Desert
Survivors http://www.desert-survivors.org
TRIP
DESCRIPTION
INYO
MOUNTAINS BACKPACK
APRIL
19-27, 2008
RATING:
STRENOUS
Day
1
On
Saturday morning, we will meet at 0900 at the intersection of Highway 190 and
the Saline Valley Road, to caravan into Saline Valley and our camp at Keynot
Canyon. Directions to the meeting place are enclosed with this note. The road
into Saline Valley is long and severe washboard so we will take our time
getting there making several stops at places of interest along the way.
Although the road is passable in a car with moderately high clearance I would
recommend a high clearance or four wheel drive. We will arrive at the camp
early afternoon and spend the rest of Saturday getting ready for our hike early
Sunday morning.
Day
2
On
Sunday morning, early, we will set up a quick shuttle then start our backpack
from our camp spot at about 1300 feet. We will hike up to our next night camp
at an old mine site (sometimes called Dynamite mine) for our next nights camp
at 6400 feet. It will be a long steep hike on a rough trail. I have placed 10
gallons of water at this camp spot so we can each figure on a gallon apiece at
the camp. The views of Saline Valley along this hike are spectacular.
Elevation
gain: 5100 feet.
Day
3
We
will continue our upward climb, exploring an old mining area and some Indian
relics along the way, to about 8600 feet then cross Keynot canyon and on to the
Beveridge Ridge Cabin.
Last
Spring I was able to place about 30 gallons of water in this cabin so there
should be plenty left.
Elevation
gain: 2600 feet Loss: 400 feet
Day
4
We
will hike down to the old mining town of Beveridge in Beveridge canyon. After
exploring the old town we will hike up canyon to Frenchy’s Cabin and camp for
the night.
There
is plenty of water in Beveridge Canyon both at the townsite and at Frenchy’s
Cabin.
Elevation
gain: 1000 feet Loss: 2600 feet
Day
5
We
will hike up to the Hunter Canyon ridge and make a dry camp. We will have to
carry a day and a half water supply from our camp at Frenchy’s.
Elevation
gain: 2300 feet
Day
6
Easy
half days hike down to the BigHorn Mine and cabin. With the help of Bob Ellis,
Ingrid Crickmore and Lynne Buckner we placed a water cache in the cabin so that
we will have at least a gallon each.
We
will camp at the cabin and spend the afternoon exploring the old mine.
Elevation
loss: 2000 feet.
Day
7
We
will hike down to the Big Horn Spring and millsite. We will spend our last
night here. There is plenty of water at the spring.
Elevation
loss: 1600 feet.
Day
8
We
will hike out to the cars at the mouth of Hunter Canyon. At this point you will
have the option of going over to the Saline Valley Hot Springs for a nice hot
shower and camp for the night or you can head back home early.
Elevation
gain: 1000 feet Loss: 4400 feet.
Features:
Very
remote seldom visited area.
Fantastic
views.
Indian
relics
Old
mining relics and ruins.
Possible
BigHorn and Mountain Lion.
Beautiful
Pinion forests
Distances:
Approximately
550 miles from the Bay Area via hwys 50/395.
Equipment:
INSECT
REPELLANT The no-see-ems around the wet areas in the canyons can be a problem.
Sun
screen
Bring
cold weather and rain gear. The nights should be cool at these elevations.
Bring
water containers to meet your needs. (At least 0ne and one half gallons
recommended)
Bring
your own food, stove, tent and cooking pots etc. It is recommended that you try
to share stove and or tents with someone.
Bring
a first aid kit with blister paraphernalia etc and personal medications.
Bring
warm clothing. Hats, gloves etc. Also sunglasses, sunscreen, bug repellant,
flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries.
Wear
long pants and good sturdy boots. We will be on trails most of the way but they
are primitive and we will lose them sometimes
Maps:
USGS
7.5 Min Topos: New York Butte, and Craig Canyon.
DIRECTIONS
TO MEETING PLACE
From
the South:
Take
hwy. 395 North to Olancha. At Olancha turn right onto Hwy. 190. At 14.5 Miles
is a junction with Hwy. 136. Stay right at this junction on 190. At 27.5 miles
is the turnoff to Darwin. Stay on Hwy. 190. About 4.2 miles beyond this
junction (31.7 miles from Olancha) is the turn off for Saline Valley on the
left. We will meet here.
From
the North:
Drive
South on Hwy 395 past the town of Lone Pine about 1.8 miles to the junction of
Hwy 136. Turn left on Hwy 136 and go 17.5 miles to the junction of Hwy 190.
Stay straight on Hwy 190. At 12.5 miles from the junction of Hwy 136 and 190
(32.2 miles from Lone Pine) is the turnoff to Darwin. Stay on Hwy. 190. About 4.2
miles beyond this junction (36.3 miles from Lone Pine) is the turn off for
Saline Valley on the left. We will meet here.
From
the East:
Drive
West from Death Valley to Panamint Springs on Hwy 190.. About 13.7 miles from
Panamint Springs is the turnoff to Saline Valley. Turn right and we will meet
at the junction.
A
note on auto fuel: It is always recommended to arrive at the meeting area with
as full a tank of gas as possible. The closest gas is in Olancha from the
South, Big Pine from the North and sometimes Panamint Springs from the East.
Also
please make sure you have a full sized spare tire in good condition. The roads
are very rocky and service charges could exceed $1000 if you can get someone to
go into the valley.
One
final note:
I
will be camping somewhere near Olancha on Friday night and having breakfast at
the Ranch House Café in Olancha on Saturday morning. They open at 06:00 AM. If
anyone would like to join us give us a call.
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