BACKCOUNTRY & 4X4

Posted by Last Chance Rand on November 05, 2001 at 20:33:52:

Trail Report for: Warm Springs Canyon / Butte Valley / Goler Wash

Warm Springs Canyon Road was in best condition I've ever seen. At the former junction with the closed Wingate Wash Road we recorded a temperature of 115 degrees. We made surprisingly good time to the talc mine.

We found the famed swimming pool drained and temporarily closed due by order of Inyo County Health Department. A notice warned that some 30 bats were found dead in the pool in July, and that five were collected and tested positive for rabies. I hope this is resolved soon so that the pool is again available to passers-by.

The route through Butte Valley was also better than usual, but rougher than Warm Springs Canyon road. The cooler temp in these upper elevations was refreshing. During the evening while camped at the Russell cabin we watched a severe lightning storm way to the east over Mt. Charleston, well across state line.

The next morning's eastern ascent of Mengle Pass found the usual basketball sized boulders requiring very careful tire placement, and spotting for some in our group. The western descent was pretty mild, hardly noticing Oilpan Rock and Hubcap Rock.

We were unable to drive through the entrance to Sourdough Canyon and the Barker Ranch due to very low overhanging cottonwood branches. We correctly opted not to cut any vegetation. The Ranch was in pretty good shape but many small trees were doing poorly due to several failures in the PVC irrigation pipes. We fixed what we could, then moved on.

Descending Goler Wash was also easier than usual but still spectacular. The shadows provided welcomed relief from the hot sun. After exiting the mouth of Goler Wash, we continued around the southern tip of Panamint Dry Lake, then went up-and-over Manly Pass via BLM's route P168. Roger of Trona's Texaco was pleased to see our eight Land Rovers with empty gas tanks.

Note: We saw NO other vehicles on this entire route, despite it being a Saturday and Sunday!

DeathValley.com Trail Reports are provided without warranties or representations. Although our scouts are invited by DeathValley.com to submit trail reports, their accounts and findings are not necessarily verified. Any opinions they express are those of their own and do not necessarily represent the opinion of DeathValley.com. Visiting the backcountry of the Death Valley region can be dangerous without proper preparation, and driving on backcounty roads may cause damage to your vehicle. DeathValley.com and its trail scouts are not responsible for any resulting property damage, injury or loss of life.