Day 4, Mon. I stayed at Briggs cabin while Linus and Brett went to Panamint Springs Resort to pick up Linus's friend Andy Browne, Dave G. and fuel for us all. The Briggs cabin is named after Harry Briggs the orginal owner and is an Adopt-a-cabin. It has 2 full size beds and 4 bunk beds, a potbelly stove, running water, a hot water heater(bring propane!), solar panels, radio/cd player, horseshoe pit, mining ore cars, out house. It is one of the better kitted cabins. Just down the hill from it is the Stone Cabin, not so large but very well kitted out. While they were gone I occupied the cabin and cut lumber and chopped firewood for the fire. they had left around 0910 and Paul VKD showed up around 1100. He had talked to Brett and Linus around the begining of the road. Soon Paul was settled in and we were sitting in the sun enjoying a cold one. Then we could hear the sound of an approaching vehicle, it turned out to be a Scoutmaster, with 3 boy scouts, wanting to show them the cabin. Paul and I encouraged them and were soon back to our pleasures when we heard a yelp come from the backyard. Thinking nothing of it, that they were having fun. Quickly 2 of the Scouts ran down to us and asked us to help thier scoutmaster as he had fallen and hit his head on a post. I told Paul to go up while I got my first aid kit. As I got it I had visions of this guy with a post stuck in his head! Wondering how in the world we were going to get him out of there. It being an hour to the road and another hour to the nearest town. The Briggs mine would have been closer in retrospect. Upon my arrival at the accident site the man was standing up and what had happend follows; The 3 Scouts were posed infront of the outhouse with its signage and he was backing up to take a photo. He tripped over the backstop for the horseshoe pit and struck his back next to his spine at shoulder level with the horseshoe stake. It did not penetrate the skin but slid up his neck to stop at his hairline leaving a fine rash that was not bleeding. After assurances he was OK they left. Paul and I had another cold one and I decided to go exploring. I hiked up the 1/4 mile to the spring where the cabin gets its water. A steep climb with an uneventful end. Great views above the cabin though. Linus and Brett and Andy arrived around 1600 having left the Resort around 1400. Dave G. form Colorado was a no-show. Dinner and drinking ensued with a nice fire in the homemade stove. Mon gps stats: stopped 6h 42m moving 7h 26m moving avg 15.5mph max spd 55.4 overall avg 8.2mph odometer 115.57m elevation 3966ft total ascent 13,789ft max el 6450ft Day 5, Tues. After waking up and packing up we cleaned the cabin, shut off the water and took down the flag. All to soon we were headed down the canyon past the stone cabin to exit SPC. Without any further excitement we reached Wingate Rd and turned South.  Soon we had passed the Briggs Mine, reportedly a million and a half dollars of ore leaves here every week, at the bottom of Redlands Canyon. On the road we chanced upon an abandoned rental Jeep with a flat tyre. The campstove was set up on the side of the road at the front of the jeep and a 1 gal fuel can empty at the rear. Inside a backpack with stuff inside. Going ahead we changed the tyre and drove on leaving a note saying this was all we could do. afew miles later we crossed paths with Dave G. and his lovely family in thier G wagon. They had been camping up Goler Wash at the Neuman mine. Owen was excited to see a Valley named after him and Wyatt reported they had seen a roadrunner, Jenna was happily playing a video game. They decided to continue on and go to Saline springs and we to go to Striped Butte. We did not stop at the Neuman mine on our way up Goler Wash. Along the way we hit the gatekeeper waterfall. I'm guessing it is about a 14in climb with rocky bumps on top. Linus took 3 tries with Da Snork to finaly make it up. Next was Paul's turn in his 109 He hit it kinda at an angle and took 2 tries to get up using his locker in the rear. Brett took a few tries going too slow at first and having trouble with the front wheel stopping on the rocky bumps on the top at the same time the rears hit the bottom of the ledge. Coaxing him to more speed got him up and over. Now my turn. I hit it with a little more angle than Paul and the speed of Brett and went right up on one go.  Onward up to the Lotus mine where we drove to the top and inspected the mineshaft and machinery. During lunch at the top I was able to get some really good echos off the canyon walls. Back down in the canyon we headed off to Barker Ranch. Once a large stone ranch house it is best know for being the last hideout of the Manson gang. It burned down a few years ago all that is left is the stone husk. In order to get into Butte Valley we had to climb over Mengal's pass. there is one big white step to climb and I knew I was in for it when Linus stopped in front of me to watch me go up. I had seen him do it so I had it in 1st low and just put the diesel to it.........no problem! Would have liked a video of that one! There were some rough sections on the way up but most of the tight hard parts were on the way down from the monument. One spot put a new stroke of character on the patina of Da Snork. Once in the Valley we first stopped at Russell Cabin and then Stellas's Cabin. Both are in need of a clean up and repair. We then headed over to the Geologist Cabin nearer Striped Butte.  This cabin was built by Carl Mengals out of stone. We quickly put up the flag and moved in, followed by dinner and a fire. Andy told stories of people and places he knew and Linus read from a book titled "Loafing Death Valley Trails". the wind Howled outside and lifted some of the roofing paper off. The wind was so strong that andy could not sleep outside as is his wont so we bedded down like sardines on the cement floor around 2200. Day 6, Wed. After breakfast we went exploring on the west side of Butte Valley following the roads toward Redlands Canyon and looking for Emmit Harders aluminum cabin. First we came to a road which led to an unnamed mine. Brett and I crawled inside and found a stove and a verticle shaft past a cave-in. While Linus climbed to the top of the shaft on the outside. Venturing on we found a side road into a deadend canyon with a campsite at the end. Then the next one took us to Emmit's cabin. A quick inspection and we were away down to the end of Redlands Canyon. We hit the bottom and turned back up. I was usually in second or third low range on this "road". Back in Butte Valley, Paul and I headed to Striped Butte to have a look see and lunch, but the road was closed off about half way there. Brett, Linus and Andy headed over to look at Anvil Springs. so named because a frustrated miner threw an anvil in it. Due to the heavy wind Paul and I headed back to the cabin for lunch. After a bit we were joined by the others who found nothing at the springs. Then lunch ensued and during which Linus and Brett decided to climb Striped Butte and off they went. Andy, Paul and I waited in the relative comfort of the cabin, as we did so we watched a hiker cross the valley floor. As he approached, Andy(an avid hiker) went out and met him and invited him to spend the night. The hiker was a 21yo Canuk from Quebec named Manu. He was spending some time trying to hike and hitchhike to all the US National Parks. After all were together again we ate dinner and sat by the fireplace built by Mengals. Around 2100 Paul discovered that it was snowing. By 2200 when we went to bed there was 1.5-2in of the stuff on the ground. And by midnight the wind had picked up again and the snow had stopped with clear skies. Wed gps stats stopped 4h 25m moving 5h 18m moving avg 9.4mph max spd 33.9mph overall avg 5.1mph odo 50.13mi total ascent 9,672ft max el 4.896ft Day 7, Thur. We awoke to the cold wind blowing once again, it made using the exposed toilet quite the experience! The harsh wind had blown the snow from all the exposed surfaces. so we cooked, packed, cleaned up the cabin and left Manu to walk. For me the climb back up to Mengals Pass was not as bad as I thought it would be. No new body damage or multiple runs...just photo ops in the snow strewn countryside. We cruised across the pass and then down Goler Wash. We stopped at the Lotus mine where we cut some firewood for the next few days at Saline Valley. Driving down the wash it narrowed down until we hit the gatekeeper, where all drove down with the aplomb common to Series Rovers! Out on Wingate Rd. we had to chase down Linus who sometimes gets like a horse to the barn. Here Paul VKD said his good-byes, his time is limited by home and hearth and job. Good to see you again Paul maybe we will see you at Mendo in the spring! The rest of us turned North and headed to Panamint Springs Resort to refuel both Rovers and Bodies. Great burgers! and Say Hi to Alexis when you stop in. Once again we hit the road to Saline Valley. It has suffered from washouts and incomplete repairs but is completely passible, best with high ground clearance vehicles but 4x4 not needed. The road down Grapevine Canyon is unchanged, it lacked the snow of 09 but the water crossings had lots of ice even at 1600 when we passed thru. The valley road was its usual washboard. It was dark by the time we finished our 40mph run up the valley. On our approach we spotted Phil's Christmas lights together with Mo's 109. A few minutes later and hugs all around we set up tents for the first time. After dinner it was time to hit the hot springs. A few hours being warm in the springs meeting other campers and then off to sleep for the last night of 2010! Thur gps stats stopped 3h 21m moving 5h 31m moving avg 22.4mph max spd 61.1mph overall avg 13.9mph odo 123.79mi total ascent 7,917ft max el 6,258ft |
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