Panamint Valley Days '08

[larryboy]

When is it? So I can avoid it. Nov 9 thru 11 last year...7th-9th this year?

Planning my annual fall desert loop and like to avoid people.

[OTR]

Its been Veterans Day weekend as far as I can remember back.
This year, that would be November 7-10 (frday-monday)

This is also the weekend of the DV 49'ers Encampment in Stovepipe Wells. Over 1000 show up for that.


k.

[larryboy]

Thanks for the info.

I was there the same week last year and only saw 2 Jeeps in Goler Wash. I like the DV side of the valley best. Maybe most of the crowd is over on the Defense Mine side?

I run at night quite a bit too, so maybe that's why I didn't see many folks. Fish Canyon in the dark.

[lttlbddy]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Maybe most of the crowd is over on the Defense Mine side?

We spread out pretty well, just depends on the day where we are.

[RockJeep92504]

I like to spend my time on Isham.

[igofshn]

http://www.cal4wheel.com/index.php?o...=63&Itemid=152

[RockJeep92504]

We have a prerun coming up in two weeks. I'll snap some pictures.

[broncdawg]

Better get to Isham and Fish quick, because Feinstein and the CA Wilderness Coalition (CWC) are proposing the whole slate range for wilderness.

Get letters off to Feinstein ASAP to get them to drop the Slate range.
It is full of roads and designating it wilderness is demeaning to the 64' Wildernes Acts true definition of wilderness. " Untrammeled by the hand of man" it reads.

PVD participants, PLEASE explain to all there that the Slate range is in grave danger and needs our support!!!!

[lttlbddy]

Originally Posted by broncdawg

It is full of roads and designating it wilderness is demeaning to the 64' Wildernes Acts true definition of wilderness. " Untrammeled by the hand of man" it reads.

Full of roads, quarries, interpretive signs, historic markers etc.

Not only send letters to Feinstein but the Inyo County Board of Supervisors too.

[lttlbddy]

A few pics from the event and a prerun a couple of weeks ago:

http://lttlbddy.com/albums/Trips-PVD/08-PVD/

[Sam24462]

I have never been to this area and would like to go. Can I get directions to this place from you. I know where there Valley is in general but I need info on where to camp and explore.

Thanks

[lttlbddy]

Originally Posted by Sam24462

I have never been to this area and would like to go. Can I get directions to this place from you. I know where there Valley is in general but I need info on where to camp and explore.

Thanks

That's a wide open question that I can only answer with more questions.

When would you go?
What do you consider "camping"?
How long of a trip?
How many people? Vehicles?
What kind of wheeling? Vehicle?

To me, if people need to tell you where to explore, you are not really exploring. Find a dirt road and see where it takes you. Camp out of your car; a different place every night. Never knowing exactly where you are going to stay. That's exploring.

[Sam24462]

We will be in RVs towing the trucks. We want to go on Thanksgiving weekend and we will have probably 10 trucks going.

I was looking for more of the correct area to start at or camp and maybe a few places to look for while in the trucks.

A few of our trucks are built Toyotas but our "weakest" is a 1953 stock military Jeep. Dad wants to take his old Jeep out so I thought this might be a good place.

Thanks for any help

[OTR]

Originally Posted by Sam24462

We will be in RVs towing the trucks. We want to go on Thanksgiving weekend and we will have probably 10 trucks going.

I was looking for more of the correct area to start at or camp and maybe a few places to look for while in the trucks.

A few of our trucks are built Toyotas but our "weakest" is a 1953 stock military Jeep. Dad wants to take his old Jeep out so I thought this might be a good place.

Thanks for any help

Sam.
Your best bet for a first visit to PV is in or around Ballarat.
Once in the valley (bottom of the pass) drive a few miles to the Ballarat turnoff. It will be on your right.

You can stay in Ballarat for a few dollars a night, or drive north outta town and camp on BLM land for free. In motorhomes, if you dont want to stay in Ballarat I recommend going about 2 miles north and turning right on Surprise Canyon Road. About 1/4 mile in there is plenty of room for motorhomes.

Please use existing fire rings, theres already too many and some are filling up with trash. Dont make more...

Most of the popular trails in PV are within 5 miles of Ballarat, so you can take your pick.
Jail Canyon
Surprise Canyon (currently only hikeable to see whats there)
Jackpot Canyon
Pleasant Canyon
South Park Canyon
Goler Wash
And a few others you'll have to find on your own... Google is your friend.

There is also a decent guidebook that includes the panamint Mtns by Roger Mitchell called "Death Valley SUV Trails". Its available at most better bookstores, Jawbone Station, Panamint Springs, and in DVNP. Its not only a guidebook, but has history of the area as well.

Only gas service is Trona, about 20 miles south of Ballarat, and Panamint Springs, about 30 miles north. So consider your needs, and bring more if you are going to be out there a while.

Thanks for your interest. Ive been going there several times a year, for many years, and Im only scratching the surface.
As always, your mileage may vary...

kris.

[Sam24462]

Originally Posted by OTR

Sam.
Your best bet for a first visit to PV is in or around Ballarat.
Once in the valley (bottom of the pass) drive a few miles to the Ballarat turnoff. It will be on your right.

You can stay in Ballarat for a few dollars a night, or drive north outta town and camp on BLM land for free. In motorhomes, if you dont want to stay in Ballarat I recommend going about 2 miles north and turning right on Surprise Canyon Road. About 1/4 mile in there is plenty of room for motorhomes.

Please use existing fire rings, theres already too many and some are filling up with trash. Dont make more...

Most of the popular trails in PV are within 5 miles of Ballarat, so you can take your pick.
Jail Canyon
Surprise Canyon (currently only hikeable to see whats there)
Jackpot Canyon
Pleasant Canyon
South Park Canyon
Goler Wash
And a few others you'll have to find on your own... Google is your friend.

There is also a decent guidebook that includes the panamint Mtns by Roger Mitchell called "Death Valley SUV Trails". Its available at most better bookstores, Jawbone Station, Panamint Springs, and in DVNP. Its not only a guidebook, but has history of the area as well.

Only gas service is Trona, about 20 miles south of Ballarat, and Panamint Springs, about 30 miles north. So consider your needs, and bring more if you are going to be out there a while.

Thanks for your interest. Ive been going there several times a year, for many years, and Im only scratching the surface.
As always, your mileage may vary...

kris.

Wow! Thanks for the help. I'll take pictures and post back how it went.

Originally Posted by OTR

............ Its available at most better bookstores, Jawbone Station,.......

For a second I thought you were saying that Jawbone Station was a "better bookstore"

I have been to Jawbone many times.

Thanks again!

Jake

[OTR]

Sam... Jake... ok, whatever...


Another thing that will give you a better idea on how to get around and where it is, and is not ok to go, is the BLM "Desert Access Guide" or DAG for the Darwin Hills area. This will give you most of the Panamint Valley from the top of the Argus into DVNP. Its also available at Jawbone Station.


k.

[lttlbddy]

What OTR Kris said!! With you guys running in RVs, Ballarat is the perfect base camp for you first trip. Everything he listed in the East side of the Valley. If you get the the West side, check out the Minietta Mine Cabin and explore out behind it, then head north to the Defense Mine and Lookout City.

[Sam24462]

Will do!

I am taking notes of all this and going to look it up on Google Earth to get an idea of where to go.

Thanks

[brokejeep]

Larryboy did you end up doing Cerro Gordo on the 17th or 18th?I just got back,was a perfect trip.

[lttlbddy]

Just an FYI -

1) There has been a collapse in the Defense Mine. I think it was on the 2nd level. You can still crawl through but it kinda puts thoughts in the back of you mind that there could be another collapse at anytime, anywhere.

2) Pleasant Canyon - There was a fire a few months ago, it burned the top half of the willows area. None of the overgrown brush remains. New growth was already starting, mostly grass/weeds at this time. It looks like the fire moved uphill until there was no more fuel. It will take a few years to get back to somewhat normal.

[AndyR]

PVD '08 was fun. We pre-ran a bunch of the trails two weeks previous. There was some rain in the intervening week which did some minor surface cleaning.

And yes, you can get a 4DR JK up Isham, no winching It even helps if you remember to turn on the front locker LOL

YouTube - 4DR JK, Isham Canyon

Andy