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Phil, Craig & I just finished a 4 day trip through southern Death Valley. We'd been to Panamint Valley a couple times, taking day trips from the RV parked Ballarat. We'd been to Butte Valley once, and thought the Gelogist Cabin would be a great place to spend th night. So, we planned a tent camping trip across the Panamints and through southern Death Valley. Our general route was:
Wed night – Ridgecrest Hampton Inn
Thur – to Ballarat, up Goler Wash, over Mengel Pass, stayed at Geologist Cabin. This was the nicest adopt-a-cabin I’ve seen (one of the few I’d actually sleep in). The only weather problem was the wind that night, which we spent inside.
Fri – east across Butte Valley, north up West Side Road. Side trip up Johnson Canyon, with a hike to Hungry Bill’s Ranch (well worth the hike, interesting story there). Then north to Furnace Creek for gas, then up Echo Canyon. We camped in hills just past Inyo Mine.
Sat – up to top of Echo Pass, then down to Green Water Valley. We didn’t find a good place to camp there, so on to Shoshone for dinner, and to the mines east to Topeca that night. Great mines to explore.
Sun – south to Baker, and home
Here is a slide show of the trip:
http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...view=slideshow
Sample pics:
Entering Panamint Valley:
Ballarat greeter:
Butte Valley, from Mengel Pass:
Butte Valley, from inside Geologist Cabin:
Warming up the cabin:
Hungry Bill’s Ranch site:
Camping spot – near Inyo Mine:
Room with a view:
Noonan Mine – near Topeca:
Wed night – Ridgecrest Hampton Inn
Thur – to Ballarat, up Goler Wash, over Mengel Pass, stayed at Geologist Cabin. This was the nicest adopt-a-cabin I’ve seen (one of the few I’d actually sleep in). The only weather problem was the wind that night, which we spent inside.
Fri – east across Butte Valley, north up West Side Road. Side trip up Johnson Canyon, with a hike to Hungry Bill’s Ranch (well worth the hike, interesting story there). Then north to Furnace Creek for gas, then up Echo Canyon. We camped in hills just past Inyo Mine.
Sat – up to top of Echo Pass, then down to Green Water Valley. We didn’t find a good place to camp there, so on to Shoshone for dinner, and to the mines east to Topeca that night. Great mines to explore.
Sun – south to Baker, and home
Here is a slide show of the trip:
http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...view=slideshow
Sample pics:
Entering Panamint Valley:
Ballarat greeter:
Butte Valley, from Mengel Pass:
Butte Valley, from inside Geologist Cabin:
Warming up the cabin:
Hungry Bill’s Ranch site:
Camping spot – near Inyo Mine:
Room with a view:
Noonan Mine – near Topeca:
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