Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

by Mike Lee

Title

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Artist

Mike Lee

Medium

Photograph - Digital

Description

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley National Park were constructed in 1877 to produce fuel to fire smelters for the Modock Mines in the near-by Argus Range. While the mines operated until around the turn of the 20th century, all available information suggests the ten 25 foot tall bee hive shaped kilns only operated until around 1879. Built with local stone and a lime, sand, and gravel mix, they are obviously quite sturdy to still be standing after all these years and they are known as the best surviving examples of such kilns. When they operated they used local pinion pines to produce the desired charcoal product, which burned slower than the original wood.

My lovely wife and I arrived at the location late on a very brisk January morning after a dusting of snow had hit the area over night. I confess that, this being my first visit to the park, I had no idea how high in elevation the location is (approximately 6800 feet above sea level) and just how blustery it would be! Our car thermometer said 32 degrees and the wind had to be blowing a pretty consistent 20 mph. Year round the area is to be respected and visitors should be prepared for about anything from a weather standpoint. Indeed, an hour or so after capturing this image while shivering in a fairly heavy coat, my wife and I were sweating in tee shirts on the valley floor below sea level!

Uploaded

January 20th, 2023

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Viewed 446 Times  -  Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 03/25/2023 at 8:40 AM

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