Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

That's what tipped me off in the first photo, I noticed the Panamint Dunes and Hunter Mountain. I saw the road which curved up in there, to said mine.

How far did you go in the adit? The map shows a half dozen adits, did you go into others?

 

There was a proposed search at that mine for a few women that went missing years prior. I was at PSR the day before the search and the chief patrol ranger and a couple other park representatives were there. It was sad when the family was told the search was not going to be permitted after all. A friend I was with knew the location of the mine and told them if they or their search party needed assistance in locating the mine he would be of assistance. Nothing wrong with going for a hike with friends.

 

I have yet to befriend anyone dumb enough to explore beyond the reaches of daylight in these old mines with me (well, except for the Reward I guess, but that doesn't count because we are invincible in our cars, right?)



Not wanting to disappear into a mine forever while my wife waits anxiously outside, I often turn back before reaching the end of the excavations. In this case the rails terminate maybe a hundred feet back around a curve. It didn't look like tunneling went much further, but I didn't investigate. Based on the amount of tailings evident, I don't think this is a particularly large mine.



An upper adit appears to go a bit further, with more stoping visible. Online records indicate this one is driven to at least 110 feet. Also indicated is a 900 foot crosscut, but I didn't find it.



The stoping was quite interesting, and at one point punched through to the surface. We have to trust these little wooden sticks to hold up the mountain above us when we're exploring such places. I'll add that the above photo is taken with a fisheye lens. This is a cliff face and there are hundreds of feet of rock above. By no means a technical climb, but the scramble comes with a lot of exposure.



There are some shallow exploratory workings closer to (and visible from) the valley floor, which aren't particularly interesting, but which give nice views.



I don't know why I find these old mines so damn interesting, but I can't stop checking them out. Despite the stupidity of such endeavors. Earlier in the trip I inadvertently drove out onto a collapsing talc mine. Yikes.


uhhh...



Stupid? Yes. But for whatever reason, also fascinating and fun.

I think that's enough TW for me this week. If I don't get some damn work done here, I won't be able to go to DV on the weekends!

 

I found some info on the mine:

Workings include surface and underground openings. There are workings on 2 levels. The lower level has a short adit driven S20E, ending in a small, irregular stope. The upper level has a 110 foot adit driven S55E, along the fault. It ends in an irregular 80 foot stope. There is also a 900 foot crosscut adit driven N70E, and 2 30 foot adits driven N25E and N30E.

Production information: 372 tons of ore were mined in 1944 and 1945. In 1946, 11 car loads were shipped. In 1947, 30 tons of shipping-grade ore was produced.

Analytical data: Last ore shipped: 13.7% Pb, 11.75% Zn, 2.9 ounces Ag/ton, some Cu & Au.​

 

If you like mine history there are three books I recommend, two of which specifically cover local mines.
Silver Stampede
These Canyons Are Filled With Ghosts
and Deep Enough: A Working Stiff In The Western Mine Camps

 

We just haven't been on a trip together. Yet.

​

 

Mining in the west was certainly no picnic back in the day. Of course, it isn't much better today even though much of it is automated or at least less manual. I mean just think about living in a mining town--even one like Masonic--it was relatively close to the city but what takes us a few minutes to get to might make that a day long journey.

I am grateful to live in an age where I can visit, wonder, and read about life back in the day.

 

My great grandfather immigrated here during the gold rush. He did come home from Alaska with 10k but made is money designing, racing and selling racing sailboats to Hollywood. Boats were a big thing as this was before baseball.

 

Ok camping gurus...

I plan on heading out to DV towards the end of Feb/ early March for a photography trip. Will probably spend 4-5 nights in the park (Mon-Fri most likely). Generally I stay in Beatty at a cheap motel and get up early and head in every morning, but I am going to switch it up and go camping this time. Looking for general advice on places. I will probably spend 1 night at Stovepipe in the middle of the trip, solely for the shower facilities. Aside from that I am looking at...

Echo Canyon?
Hole in the Wall?
Lee Flat? (too cold at night?)
Homestake Dry Camp? (possibly, if I decide to brave that washboard again to Racetrack)

Are any of these places a no-go in your mind? Somewhere else I am missing? Not too far off the beaten path but at the same time trying to avoid crowds. Hopefully it wouldn't be that crowded anyway at that time of year. As far as photography goes (in regards to camping locations) I am up for anything and don't have any set plans. I have done Zabriskie, Mesquite Dunes, Badwater etc...a few times, don't mind doing them again but not going with a set agenda this time.

Thanks for any help

 

We have purchased showers at Stovepipe without staying there -- comes with the use of the pool too.

When we were there last, a guy from Washington state was also taking a shower. When he got out, he proceeded to dry his hair with a dryer. Alternatively, it was 100º with low humidity, he could have waited, I dunno, maybe three or four minutes, and his hair would have been naturally dry.

 

ha, that's awesome.

Good to know about the showers. I really didn't want to have to stay there. That's perfect. Thanks

 

We were there for maybe 15 minutes -- some concrete blocks have been added to the foundation of the hotel.

 

The Inyos are about to explode with tourism...not a good thing IMHO

 

I have felt this for a while. Sort of the last bastion in many ways.

 

Anyone recognize the trail/mine in this? PM me if necessary.
https://youtu.be/BnDL1sAGTI8

 

I see... the Belmont up by Conglomerate Mesa, driven up from San Lucas Canyon. Then the Santa Rosa after exiting the park thru Lee Flat. Then a like-and-subscribe... sigh.

Is it okay to post that here... or is it supposed to be secret? (Asking seriously.)

Good call, last time I stayed in Beatty we didn't get hot water!

That one is very technical as a through-route FYI. Up to the mine from the Furnace Creek side is no problem though.

Probably, but it varies with the weather and your tolerance for cold. Stayed there February before the pandemic, dropped into the 50s by dusk, 40s by dawn. Many would call that great camping weather, but we live in LA now so that's arctic fucking cold. Amazing how quick you forgot how to cope with weather, I used to love snow camping.

 

Friends don't sell ghost towns to hipsters.

 

Tory, thanks for that original link. That was a very interesting read on the Germans. I remember something about them from years ago but didn’t know any of the search story. I’ve been involved in SAR on the LE side and in the Coast Guard Reserve, I used to think I had been involved in some difficult searches, mine were easy compared to that.

I still find it surprising they didn’t go back to the cabin even knowing they were disabled and running out of time. Food (at least some), nearby water and a visitor log that showed periodical visits from others should have made that their logical place to fall back to after the van was disabled. Obviously they didn’t see it that way.

As a retired cop I’ve got to say I’m pretty disappointing the way Inyo Sheriff's Office handled that. I can understand some reservation sharing information early on but by the end of it that should not of been happening. I’m also surprised they never made a final statement after the last attempt at DNA. Even if that was inconclusive the evidence indicates it was the kids and they should’ve had a press release stating that. The case will never be cleared without positive ID but they could’ve closed it much better.

About to start reading the hunt for Norman Cox now.

 

Thanks. I've not explored that area much and I know there are very few roads on the eastern side of the Inyos. I had skipped around the video and missed their description of where they were.. Makes sense though from your comment. It's not secret by any means. Just not too much about it on the interwebs.