Walk down memory lane... or wheel up a waterfall..PICS

[camo]

So lets take a walk down memory lane and post up any pics you have of Surprise canyon or panamint city

Get It !!

camo

[Jes]

I have none of "memory lane" as the only time I've run it in a vehicle was in about 1976 in a 1974(maybe 1975) Jeep Cherokee. At the time I was four years old but remembered it well(surprisingly, no pun intended) when I finally went back there a couple years ago and found the surroundings very familiar.
Here's a few pics of what Surprise Canyon looks like currently.
First, a view of 11,049' Telescope Peak, the top of the Panamints...
http://www.fototime.com/89DB1AAB8C1353F/standard.jpg
Mining ruins as you enter the canyon...
http://www.fototime.com/C5407E03E96E9D3/standard.jpg
One of the newer side erosion cuts...
http://www.fototime.com/BD32FE0E34B6481/standard.jpg
Waterfalls...
http://www.fototime.com/0D8D4925926D584/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/5E05192B3247E5B/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/942A37AC0C7D524/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/0A4B507469E4F9D/standard.jpg
It takes a lot of water to do something like this...
http://www.fototime.com/B01B85873BA2A99/standard.jpg
I've been back a few times in the last couple years, love observing the spectacle of erosion. Panamint Valley and the surrounding area is one of my favorite destinations for pure back country adventure.

[Krusty]

i've got a question that in the twenty years or so-- has not found an answer----- where does the water that comes down the stream come from ????????

don't say the spring--- i know that---- BUT--- think about it---- water does not run uphill----- and the spring is near the top of the Panamint range-- @ 6,000+ '--- there are NO taller hills around !!! there is NOT a snow pack----- the only hills with snow or glaciers is about 100 miles away !!! just south of Mammouth !----------- so where does the thousands upon thousands of gallons of cool/clear water come from ??????? 24/7/365 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Krusty]

the stream IS the road to Panamint City

[Krusty]

and once in the canyon, there is no where else to go-

[Wilson]

:drewl: Keep up the work Benders and everyone who contributes

[Krusty]

in those days, this line-up for a run up the canyon, was a sample of the 'hard core' wheelers of that time frame !!!-(Frosty paint job THIS TIME was the yellow flames)

the next is in the canyon on the way down-- WITH CAMO !!!

the next shot is the Panamint range, shot from the PVD (Panamint Valley Days) encampment-- the entrance to Surprize is above the forth rig from the right--- and runs to JUST ABOUT THE TOP OF THE MTS. !!!!!!! Death Valley is the other side of the mts. !

[Krusty]

in the SEVERAL trips in the canyon, we NEVER had a spill of any 'chemicals' -oil-fuel-or the like !!--- and as odd as it might seem, never had a rig roll to where it was disabled !!!
The canyon is impossible to photo in !!!!
once your in the canyon, everything is UP or DOWN and your prospective thru a lens can not due justice to the up-ness or down-er !!!!!

but maybe you get the idea------------

[Krusty]

as i look back at most of the pics i have--- they mostly seem to be the 'down' leg !!!!
maybe cause you are too busy on the way up to get pics !!!

But before Camo found his cape and was able to leap tall buildings-----
he wanted a strap down 'fall 7' (at the top of the hard part ) (there were 7 'water falls' to go up/down), on the start of the homeward leg--- "get me outta here !!!"
note-- Lisa and the kids walked !!!
Rob workin the 'let down winch'---- but being last- Rob had to DRIVE down !!!!! (near bone stock runner !)

[Krusty]

and so on--- down the canyon---
line up #6
down #6
line up #5
kinda down #5
lean the roof on what ? going down #4

[UGET IT]

Sure glad I had a chance to drive that once. What a trip! I'll never forget it!

[Krusty]

and then----
where's the next one ???
down #3
down 3- get the line for #2
the line for #2
down #2

[Krusty]

and the biggest 'pucker factor' had to be fall #1--- up or down !!!! (especally DOWN !!)

Camo ready for #1
bottom of #1 looking up, STANDING in the 'landing pad'-- -- "BRING IT !!!"
Camo down #1
Rob lineing up #1 --- AND CAMO CHECKIN HIS PANTS AFTER HIS DECENT !!!!
and Rob down--

[mobil1syn]

a few i collect over the years of websurfing

[Krusty]

Mobil1--- looks a lot like Marlin------ he used the canyon for R&D as he was developing the stuff we take for granted now, as well the pleasure of the trip!!!!!!!


that nose stand is the FAMED FALL#1 !!

[Krusty]

And that folks is the way it WAS--- 'back then'-- a day up and a day down--
I kinda featured Camo cause a lot of folks know him, and he IS a Tin Bender !

those rigs were about the best there were and piloted by just about the best drivers ---

in those days, you couldn't pick up a 4X mag that didn't have pics/articals about the 'Big Two"-- the Rubicon and Surprize Canyon.

I kinda wish we could have those days back again !!!!!


and as a kinda side note;;; there was NO TRASH !!! (not 1 can/bottle/candy wrapper--- ) and we didn't carry bottled water--- no need to !!! there was a cool stream there !!!! drink to your full !

those were the days when people cared about their trails and condition/beauty of those trails !!! NO ONE would think of throwing trash out !!!!!! It just wasn't done !

[rockrknockr]

in those days, this line-up for a run up the canyon, was a sample of the 'hard core' wheelers of that time frame !!!-(Frosty paint job THIS TIME was the yellow flames)

the next is in the canyon on the way down-- WITH CAMO !!!

the next shot is the Panamint range, shot from the PVD (Panamint Valley Days) encampment-- the entrance to Surprize is above the forth rig from the right--- and runs to JUST ABOUT THE TOP OF THE MTS. !!!!!!! Death Valley is the other side of the mts. !


hey KRUSTY...........don't know if you are familiar with the "shark" figure on the panamint range..............but you captured a good (but rather close) shot of it in the last pic here. it covers the entire left-to-right length of your pic..............the shark is the entire lower white section of the mountain range here and he is facing right...................you can see his jaw open and a dark eye:flipoff2:

[rockrknockr]

oh and KRUSTY.........great job on the pics and narative:smokin:

i told ya before but just a reminder............i lived at wildrose station 1965-71............been up to panamint city a bunch back then in 2WD! tey, it sure did change:eek:

i am gonna print-out some of your pics and send to my dad who would also really appreciate them. he is 91 years old and pounded the panamints in his 57 land rover:bounce2:

thanks again KRUST:beer::beer:

[OTR]

oh and KRUSTY.........great job on the pics and narative:smokin:

i told ya before but just a reminder............i lived at wildrose station 1965-71...

Have I seen a pic of you and Slim on the front porch ?



kris.

[rockrknockr]

Have I seen a pic of you and Slim on the front porch ?



kris.


yeah KRIS........that be me in about 1968-69? sittin with seldom seen slim (charles ferge). he was very ill and he stayed in one of the cabins for a few weeks before he was taken to the hospital and eventually passed away.


http://www.goldrush.com/~hofs/dvtrails.html

[Live Wire]

Great thread. I sure miss this place. Here's a few pics & a link to more.
Pics are from Panamint Valley days 6th annual Suprise Canyon Expedition,Nov.1995.
http://images8.fotki.com/v108/photos/4/41638/1589745/lastscane-vi.jpg
http://images105.fotki.com/v448/photos/4/41638/1589745/lastscani-vi.jpg
http://public.fotki.com/Lordmodelbuilder/4x4_off_road_pics/6th_annual_suprise/

[D-rail]

What a great thred! great pictures, and cool stories. I would love to run this trail some day. If it ever gets re-opened.
D-Rail www.totalkarnage.net

[Easy Rick]

This is a great thread, cool to see what I have not yet experienced. Soon though Right!:smokin:

wishfull,
Rick.

[kibblerange]

Wow, those trails look amazing.

Talk about a place forgotten, it's very beautiful.

[madjeeper622]

Anyone reamber "Happy Cyn"? It was on the right of Surpise Cyn. Went up there w the Nov event, 89. The next year they closed Happy Cyn. So i went up Surprise Cyn. 4Wheeler Mag went with the 12 of us. I did the run with a hardtop on, they took my photo. Only pushed in the rear window on the top. :D Did "Panamint valley days" from 89-93.

[rockrknockr]

Anyone reamber "Happy Cyn"? It was on the right of Surpise Cyn. Went up there w the Nov event, 89. The next year they closed Happy Cyn. So i went up Surprise Cyn. 4Wheeler Mag went with the 12 of us. I did the run with a hardtop on, they took my photo. Only pushed in the rear window on the top. :D Did "Panamint valley days" from 89-93.

yes i been up happy in the 60's but not since. cool that you got to run it!

[camo]

come awn guys... bust out the scanners and post up those old school pics. :smokin:

[Easy Rick]

come awn guys... bust out the scanners and post up those old school pics. :smokin:


Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rockrknockr]

come awn guys... bust out the scanners and post up those old school pics. :smokin:

yeah no shit that would be cool. i have a lot of 35mm slides that my dad took of the panamint valley area. i need to go through them and see what i can find. most of the trips was in his 50 something jeep and 57 land rover. goler was the biggest attraction in the 60's.

[Panamint Charlie]

Is this too old?

1929
http://www.panamintcharlie.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/nicetry.jpg

1874
http://www.panamintcharlie.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/PICTURES%233%20004-800.jpg

[HoupPhotography.com]

Is this too old?

1929
http://www.panamintcharlie.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/nicetry.jpg

1874
http://www.panamintcharlie.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/PICTURES%233%20004-800.jpg

WOW, very cool! I love to visit old minig area's around here, that's the main reason for building my Jeep....


This is a kick ass thread, NOT at all what I imagine when you guys talk about a "trail run" .... What is really cool, you guys are talking about wheelin' these trails back in the day..... AWESOME, True Pioneers!!! or Pirate Pioneers..:D

[rockrknockr]

great pics CHARLIE:smokin:

those were the days! pick, shovel, chew, whiskey and a bottle of opium at the house:flipoff2:

[benttoy]

I love the 1874 photo the building has the Hendrix X on it:smokin:

[Porch Puppy XJ]

some pics
http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/4378/1098253633038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253633038561203VcjXUf)
http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/7075/1098253485038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253485038561203Ybpnqh)
http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/4047/1098253133038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253133038561203yeKzOp)
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/3709/1098253599038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253599038561203hlKiQb)
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/5005/1098253286038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253286038561203lQwEEj)
http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/3367/1098253368038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253368038561203MuyODp)
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/4359/1098253183038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253183038561203rIZpYZ)

[OTR]

Nice of you to stop by Andy. :D


kris.

[Jes]

Great pics. :smokin:

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/5005/1098253286038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253286038561203lQwEEj)


Is that Rick?
Funny, Curtis actually looks young in those pics! :D

[Porch Puppy XJ]

Yes that is Rick....
http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/6234/1098253233038561203S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1098253233038561203hbQjNU)

[Irish Style]

Throwin the two thumbs up, before it was cool. Not a bad shot of the Valley either.

[rockrknockr]

Throwin the two thumbs up, before it was cool. Not a bad shot of the Valley either.

wow, and that's panamint valley? ok so the argus range in background and i guess i can see the road going up slate range to the left of thumbs-up?

nice pics guys, i really enjoy seeing them. what year in the recent pics going up surprise in the winter?

thanks again:smokin:

[Irish Style]

wow, and that's panamint valley? ok so the argus range in background and i guess i can see the road going up slate range to the left of thumbs-up?

Yep, the picture was taken from South Park, just before you enter the canyon below Briggs Cabin. The water you see is the lake, which sometimes appears dry, that Krusty was advising people not to drive across.

[rockrknockr]

Yep, the picture was taken from South Park, just before you enter the canyon below Briggs Cabin. The water you see is the lake, which sometimes appears dry, that Krusty was advising people not to drive across.

awesome, thanks:smokin:

[Porch Puppy XJ]

what year in the recent pics going up surprise in the winter?

thanks again:smokin:

That was Feb. 2000....

[rockrknockr]

That was Feb. 2000....

yeah, BRRRRR:eek:

more pics PLEASE:smokin:

[Roksamy]

mooooooorePICS!






please

[theking]

i've got a question that in the twenty years or so-- has not found an answer----- where does the water that comes down the stream come from ????????

don't say the spring--- i know that---- BUT--- think about it---- water does not run uphill----- and the spring is near the top of the Panamint range-- @ 6,000+ '--- there are NO taller hills around !!! there is NOT a snow pack----- the only hills with snow or glaciers is about 100 miles away !!! just south of Mammouth !----------- so where does the thousands upon thousands of gallons of cool/clear water come from ??????? 24/7/365 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In some cases, large, isolated aquifers can be uplifted during mountain building episodes and provide a source for cryptic artesian springs for many, many years with no apparent recharge source. The Paniments are part of a system of long, low angle thrust faults, conducive to the formation of folded layers that can trap ground water in the higher parts of a mountain. It's probably some vast, wide aquifer feeding that spring with some recharge from precipitation and snow melt. Eventually, it'll die out as the reservoir diminishes.

[Desert Jeepin]

...Eventually, it'll die out as the reservoir diminishes.

Good, then maybe everything will die off and we can have our canyon back!

[Krusty]

that all sounds good--- and would work in MOST cases---
BUT-- this spring is NEAR the TOP of this range of mountains---- and the nearest that is any higher is ============== @60 miles !!!!!!

and its not 'volcanic' water or sulfer taste/smell-----

gotta be a spring that is 'pressure' fed from somewhere- but -- where ??????

can't be a - kinda underground rubber bladder that is getting squeezed til it empties ! ??

the mine shafts in the same area don't have a flooding problem !--

[luvrox]

that all sounds good--- and would work in MOST cases---
BUT-- this spring is NEAR the TOP of this range of mountains---- and the nearest that is any higher is ============== @60 miles !!!!!!

and its not 'volcanic' water or sulfer taste/smell-----

gotta be a spring that is 'pressure' fed from somewhere- but -- where ??????

can't be a - kinda underground rubber bladder that is getting squeezed til it empties ! ??

the mine shafts in the same area don't have a flooding problem !--


It is for sure a spiritual phenomenon that is doomed to die out unless members of the OHV clan are allowed to continue visiting the lands frequented by our for-fathers for one hundred thirty years.:D

[RustyNailJustin]

What a great thread! Panamint is a very special place and it would be great if it got reopened.
I love the stories, and pictures. Top notch guys. Keep um coming.

[Quad Teck]

WOW after reading this I just got out some of my old Rick Russell VHS tapes and watched the one with Surprise Canyon twice, Krusty I think we need to go see where the water comes from. What do ya think? :p

[Krusty]

drove up to the gate yesterday----- i managed to walk up a couple hundred yards--- but Bender and a couple others hiked up to fall three---- and came back down-----



the Canyon is in SAD SHAPE !!!!!



i've never seen so many empty water bottles and trash dropped in the trail anywhere !!!! and it daymn sure wasn't 4 wheelers that trashed the trail/Canyon !!!!!

just got back from wheelin two days in the Panamints and Death Valley--- 289 miles and MOST of it in 4WD !!!!

Plesant Canyon, the ridge and South Park---Gohler and Death Valley--


filled a garbage bag in the mouth of Surprize, and less than 1/4 bag on the rest of the 274 miles of trail !!!!

What does that say about 'wheelers' as opposed to 'hikers' ?????(we stopped the convoy to pick up all the trash we could find-- but the only place we found trash was behind the hikers !!!!!)

[theking]

Damn. I feel so deprived of experiencing such a place! Like hell i'm gonna hike it.

[Krusty]

in my physical condition there is no way that i could make the hike up to my property !~--

and no one cal tell me that all the food wrappers, water bottles, toilet paper and all that implies, is carried OUT by the 'backpackers' !

I SAW THE CRAP AND MESS THEY HAVE LEFT !!!!

NEVER was the 'road'/trail as f#&^$#^ed up as it is NOW !!!!!!

I as a single indivual have kept pretty much quiet on Surprize canyon, cause i didn't know what was really going on-----




Yesterday i SAW the canyon as it is NOW--- NOW after several years of 'stewardship' of the 'backpackers' and 'greenies' and 'tree huggers'--- BULL CRAP !!!!
I'm sorry, but i have never seen such a screwed up mess as the canyon is after being under their watchful eye !!!!

The canyon as CHOKED with WEEDS and human TRASH, the likes of which the canyon never saw before !
In the 'old days' the canyon was open to view and behold the scenic wonder of 'mother nature' at it's best.---
NOW- a wall of weeds and trash, so thick it is almost impossible to crawl thru---
the buildings and mine works WERE preserved and kept in some order-by those that went up the canyon to their land-- but NOW-- all torn down by those that claim to 'preserve' the historic and scenic beauty of the canyon, and NONE of the history is left to look at or ponder the years of sweat and tears that humans put in to the efforts of mineing --- NONE of the canyons rock strata can be seen as you crawl thru the slime that used to be drinkable water !! i had my sons dog with me--- i would not let the dog drink the water that was trickleing thru what was left of a creek.
I have been up to Panamint City as a family outting in the old days, wives and kids and grandkids----- THOSE DAYS ARE GONE_______ no more family outtings up/down Surprize Canyon.
Used to go up to Panamint City with boards, nails, hammers, pipe, shovels, fire wood and maintaince stuff------ repair the buildings, clean up and try to keep the springs open and the cabins emergency livable----- NO MORE !!!
the 'hikers' are tearing down the buildings for firewood !!!! they backpack all their trash in----- and leave it !!!!!



A BIG 'THANK YOU' TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THE STEWARDSHIP OF SURPRIZE CANYON-------------- YOU HAVE DESTROYED A STATE AND LOCAL TREASURE !!!!!

[Krusty]

I didn't wish to turn this thread into a personal rant--- but-

I have set on my rear end and let the 'greenies', dictate the preservation of the canyon--- and "RESTORE" the canyon to its 'natural beauty'.

show me ONE account or photograph of the canyons 'former beauty', CLOGGED with WEEDS and TRASH !!!

now- show me photos of the old days of the canyon with FREE FLOWING water, --- this thread alone has preserved the historic wonders of the Canyon, shown in photos of the way it has always been and the way it was--- BEFORE IT WAS "RESTORED".

SURE, 'man' invaded the canyon and built Panamint City-- we do that--- we built San Francisco, Fairbanks, Denver, Phoenix --- some of man's efforts thrive, some don't and become 'ghost towns'-- and a place to hold on to as a reminder of the lives and efforts of those that gave it all to build an exhistance.

'native plants and vegitation' --- NONE to be seen as the canyon has been choked by weeds and 'trash' brush.

for those that have photos of the 'destructive force' of the off-road/4WD mob--- save those photos and look at them often---- there is no longer access to / or a canyon that ALL could enjoy and marvel at. The envrionmentalists have destroyed another one of the historic sites of the old west.

In 'our' day, the canyon was OPEN TO ALL- hikers and those that (like me ) couldn't hike, but drove the canyon.
NOW it isn't "OPEN TO ALL" - just a select few of trash haulers that go in with 40+ lbs of stuff, and come out with 5lbs of stuff--- leaving 35lbs of trash each, in YOUR ghost City and the stream that used to flow thru it.
Do you seriously think the hikers are carrying 25/45/100 lbs of firewood in to the City to fuel their campfires ??? THEY ARE BURNING PANAMINT CITY, A FEW BOARDS AT A TIME !!!


YES, i was one of those horrible off-roaders that drove 'highly modified vehicles'-- a stock toyota pick-up with 31"tires.
but i never burned the canyon, dumped my plastic bottles in the canyon, tore down the buildings and works of my forefathers, and i had the highest respect for the canyon as i always planned on return trips with my family and my grandsons and friends.


Hold DEAR your photos and memories, THAT CANYON IS GONE.

[Mustard Dog]

You know Krusty, I'd like to copy your post and mail it to our good friend Hector and the Ridgecrest BLM office.

[Haole]

Yep, the picture was taken from South Park, just before you enter the canyon below Briggs Cabin. The water you see is the lake, which sometimes appears dry, that Krusty was advising people not to drive across.

You mean where you cross chicken rock.

[40_Below]

And let me guess... you can't even tell a vehicle has ever been driven in the canyon...

What a shame... Never been there before, but would love to.

[OTR]

And let me guess... you can't even tell a vehicle has ever been driven in the canyon...

What a shame... Never been there before, but would love to.

Quite the opposite.

The road from the closure thru the falls has been mostly erased by the floods since the closure, but above the falls until about 1/2 the way to Limekiln spring the road is there. There is a 1/4-1/3 mile section where the road followed the creek that has overgrown, then the road exits the bottom of the canyon to a shelf on the north side and from there to Limekiln spring the road is as it was left. At Limekiln there has been some eroding/growth from the outflow of the spring but past Limekiln to Brewery the road is intact. Again, overgrowth has taken over the road in the vicinity of Brewery spring but after the spring the road is pretty much in "as left" condition thru town.


Most visitors never get past the falls. To them, the area appears "restored".
But in fact, the lack of maintainence has done nothing more than hidden the existing road/right-of-way.


This road is hardly gone...


kris.

[Screwzer2]

A BIG 'THANK YOU' TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE HAD THE STEWARDSHIP OF SURPRIZE CANYON-------------- YOU HAVE DESTROYED A STATE AND LOCAL TREASURE !!!!!

You know, I'm with you now.... this is dispicable.

Did you take many photos of all the trash? This needs to be written up as a feature article and sent to the NEW YORK TIMES.

Even a good liberal can get pissed off when carpetbaggers come in and tell the locals how to run things. I've seen it up here in the Sierras where extreme logging restrictions have caused huge fires.

The reality is that if you want to see this area, you pretty much need a 4x4. If you want to get up Suprise Canyon by foot, you beeter go at this time of year or take tons of water. Its just not a really good hiking place from the door of a BMW.

Great place. Did you meet "Rock" while you were there (the "mayor" of Bassetts)?

[Krusty]

In the days we 'drove' Surprize Canyon, there were folks living at the bottom and a 'caretaker' living in the "city'.
Whenever we left to come home, we would always leave all of our 'left-over' food with the caretaker. Of course we just happened to overbuy food stuffs before we went up !-

but that was then-- and now it is NOW-- there is nothing left of the house(s) at the bottom except charred ruins, @15 burned vehicles - from a CAT dozer, VW van, several pickup trucks, several cars, a few charred trailer chassis, probably 25 rims that once had tires, 10 engines of various sizes, motorcycle, three wheeler, PILES of cable, various mineing and processing equipment---- and a couple houses worth of burned appliances and so on -------------and fresh plastic bottles and cans--

We also found by the natural springs in the Panamint range this last weekend, a surprizeing number of dead birds and small animals, as well as dead coyotes laying in/near those springs .

We did see a number of Burros in GOOD condition !!! (also NOT a 'native' animal )

and it sure wasn't the 'deadly off-roaders' that killed the wildlife !!!

it was NOT the off-roaders that DRILLED the blast holes in the rock faces of the canyon !!!!!!!
and in the BLM 'flier' that is placed in the 'sign in box' at the bottom of the canyon-- a picture of Marlins toyota pick up as an example of the "EXTREME 4WDs"

they are gageing the popularity of the canyon by the number of 'fliers' that they have put in the sign up box at the bottom--"over 250 in little more than a year"- (damyn it !! I brought home 5 !!!!)-

"Be quiet as you walk the canyon-------------ONE of the Panamint 'HERDS' of Bighorn Sheep can be seen"-

on that - i would declair B.S.---! but what do I know, i'm just a area resident and property owner and a DAM___ off-roader !

the 'flier' also points out that "GOD" didn't like the mineing activities in the 1880's or the 1980's------ how can i fight that ???? "God" it seems is on their side !! (has to be so-- they say it !!)

I am also NOT responsible for the disapperance of the sabretooth tiger, nor the T Rex--even tho i drive a four wheel drive vehicle.

[JR]

I've been there a few times.
The last time, I had a friend take a large format (4x5) analog camera and we took a bunch of high reso pics.
The pics are all on slides.
But, thanks to the wonder of modern technology, two of them have been transformed digitally for your enjoyment! :flipoff2: :D

Seriously, I need to get them on a disk to show, they are pretty good.
They're back when my Bronco was a Bronco.

[TheTonka]

This completely blows. I always wanted to go up surprise canyon.

We really do need to see if there is any way to get some press on this.:mad3:


BTW, I had no idea JR's Bronco was really a Bronco at one point in time. :D

[Krusty]

the 'official' word hasn't been put out --YET- but,


we SAW and were a part of the 'clean-up' the greenies had.

NOW , it is gonna be OUT TURN to show how a 'clean-up' can be done----
the 'wheelin' comunity at large and the Tin Benders in particular---
the 'date' hasn't been offically announced yet, but---
keep the first weekend in Feb 'open'-------:idea:

[TheTonka]

If I can help I will.

[85toyoter]

im down, my dad always talked so highly of it, now that im on my second rig, and enough money to actually run it, gone, rubicon is the run....but Surprize is the dream.

[ITS PAT]

Always love reading Krusty's thoughts and hearing his stories. See you at the clean up. all those pics are awesome, best lunch hour ive had in a while.

[DLD]

Yep, the picture was taken from South Park, just before you enter the canyon below Briggs Cabin. The water you see is the lake, which sometimes appears dry, that Krusty was advising people not to drive across.

This photo is at the same spot with Jes and Bryan looking up the South Park Canyon:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0364.jpg

And one of Andy, Jes and Bryan on the other side looking over Death Valley:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0638.jpg

Not really a walk down memory lane as the photos were just last year, but thought some still might like to see more photos.

[Krusty]

I always enjoy looking at the photos of folks in the Panamint range---

up Pleasent Canyon- south down the ridge- and down thru South Park--- a good 'day' run that MOST any can do !--

several mines and works to check out--- wild critters to photo--burros especally !!! (also NOT 'native' to California !!)

when you are looking at some of the old ariel cableways---- try to think of the LABOR it took to string that HEAVY cable to the TOP of some of those hills !!!!!!!!!
They had more desire than I do !!!!!!!

[Jes]

I always enjoy looking at the photos of folks in the Panamint range---

up Pleasent Canyon- south down the ridge- and down thru South Park--- a good 'day' run that MOST any can do !--

several mines and works to check out--- wild critters to photo--burros especally !!! (also NOT 'native' to California !!)

when you are looking at some of the old ariel cableways---- try to think of the LABOR it took to string that HEAVY cable to the TOP of some of those hills !!!!!!!!!
They had more desire than I do !!!!!!!

That right there is what keeps me going back. I always go when the weather is somewhat hospitable, to think what some of the home stedders/miners went through and the conditions they endured. Somehow I think it gets rather warm there in the Summer. :D

[DLD]

I always enjoy looking at the photos of folks in the Panamint range---

up Pleasent Canyon- south down the ridge- and down thru South Park--- a good 'day' run that MOST any can do !--

several mines and works to check out--- wild critters to photo--burros especally !!! (also NOT 'native' to California !!)

when you are looking at some of the old ariel cableways---- try to think of the LABOR it took to string that HEAVY cable to the TOP of some of those hills !!!!!!!!!
They had more desire than I do !!!!!!!

Glad you like here is a few more, the Burros:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0018.jpg

Andy over on the other side on Defence Mine going into the bowl:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0080.jpg

Bryan comming out:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0114.jpg

Just before the FOB cabins on south park, simple road but so cool to drive:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0390.jpg

Then Jes, just after the cabins, one of my faverate photos, just so many rocks:
http://www.urfracing.com/images/PV/PV_0469.jpg

I need to get back there Very soon!

[yellowk20]

Reading about Surprise Canyon Is what made me stray away from the big dumb mud truck mentality and want to have and wheel a more diverse vehicle I would love to see this trail re-opened

[lttlbddy]

Just like Krusty was saying . . . most of the pics are on the way down:

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/10190001.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/10190013.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/CABIN1.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/CABIN2.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/CITY1.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/CITY2.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/STACK1.jpg

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/images/pvd-stack.jpg

The rest:

West Coast 4 Wheel Drive Club in Surprise Canyon - 1998 (http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-WC/Surprise98/index.htm)

Pretty crappy scans, these are from "back then". I may need to re-scan one of these days. I also have about 3 hours of video from this trip. It's on 8mm and copied to VHS :laughing:

[OTR]

Great photos Steve. Thanks.:D


kris.

[Jes]

Cool! :beer:

[mikevyota]

How can we get it back??? More clean-ups? Bring the BLM out there and show them how the hippies trashed it? Let them know how much better job we can do.

[ncaaztray]

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6631/4722by8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7931/bob4runner2ua0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ncaaztray]

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1513/mooseknuckletk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/38/piaaxg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heres some old skool pictures for you

[camo]

a video of the show Gold fever on a trip to panamint city is posted here
http://www.goldprospectors.org/media/goldfever/index.aspx

[OTR]

Finally made through that, thanks for the link. I missed it when it aired.


Lot of mis-information there. Lets start with, it was a silver town.

The balls that were cast at the mill, were silver/lead ingots.

They either didnt do their research, or distorted everything to fit their "gold" show. Not saying gold cant be found there, it can be found just about everywhere in small amounts.

But the principal commodity was, and has always been, silver.





Now, should we go into the ethics behind promoting an area within the boundarys of the National Park System to people that "prospect" as a hobby ?

Isnt prospecting or collecting of any material, rock, plant, archaeological or historical items, and the gathering of firewood or any other resource specifically prohibited by law within units of the NPS ?




:shaking:
k.

[Blaze2]

In the days we 'drove' Surprize Canyon, there were folks living at the bottom and a 'caretaker' living in the "city'.
Whenever we left to come home, we would always leave all of our 'left-over' food with the caretaker. Of course we just happened to overbuy food stuffs before we went up !-

but that was then-- and now it is NOW-- there is nothing left of the house(s) at the bottom except charred ruins, @15 burned vehicles - from a CAT dozer, VW van, several pickup trucks, several cars, a few charred trailer chassis, probably 25 rims that once had tires, 10 engines of various sizes, motorcycle, three wheeler, PILES of cable, various mineing and processing equipment---- and a couple houses worth of burned appliances and so on -------------and fresh plastic bottles and cans--

We also found by the natural springs in the Panamint range this last weekend, a surprizeing number of dead birds and small animals, as well as dead coyotes laying in/near those springs .

We did see a number of Burros in GOOD condition !!! (also NOT a 'native' animal )

and it sure wasn't the 'deadly off-roaders' that killed the wildlife !!!

it was NOT the off-roaders that DRILLED the blast holes in the rock faces of the canyon !!!!!!!
and in the BLM 'flier' that is placed in the 'sign in box' at the bottom of the canyon-- a picture of Marlins toyota pick up as an example of the "EXTREME 4WDs"

they are gageing the popularity of the canyon by the number of 'fliers' that they have put in the sign up box at the bottom--"over 250 in little more than a year"- (damyn it !! I brought home 5 !!!!)-

"Be quiet as you walk the canyon-------------ONE of the Panamint 'HERDS' of Bighorn Sheep can be seen"-

on that - i would declair B.S.---! but what do I know, i'm just a area resident and property owner and a DAM___ off-roader !

the 'flier' also points out that "GOD" didn't like the mineing activities in the 1880's or the 1980's------ how can i fight that ???? "God" it seems is on their side !! (has to be so-- they say it !!)

I am also NOT responsible for the disapperance of the sabretooth tiger, nor the T Rex--even tho i drive a four wheel drive vehicle.


Hey Krusty,

That's quite a rant! Enjoyed it!

Went up there recently on foot for reasons we all know:shaking:,

We saw 8 bighorn sheep above the second narrows. Tried to post photos, but it would not work for some reason. I also thought the weeds were kinda cool. Lot's of ferns and vines.

We got the flier at the bottom. It had no info on God! Are you having a vision or something?

No dead critters and only two plastic containers. Must have been there after you cleaned it all up.

How did those guys burn the cabin down at the camp on the bottom? When I was up there, Rock came out, feelin' no pain, (he said he was on his 7th beer). I did not care for him because he was talking real dirty about the 4X4 crowd!

[peesalot]

So where if anywhere can you go now ? can you get to any of the old suprise canyon route ? can you get to any of the sites in the pictures ?

[OTR]

So where if anywhere can you go now ? can you get to any of the old suprise canyon route ? can you get to any of the sites in the pictures ?


You can go to the city.
You can travel the entire length of Surprise Canyon Road.
You can visit all of the sites in the pictures.






You may do all of this on foot.:shaking:

k.

[DLD]

Found a video on YouTube from some guys that hiked up to Panamint City April 2008, kind of intresting if you have some time to kill:

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOq_Uh7Wtmg

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ud7MM_NLe0

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqbkPYaYcc0

[Krusty]

a scenic and easily do-able trip is up Pleasent Canyon, south along the ridge and down South Park---
some old mines and buildings still remain-

[randii]

Isnt prospecting or collecting of any material, rock, plant, archaeological or historical items, and the gathering of firewood or any other resource specifically prohibited by law within units of the NPS ?
RECREATIONAL mineral pursuit is OK in some units, where rock-hounding, gold-panning, or even use of a small sluice is permitted. Some areas are privately claimed and other areas are specifically withdrawn from mineral extraction, but it varies. Frustratingly, it is often hard to elicit correct information from the agenices on this. :(

Randii

[Goatman]

I only have a couple of old pics that I had scanned, too bad my scanner hasn't been hooked up for a long time, I've got a bunch of pics going up Surprise and in Panamint City. The XJ made quite a few runs up the canyon.

That was a nice shot of the inside of the supervisors cabin, really brought back memories. Our local club, the Bakersfield Trailblazers, went up there regularly and helped to keep the water supply going to the cabin and kept the flush toilet working. You could use the john and wash dishes in the sink. There were 12v lights strung up in the cabin and a wire with clips on the end long enough to reach out to a rig, so you'd clip the wire to a battery and have lights in the cabin.

Surprise Canyon was one of our clubs adopt-a-trails, and we led the annual overnight run to Panamint City each year during Panamint Valley Days. The group was always 20+ rigs, mandatory 2 people per rig, plus the trail crew, and the cook crew that went up the day before. We'd all sit inside the enclosed courtyard of the building we called the fort with fires going inside 3 or 4 old 55 gal drums, and serve steak dinner in the evening and then a full eggs/bacon/sausage/hash browns breakfast in the morning to around 70 people. Marlin would dress up in old minor garb and tell old stories and history of Panamint City. Good memories.

I first met a number of people that later became good wheeling friends while working trail crew during the annual Surprise overnight run. We also had good times doing the maintenance runs, cutting brush on the way up and doing maintenance on the buildings. Some of the guys from our club regularly spent a whole weeks vacation up in Panamint City. Maybe we'll be a ble to do it again some day.


http://www.fototime.com/E116AEF1AEAB13D/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/5283DD6B9F7E296/standard.jpg

[Easy Rick]

Excellent story!

Thanks for sharing.:smokin:

[BadAssXJ]

Great stroies, Great pictures. And I know some great memories for alot of y'all. I would have loved to been able to take part in some of the wheeling trips out there.

[Jes]

Last December I saw these critters near Happy Canyon...
http://www.fototime.com/ADF4C1BBF6FB599/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/1E8B44F9A164C85/standard.jpg
...really cool, first time I'd ever seen Big Horns.

[losekannon]

My dad and I when I was a kid used to work with Dept. of Fish and Game making drinkers for the Big Horn sheep. We used to wheel all over the SoCal desert building these. You would be surprised how many of those sheep are in the Desert. That what was turned me on to "hard core wheeling" Not the normal dirt road wheeling.

Anyway I hope some day this trail will be re-opened. Had a freind whos Dad had done it, years ago I was looking at the pictures thinking, I can't wait to wheel that trail. Some day....some day

I enjoyed all the pictures you all have posted, thank you for sharing.