Panamint Valley Trip 4-1-05 thru 4-5-05
Ron and I arrived in Ballarat around 1:00pm on Friday. Shortly there
after Bob and Liz (Rubicon) arrived, then around 3:00pm Vince and
Susan arrived (YJ), and Bob (CJ) arrived around 4:00pm. We all got
acquainted, started a camp fire and rested up. Saturday morning we all
meet at 8:30am and hit the trail at 9:00am. Pleasant Canyon had a lot
of water running, Vince got hung up in a pretty deep hole in the creek
about half way up, he winched himself out. There off course had to be
a group of Land rovers behind us when that happened! Anyway on up the
trail to Clair Camp, we stopped and looked around watered the dogs and
chatted took photo's. Then on to the World beater Cabin, a clean
cabin
but sparse, there was a group about 8 camped up there, a great view of
the Panamint Valley. Next we stopped at Rita's cabin, where the
Rover
group was stopped for lunch; Rita's cabin was a mess, although a
beautiful location in the trees. Next we took a narrow rocky pass over
into Middle Park, stopped at a mine to check it out and take
photo's
crossed middle park, saw a Burro. We stopped for lunch on this high
ridge between Middle Park and South Park. After lunch we started down
south Park Canyon, there was a little water at the top of the canyon,
a very scenic canyon. We got to chicken rock checked it out and then
we all passed over it without incident, the cliff there is a shear
drop off, then on to pole bridge, it is narrow but plenty wide for a
jeep. On down South Park Canyon we stopped at Briggs camp, there was a
group staying at Briggs cabin, so we checked out Stone cabin there, it
is a really nice place has running water with propane lights and
heater as well as frig. (Bring your own propane). We proceeded down
the canyon, a bunch of steps to cross over, Vince got high centered on
a big rock Bob and Liz tried to strap him off but could not get him
loose, so he winched himself off. The South park canyon drops from
around 6000ft to 1300ft. We got back to camp around 5:00pm traveled a
total of 23 miles.
Sunday we hit the trail around 9:30am, we went up Goler wash to Barker
cabin, Charles Mansons hideout and then on over Mengel Pass to
Stripped Butte, we ate lunch at the Geologists cabin with a great view
of Butte Valley, Bob (CJ) decided he wanted to take Warm Springs road
out to West Side Rd. and on to Furnace Creek, the rest of us headed
back up Mengel, we stopped at Russels cabin, it was also in good
condition. And then on back down Goler Canyon, I think Goler is
prettier going down then up, and back to camp arriving around 4:00pm.
We all decided to have dinner that night in Panamint Springs.
Monday Bob and Liz departed for home and Vince and Susan Departed for
home.
Bob (CJ) and Ron and I and a lone camper in a Zuki, Del. Headed out
about 10:00am for Minnetta Mine cabin and Look Out City. The Minnetta
cabin was in great shape, better than last year even. The road up to
Look Out City is rocky and steep, 3800 ft at the top and a great view
of Panamint Valley from the west side. We ate lunch, looked around
took photo's, I picked up some Obsidian and then headed back down
the
trail. Saw 4 Burro's on the hillside they stood still and let us
take
photo's, we got back to camp around 4:00pm. Bob Hooked up his
Jeep for
early departure the next day. Ron and I departed camp around 10:00am
on Tuesday and arrived at my house in Oceanside about 3:30pm. This was
a wonderful trip with some great offroaders and scenic views.
Update on Ballarat, Rocky only charges $2.00 per night for camping,
and he has a Toilet and hot Showers ($1.50 for the shower).
