2013 Ghost Town Expedition

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VegasNick

VegasNick

10 Year
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May 6, 2012
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Vegas
I try to do one of these a year at least, so this year I finish my cancer treatment in April, so June is gonna be my "victory lap". It's going to look something like this:

Departing from Vegas June 14th:

1st Camp (14th) Panamint Springs in Death Valley. (173 miles from Las Vegas) I'll drop the camp gear at Panamint Springs and head on down to Ballarat and Barker Ranch.

The 15th:
We will drive 50 miles to Lone Pine and meet up with the other FJ's from Cali and make a gas stop. Then Lone Pine to Cerro Gordo

Lone to Cerro Gordo is 20 miles

We will take the Yellow Grade to Cerro Gordo then explore the Swansea Grade and salt tram area. (Anticipate 3 hours due to photo stops, etc) Return via the Yellow Grade.

Cerro Gordo to Bodie: 169 Miles (approx 3 hours)

2nd Camp (15th) Looks like Mammoth Sprngs Campground
15 minutes from Bodie.

16th
4+ hours to explore Bodie then across the mountains to Hawthorne, NV This takes several hours and you'll want to stop at the Aurora cemetery.

3rd camp (16th) at Hawthorne. (Hotels available)
We're staying here: http://www.northernstarcasinos.com/e...asino/lodging/

Hawthorne to Gold Point for final camp night (17th) (150 miles via Silver peak rd) Again, Gold Point has cabins available for non-tent campers.
Contact Sheriff Stone at: http://www.goldpointghosttown.com for cabin reservations. I'd make those fairly soon.

Leave Gold Point via Lucky Strike canyon. (30 miles) That ends up at Bonnie Claire (150 miles to Vegas)

Estimate 800 miles. 200+ will be off road.

Very excited about this one! So far I have 10 rigs and 20+ coming along!
 
Nice

A couple little suggestions that you may consider

I'd run Barker and Ballarat via Warm Springs and Goler Wash. Much more interesting.

I'd also actually run the Swansea Grade, it's pretty cool going uphill.....

The El Capitan is the joint in Hawthorne. Make sure you get a room on the upper floor--floor is pretty creaky lol.

Google "Hardluck Castle" to mix in with the Goldpoint/Bonnie Claire segment. Dude gives tours during certian times. Just another desert eccentric.

If you don't have it already, get the ghost town Atlas by Stanley Paher. Get anything by Stan Paher imo.

BTW, they restored the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah to its orignial 1907 glory--it's the fing $hit
 
Kofoed said:
Nice

A couple little suggestions that you may consider

I'd run Barker and Ballarat via Warm Springs and Goler Wash. Much more interesting.

I'd also actually run the Swansea Grade, it's pretty cool going uphill.....

The El Capitan is the joint in Hawthorne. Make sure you get a room on the upper floor--floor is pretty creaky lol.

Google "Hardluck Castle" to mix in with the Goldpoint/Bonnie Claire segment. Dude gives tours during certian times. Just another desert eccentric.

If you don't have it already, get the ghost town Atlas by Stanley Paher. Get anything by Stan Paher imo.

BTW, they restored the Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah to its orignial 1907 glory--it's the fing $hit
Click to expand...

Sounds like we think a lot alike! I own the Stan Paher library among many others. LOL Yep, I have been to the castle and want to take this group by there if possible.

we had heard from some other folks that Swansea Grade from the Salt Tram is impassable/closed. They had to close the road to the tram station recently because of some vandalism from what I hear. we'll see!

I want to do the Mizpah for sure, but I will put that on a trip later in the year. Feel free to meet up with us along the way if you want. :)

Thanks for the added reminders!
 
VegasNick said:
we had heard from some other folks that Swansea Grade from the Salt Tram is impassable/closed. They had to close the road to the tram station recently because of some vandalism from what I hear. we'll see!
Click to expand...

Hummm, I dont know for sure one way or the other. You can try posting a http://panamintvalley.com/forum/index.php

They have some pretty up to date and credible info
 
Last edited:
roma042987 said:
Sounds very fun going with people knowledgeable about the area. I'm heading there in a week without much clue of what to expect. My 40 has no a/c so a summer trip would be out of the question for me.
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Dude, I was up in Bodie in June of last year and there was still snow in patches! I had a campfire at night to stay warm!:)

Be safe up there! Be sure to give them a call before you head up and drop a few dollars in the tip jar before you leave. :grinpimp:

Take some pics! I cant wait to see the trip report.
 
This sounds like an awesome trip! I was thinking about making a trip out to the Bridgeport area this summer if I can afford it. I'd love to visit Bodie again, haven't been there since I was little.

Interesting side note, we named our current dog after that ghost town. :grinpimp:
 
Sounds like a fun trip - looking forward to hearing about it so I can plan our family summer trip out west
 
VegasNick said:
Dude, I was up in Bodie in June of last year and there was still snow in patches! I had a campfire at night to stay warm!:)
Click to expand...

I was up in Bodie over thanksgiving in a snowstorm. Me and my buddy where the only people there (except for one ranger). It was really weird....

Twin Lakes and Virginia Lake near Bridgeport are pretty cool, bring your trout gear. There are also some hot springs in the B-port area.....
 
Kofoed said:
I was up in Bodie over thanksgiving in a snowstorm. Me and my buddy where the only people there (except for one ranger). It was really weird....

Twin Lakes and Virginia Lake near Bridgeport are pretty cool, bring your trout gear. There are also some hot springs in the B-port area.....
Click to expand...

Awesome! I think our plans are to camp near the hot springs if we can.

I'd love to get up there and photograph that place in the snow! It is absolutely beautiful!
 
The Machinist said:
This sounds like an awesome trip! I was thinking about making a trip out to the Bridgeport area this summer if I can afford it. I'd love to visit Bodie again, haven't been there since I was little.

Interesting side note, we named our current dog after that ghost town. :grinpimp:
Click to expand...

I hear ya buddy! I am having to bump up my gas budget. I hate it but I wont let gas prices kill this trip. :crybaby:
 
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