The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, located in Death Valley National Park, were built in 1877 to provide fuel for the smelters of the nearby Modoc Mine in the Argus Range. While mining operations continued into the early 20th century, records indicate that these ten beehive-shaped kilns, each standing 25 feet tall, were only in use until around 1879. Constructed from local stone with a sturdy lime, sand, and gravel mixture, they have endured the harsh desert conditions for well over a century and are considered the best-preserved examples of their kind. The kilns once processed local piñon pine into charcoal, which was a more efficient fuel source than raw wood.
My wife and I arrived here late on a crisp January morning, just after a light snowfall had blanketed the area. As this was my first visit to the park, I hadn’t realized how high in elevation the kilns sit—about 6,800 feet above sea level—and just how biting the wind would be! Our car thermometer read 32 degrees, but with gusts of at least 20 mph, it felt much colder. Visitors to this area should be prepared for extreme weather shifts. In fact, just an hour after capturing this scene in heavy coats, we found ourselves sweating in t-shirts on the valley floor, far below sea level!
Prints available here.