I left La Habra at 7pm on Thursday night. Our camping area was on Slate Range Road approx 1 mile northeast of Nadeau Rd. I was told this is where Cal 4 Wheel has their base of operations for Panamint Valley Days. I arrived at 11pm.

Friday morning our first stop was Ballarat. We headed South on Wingate Rd to Goler Wash.

http://ranboze.smugmug.com/photos/275921011_VgHeC-S.jpg

We took the side trip to Sourdough Spring and Barker Ranch. Barker Ranch has been cleaned up recently and is in great shape. Barker Ranch will be closed later this month for soil testing. http://www.desertusa.com/desertblog/?p=2256

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/FishPOET/Death%20Valley/Panamint%204-08/IMG_2184.jpg

Charlie's Chair

http://img.geocaching.com/cache/a187eafc-6719-4da4-9463-0537b2c9fd6d.jpg

From Barker Ranch we headed back to Goler Wash and then northeast to Mengel Pass and on to Butte Valley.

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We also checked out Geologist Cabin, Stella's Cabin and Russell Camp. We turned around and went back out the way we came in. We got back to camp at 7pm. The wind was blowing pretty good on Friday night. We had a small campfire and turned in at 10pm.

Saturday morning found us at Ballarat again.

We headed West up Pleasant Canyon. Our first stop was Clair Camp.

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Farther West to World Beater Cabin and Rogers Pass. From Rogers Pass we climbed to Mengel Viewpoint. Mengel Viewpoint offered great views of Butte Valley and the back side of Striped Butte.

Down into Middle Park and then to South Park Canyon. We traversed Pucker Point

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and the Bridge of Death

http://ranboze.smugmug.com/photos/275940668_iXSTy-S.jpg

and down to Briggs Camp and Stone Cabin. Briggs camp is the nicest cabin of any we visited this weekend. It would make a great spot as home base for a weekend exploring the Panamints.

We continued down South Park Canyon, back to Ballarat and back to camp at 5pm. Saturday evening had much less wind and another enjoyable evening around the campfire.

Sunday we headed North to Panamint Springs and took Darwin Wash. First stop was China Gardens Spring.

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We continued up Darwin Canyon to Millers Spring, Lucky Jim Wash and into Darwin. Tom made the comment that driving into Darwin is like driving into a Stephen King novel and that analogy pretty much describes Darwin.

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We visited the cemetery which was very interesting.

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We took Darwin Rd out to 190. We staopped at Father Crowley Point and we had been out of the Jeeps less than a minute when were were buzzed by a F-14 coming up the canyon and flying a few hundred feet over our heads at 500+ mph. He buzzed us once more a few minutes later going the other direction and once over the dry lake he shot straight up until he became invisible. What a treat.

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Back to PSR and back in camp at 4pm. Home at 8pm.

All three days were filled with sunshine, fabulous scenery and old ghost towns and mines. This was my first visit to the Panamints and I was extremely impressed with the amount of water/springs in the area and the clean, well preserved condition of the old cabins. I would very much like to plan a visit and stay in one of the cabins.

My camera got switched to manual and I lost most of my shots from the weekend. What I have can be viewed here: http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/FishPOET/Death%20Valley/Panamint%204-08/

I'll post up links to the others pictures when I receive them.

I was up there last weekend as well. Camped at Ballarat and Saturday we made the loop up Pleasant Canyon and down South Park. Sunday we visited Barker Ranch and the Keystone Mine then headed back to Ballarat to make the quick run up Jackpot Canyon.
We stayed at Panamint Springs last year and did the China Garden and Darwin trip then visited the Defense Mine. If you like tough runs and visiting mines I strongly recommend the Defense Mine. It is a great trip and you can take side runs to Lookout City for a great view.
Thanks for sharing your photos. Here is a link to my photos http://scrap4wheelers.spaces.live.com/

God, that looks like a GREAT TIME! Want to do Pleasant Canyon loop before I die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piwbMYobiTc

Awesome photos from Robin

Friday - Goler & Mengel
http://ranboze.smugmug.com/gallery/4670035_mXhgU#277316875_MTpv7

Saturday - Pleasant Canyon and South Park Canyon
http://ranboze.smugmug.com/gallery/4670213_s4UBC#277402377_gKqmw

Sunday - Darwin & Fr Crowley Point
http://ranboze.smugmug.com/gallery/4670451_oPut4/1/275948880_scRyJ#275948880_scRyJ

Great Pics! The F18 fly-by vid is excellent!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d109/FishPOET/Death%20Valley/Panamint%204-08/IMG_2184.jpg

Doug,

We just missed each other; your picture was taken at 11:43 am on 4-04-08. I took this picture at 10:48 am on 4-04-08!

Russ

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/UF92134/DV%20Pre-run%202008-Mar/IMGP0442.jpg