins scattered around site.
  8. Reilly Ruins #8 - Cabin built into hillside.
  9. Reilly Ruins #9 - More ruins built around boulders.
  10. Doc Scurr - August 1962 - Must be some kind of claim marker.
  11. Evening Snow - White flowers open up at dusk.
  12. Panamint Range - Looking down canyon and across valley.
  13. Hilltops - A couple hilltops with a conical shape to them.
  14. Mine Claim - Stake marking claim.
  15. Water Canyon Cabin - Ruins of cabin at base of road out of Water Canyon.
  16. Water Pipes (near Reilly) - Pipes located in canyon southwest of Reilly.
  17. More Water Pipes (near Reilly) - Another view of small canyon southwest of Reilly.
  18. Apricot Mallow in Water Canyon - Cluster of bright orange flowers.
Water Canyon (November 2005)    Quick view of trip pics
  1. Donkeys #1 - Three donkeys along road out of Water.
  2. Donkeys #2 - Another view of same three donkeys.
  3. Donkeys #3 - Three donkeys on hillside near bottom of road out of Water.
  4. Donkeys #4 - The three donkeys on ridge overlooking road.
  5. Chukar #1 - Chubby partridges standing on rocks.
  6. Chukar #2 - Two of the plumpest chukars I've ever seen!
  7. Chukar #3 - It's a good thing for them that I had a camera and not a shotgun!
    8. --- Even Older Pictures ---
  8. Gourds - Coyote melon gourds and dried up vines.
  9. Donkeys - Group of donkeys a few miles up Water Canyon.
  10. Argus - View looking south along Argus Range.
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