The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

It's obviously good if your posting it up. How's it compare to Mahogany?

 

I haven't had the other in a while.

Bay Area is like a chip-not chewy, melt in your mouth. It's fucking good.

 

I just received a few bags myself, along with some double smoked bacon. It'll have to do for a while, as I don't know when I'll be able to go exploring again (second kid due next week). I think they only ship perishable goods inside CA though.

I'm curious to see how Cerro Gordo shakes out. I understand the guy bought it with the intention of monetizing it somehow. I don't understand how he'll drive traffic unless the town and road undergo massive development, which might change the character entirely. I haven't had a chance to visit yet, so I won't know the difference from the previous family of owners.

When the kids are a bit older (or if I can sneak out for a boys trip) I'd like to include it on a leg. I've had my eye on a route planned from Rhyolite > Titus Canyon/Leadfield > Ubehebe > Kettle Junction > Racetrack > Lippincott Road > Cerro Gordo > Salt Tram > Back home. Maybe a 4-5 day outing.

 

There are a few here that have had kids and continued to camp with their kids so don’t let that stop you and the family from getting out. Of course, not every one’s situation is the same but I just wanted to toss that out there.

Your route might be a wee bit ambitious but definitely packs it in.

Cerro Gordo is an interesting thing. It almost feels like the dude wants to bring people in for some DIY adventure. Stay in town, have a hotel experience but explore.
He’s sure going about what ever it is in a weird way tho.

 

I also don't understand how he plans to monetize it. Any improvements made to the property will change it away from being an old western ghost town. Even the road getting there - you certainly don't want to pave it. But not that many people want to drive a dirt/gravel road uphill for seven miles. (I towed my teardrop up it! ) It is an interesting idea, but IMHO, not very feasible.

That sounds like a great trip! I suggest planning significantly more time than 5 days. Between those points, there are lot of road miles.

 

Speaking of Cerro Gordo...
Three weeks ago I enjoyed the good fortune of taking an impromptu tour of the town's Union Mine shaft house. A coworker volunteers time at Cerro Gordo to help maintain infrastructure and had been working on the water system. My understanding is that the pump at the 700' mark was upgraded, but difficulties prevented restoration of the water system. Work should resume in the spring.
I found the facility to be very interesting as I enjoy local and western history.
I had anticipated meeting Brent, the new owner, but he stayed holed-up in his warm cabin on that frigid morn. Temp's were in the low twenties with a stiff wind.

 

Very nice.

I would have liked to have seen that when I was there.

 

It was well worth the drive up the hill!
The opportunity kinda fell in my lap, so I jumped on it.

 

We've already been on a few trips with my firstborn, he'll be almost 3 when his brother arrives next week. Try to keep it pretty mild though, and I picked up an inReach mini for when we're on our own with no reception. He had a blast up at Coyote Flats, though he did get elevation sickness for a spell. That was scary, he couldn't keep food or water down and we almost bailed early. He took a nap and felt better afterward.

 

It really warms my heart to see parents taking their young kids camping.

Congrats on your second and all the best for his debut on the scene!

 

Agreed. We can influence them so greatly and in return we learn more than we ever thought we could.

 

I'm excited for when my little ones are old enough to get out there. Side note, your truck looks like it's kind of photobombing you there haha

 

I think his plans got screwed up when the hotel burned down. That seems like it would have been a big part of the attraction.
I know I would have loved to have seen it. I might have even coerced my lady to go see it.

 

Agreed.

They do have detailed plans of the hotel. Someone drew the plans several years ago - I don't remember why they drew them up. He did talk about rebuilding the hotel off the plans. I wonder if they can build "old" in modern times...

 

You can but it's much easier to build "new" and skin it to look old.

 

If it's a new construction I'll bet they'd have to adhere to modern building code, especially if people are going to stay there overnight. I think they're still selling square nails from the rubble to help fundraise.

 

100% correlation between AH getting run over and Overland Bound and IG ‘overland’ pages starting back in 2016. I remember they’d be out there posting online spots every other weekend. It was only a matter of time.

 

Subscribe and use the code BLOWTHESPOT to save 10% on headliner patches!

 

Alright. In my a-holish youth took many trips up to Mammoth from SLO loving the view but didn't stop for anything but Schatts and gas in Bishop. Moved to Mammoth where I worked for the main lodge and broke my leg.

FF many years as an "adult" broke college student and went to Manzanar Historic Site for a final project in California History at CSULB around 2011. Had not been up to 395 since 04 when I broke my leg and got some recommendation about free camping at AH from the director of Manzanar Historic Site. Went up in my 93 Civic F and F wannabe failed experiment by previous owners and spent 2 whole days exploring the site and developing a term paper. Spent the night in a tent up on the mini mountain that I've hiked probably 3 times since in AH.

This was Thanksgiving and night temps were lowish 30's. Previously picking up a sob story post break up broken hearted male hitch hiker and leaving him with my sleeping bag, my feet frikin froze. Taking a pee in the middle of the night the stars looked amazing - I remember it despite being up there semi frequently since.

I was so inspired at Manzanar and how from the little to nothing the prisoners were given, grew a beautifully prosperous establishment (acknowledging still none of them should have been there).

So pumped from seeing all I saw up there, I headed towards LB and just north of Red Rocks I blew a radiator hose on my POS. Having no phone reception I stood on the side of 395 trying to flag down cars, waving my cellphone. Roughly five cars drove by and finally a couple Canadian snowboarders picked me up. They were kind enough to go south far enough to get reception on their phone, let me call AAA, and drive me back north to my car. Daylight was diminishing and my budget wasn't going to allow for a hotel, my negativity was increasing. Still thinking about the prisoners making the most of their circumstances, I decided not to be defeated and repacked my tent and all my stuff to be ready when I got home to unload. After what felt like forever a tow truck showed up. The driver pumped me up with a badass attitude and told me he'd go find the other car out in Jawbone he was called to jumpstart before charging my mileage. This meant a lot since I was a new AAA member with only 7 free miles of towing.

We found the dude in an Accord and he had gotten his car started, so that was it and we headed to Mojave City where he took me to a body shop he knew the owners of and wouldn't you know it, it was minutes right before NAPA closed down the street and they bought a replacement hose that they made work.

My mood was 100 and I made it to LB that night.

FF now and after many visits bringing friends and family to AH, DV, Yosemite, and beyond, I still have a place that's near and dear to my heart in AH where as trite as seeing a group of 7-8 Jeeps airing down to head down Movie Rd that I made it through in my F and F civic and countless grammers gramming it up on the gram, I f'ing love that place!

I recently went back there, letting my wife learn driving stick.



Got 'dead ended' down at Tinemaha Reservoir and had to go all the way back to Big Pine as we tried to get down to Independence off paved highway.