Death Valley Hantavirus Cabin Camping run, No Motorhomes Allowed!!

Death Valley Hantavirus Run Trip Report
Let me start by saying Death Valley and the Panamint Valley are very cool locations for a run. It’s a bit of a drive but don’t let that stop you from visiting this place. There are so many great things see and explore. Don’t be afraid by the DEATH part of the name. It’s very much alive!
The group was small but distinguished.
Dwayne Wilson
Joe Sweeley
Bob Boltner + Guard dogs Ziggy & Yo Yo.
We departed the PR Park and Ride at about 06:00 for the trailhead just north of Trona. We made a quick stop in Mojave and another in Trona for 10-100’s and fuel.
We got to the TH at about 09:15 and aired down at our Isham camp site and got right to business. We headed up the trail and over the Slate Range stopping briefly at Fish Canyon Escape route then into the Panamint Valley. We drove south down the west side of the salt flat to the entrance of Goler canyon. As soon as we started up Goler Canyon it was apparent that something had changed. The recent heavy rains had significantly impacted the canyon. What was once a drive up a dirt road is now significantly more difficult and is no longer passable by two wheel drive vehicles. The lower ½ a mile has changed quite a bit. At about ¼ mile in there is a spot that required 4 wheel drive and a bit of a climb up a small ledge. I was shocked. Once past the first half a mile there is still signs of recent flooding but the canyon is a lot wider and there was less change. Near the Sour Dough Spring where you pass the bath tub on the left, the road is totally washed out and there is now a new detour route to the left up and over a small hill.
We made it to the Lotus Mine around 11:00 and in really good time considering all the trail damage.
There is now new signs at the Lotus Mine that are kind of weird. They state Do Not Enter and warn that there are unattended abandoned mines, no medical service available or Wi-Fi or cellular service and poisonous snakes. This just about covers the entire area, not sure who erected them or what it’s all about.
We next made a stop at the Barker Ranch for lunch. I wish Mike Whittington was there to tell the Story of the Manson Family. He did such an amazing job telling such a colorful story last time we came here that he could be a full time docent. I just didn’t do it justice, Mike sorry.
The weather was about as perfect as one could ask for in this area. Temps were about 70 with a light breeze with not a cloud in the sky.
After about an Hour at the Ranch we set off for our next and final stop. Meyers Cabin.
We had to double back a bit to pick up the continuation of the Goler Canyon heading north towards Mengel pass. Along this route we were seeing so much donkey activity (road apples) that I started a $10 bet to see who could spot the first Donkey. In about 15 minutes Dwayne won the bet. I still have to pay my $5 to Dwayne. I will get it to you at the meeting Dwayne.
We arrived at Mengel Pass and paused to pay our respects to Carl Mengel 1868-1944. They say his ashes are under the rock pile. Not sure what happened to poor old Carl. I will have to look that up.
I was a bit concerned about the descent down the trail into the Stripped Butte Valley because of all the rain damage to Goler canyon. But it turned out to be in great shape.
We arrived at our destination Russel Camp at about 3:00pm. We found the cabin to be unoccupied and in fine shape.
We went about setting up our tents and getting ready to settle in for the evening, as this time of year the sun sets rather early. We had an early supper and as the sun settled behind the mountain range to the west and the temperature started to drop, we started our camp fire and settled in for an evening of gentlemanly conversation. As the evening wore on and the stars became bright in the sky we noticed a very bright light moving across the western sky just above the horizon. We decided it was either an alien invasion or a thermo nuclear attack.
Well thank goodness it wasn’t either because I didn’t want to go through all that alien probing and testing again and I also have too many items on my bucket list for the end of the world to happen now. Turns out it was a “missile test” somewhere out in the Pacific. Yea right! Who else thinks this story smells a bit fishy? The light was moving from south to north in a horizontal plane to the horizon. It slowed then stopped and burned out. The sky remained illuminated with a blue hue for about 10 minutes after the object disappeared. Hummm? Any government conspiracy theorists out ther with a suggestion?
We hit the rack and slept to the sound of rodents chewing on the cabin. When I awoke just before 06:00 all campers were present, with no OTR members abducted by aliens in the night, maybe it was a missile test.
Morning temps were in the low 40’s and we shook off the chill and set about making breakfast. We packed our gear and readied for a full day of exploring and wheeling. We were ready to roll by 07:00.
Sundays route was back up Mengel Pass, down Goler Canyon, along the east side of the Panamint Valley on Wingate Road, Past the large gold mine to the trailhead of South Park Canyon.
The starting elvation is just about 1,000’ and we were going to ascend up to almost 7,000’ at the highest part of the trail. The trail winds up a switchback, where several locations get a bit narrow, I hate narrow switchback roads and this trail had fair amount of hate.
At about 5 miles in where the Colter Spring is located there are two amazing cabins. These are the Stone Cabin and the Briggs cabin. These have to be the nicest cabins in the Death Valley public first come first serve cabin system(actually I think they are just outside of the park) . They are both in excellent shape and very well outfitted and maintained. Both have 12v lights on solar, gas Lights, Gas refrigerator’s(functioning) , Propane tank connections with modern regulators, bunks with mattresses, BBQ grills, furniture, radios, Briggs has a 2 meter antenna on the roof, horseshoe pit, firing range and the list of amenities goes on and on.
We have to plan a large group trip to these cabins. They will blow you away.
After we explored the cabins it was time to set off for the rest of the South Park trail. This is where the trail really gets thrilling. Just after leaving the cabins, the trail again start’s to ascend via a switchback shelf road. It climbs quickly via a few very tight and narrow turns, the narrowest is just prior to a bridge called Chicken Bridge, where it is told that an old miner blew up the road to keep people away from his claim. It has a 3 ton weight limit. I was a bit concerned about Joe’s 4 door JK, but he made it without falling off the 200’ drop. After the bridge is a right hand turn in the trail called Chicken Rock. It kind of has you leaning off towards the cliff as you round the corner. Not hard, just a bit uncomfortable. After that it’s easy sailing all the way up to a high meadows of South Park and Middle Park. Some of the mountains still had some snow on the north faces. It was very pretty up there with quite a few trees. We stopped at another mine site and kicked thru the old metal and truck parts.
We crossed over a ridge and descended into Mormon Gulch. There is a cabin there but it’s in bad shape. From here you are now in Pleasant Valley and you begin your way back down towards Balarat.
We moved rather quickly now going downhill with one more stop at the last cabin called OHL#1 right at the entrance to the World Beater Mine. It’s in great shape, again with a nice shooting range. Shooting is allowed because all the cabins are just outside of Death Valley NP.
After this it was all the way down to Ballarat. The last few miles of Pleasant Canyon were very recently repaired and graded and it appeared that the road was significantly damaged by flooding, but is now fully repaired. We arrived in Ballarat and headed for Panamint Valley Road to air up. From there it was into Trona to stop for gas at the Shell station and have some local BBQ for lunch.
The last leg was nonstop home. We had a great weekend and no mechanical issues. The weather was flawless and the company even better. It doesn’t get any better than that. We just wish we could have shared it with more of you. You have to try to make it out here for the next run. It was very cool.
Till Nest time,
Bob