Telescope Peak & a Field of Death Valley Sage

We are looking at Telescope Peak (11,039 ft, 3,365 m) from its Northern flank. That’s a forest of Ancient Bristlecone Pines (Pinus longaeva); and in the foreground is an attractive field of Blue Sage (Salvia pachyphylla). The hike is on a Sierra Club maintained trail, 7 miles (11.3 km) one way, beginning at Mahogany Flat (8,133 ft, 2,479 m). There are 4 legs to the trail: 1) The hiker is on the Death Valley side of the Panamints until receiving the sudden first-time awe-inspiring view of Telescope Peak. 2) Now it’s a straight shot to get to the saddle between Bennett Peak (9,980 ft, 3,041 m) and Rogers Peak (9,994 ft, 3,046 m), where the hiker enjoys a first-time glimpse into Panamint Valley and the massive Sierra Nevada in the distance, including views of glaciers and Mount Whitney (14,505 ft, 4,421 m). It’s amazing: looking one way, the adventurer spies the highest elevation on the continental US, then by simply turning around, that person can identify the lowest point in North America (-282 ft, -86 km) near Badwater. 3) This leg arrives in that area where constantly one can look down into Death Valley or turn around to study the perspectives in Panamint Valley. 4) This section begins the challenging switchbacks into the forest of Ancient Bristlecone Pines until arriving at the destination: the top that sports the highest point in all of Death Valley National Park. Sign the logbook!