Swansea, Cerro Gordo, Salt tram loop

[Sasquach]

Just back from a fabulous trip to the top of the Inyo mountains with a group from the PanamintValley.com forum members. This is a group of dedicated offroaders that thoroughly explore the Death Valley area, this was there Fall Hall gathering and part of them took to place in this particular run up to the Burgess mine and more.
Our group meet at Swansea a deserted town on the Once Owens lake that is now a mostly a dry bed from the diversions of water to the Los Angeles area.
From there at 4K feet we climbed to 11K feet to the Burgess mine and then along to the Saline valley salt tram transfer station that operated only a few years around 1910-13 before failing to be profitable and stopping. from there we traveled along the ridge to the old ming camp of Cerro Gordo and toured the site and old buildings including the american hotel the area's heyday was in the 1870-80's and very historic. from there on down the old Yellow grade road named for the yellow shale that is along the way and back to the Owens dry lake. The offroad loop is 33 miles and climbs over 6k feet with a few tecnical sections and at least one sweaty palms section.

 

[Sasquach]

Some more pics.

 

[Sasquach]

And camsite back at Panamint Springs plus a shot off the trail of Panamint Valley.
Enjoy old dog.:drool:

 

[IOPort51]

This sign puts you in the geographic middle of no place.

And camsite back at Panamint Springs plus a shot off the trail of Panamint Valley.
Enjoy old dog.:drool:

 

[Old Dog]

This sign puts you in the geographic middle of no place.

Thats one way to put it.

Looks like a great time.

 

[Petescj]

Beautiful. Thanx for the pics. Man that makes me miss out West.

 

[Sasquach]

Yes it was quite a trip and all done wearing a T shirt, weather was perfect!
And to add to the "middle of no were" don't get caught there low on fuel and low on cash at the same time, diesel fuel $5.75/ gal. and prem. $5.78/ gal.

 

[Old Dog]

And to add to the "middle of no were" don't get caught there low on fuel and low on cash at the same time, diesel fuel $5.75/ gal. and prem. $5.78/ gal.

I guess when your the only fuel around you can do that.

 

[Sasquach]

Panamint Springs is 100% off the grid, no grid power-wired telephone-cable and no cell service.
They have a large diesel generator running 24-7 for power, water is piped from a spring some 4 miles away, phone service is via a rental satilite phone at $10 for the first min. and $2.50 each min. there after. I guess they have reason to be high with their fuel charge.

 

[submoa]

Hey Sasquach,

I used to spend a lot of time in Cerro Gordo. When Jody Stewart and Mike took the place over, I shot many of the photos they used in their Christmas cards and such. It was better in the old days when we would sleep in the American Hotel (in sleeping bags on the floor). I undetstand it's ort of a tourist attraction now.

 

[Sasquach]

Cool, I'm sure you know they are both gone now? We got a tour with Cecile and Roger Vargas? while there, it's to bad the hoist house is not better preserved but it's still pretty crazy thinking you rode a basket down 900' frm there!
Don't worry to much about it crawling with tourists though, still pretty much off the beat'n path.

 

[submoa]

No, I did not know Jody and Mike were gone. The last I heard they were looking for investors to reopen the mine. They were living up there full time and said it was getting a bit rough. I used to take her a couple of bottles of good wine and they would give me the run of the place. I also shared many of my photos of Cero with them and gave them permission to use them for what ever they wanted. I'm afraid it has been a while since I've been there. Don't know the folks that are there now.

My wife has never been, will have to plan a trip up there with the CJ.

 

[Sasquach]

Jody passed a few years ago and is burried on site and Mike last year I think? It is now in the hands of his/their? kids and understand they are not interested in the property much. It is for the time being caretaked by very enthusiastic people among whom I mentioned in the previous post. Cecile has a new book just released on Cerro Gordo.
CERRO GORDO

 

[submoa]

Sas,

Had no idea they had passed. It's been a while but I don't remember them as being very old. I have some interesting news articles on Cero Gordo that I've saved over the years. Have some great early photos as well. Post me the next time a trip is planned. I would like my Wife to see the place before I bale out of Kalifornia.

I remember when they were given the entire set from one of the Star Trek movies. All they had to do was disassemble it and get it off the Owen's Lake Bed. I helped Mike load and unload a bunch of "buliding material" from the set.

Thanks much for the update.