Re: Inyo Trip Report
Posted by E. Clampus Waagus on July 14, 2004 at 22:26:21:
In Reply to: Re: Inyo Trip Report posted by Art on July 14, 2004 at 16:16:04:
>We are now interested in doing the complete loop
>from Swansea. John at Cerro Gordo indicated that the
>easiest direction is coming up from Swansea. Would
>you agree about that?
All the research we did indicates it is easier to start from Swansea. However, its hard to judge until you've done both directions. I only needed to be guided one time, up a narrow canyon at the 3+ mile marker, and that's because my Bronco is so wide. Never lost traction except for a partial revolution wheel slip once or twice on the entire route.
>How did the road up to the salt tram midstation
>compare to the rest of the road over to Cerro Gordo?
>Art
Again, its hard to compare until you've done it both directions. Remember, Swansea to Burgess Mine to Salt Tram Summit is mostly uphill, and Salt Tram Summit to Cerro Gordo is mostly downhill. They are roughly comparable, though. I understand that it is rough going up the one short loose, steep section from Cerro Gordo to Salt Tram Summit. Going down it was pretty wild also, with very loose footing that makes it hard to tell which way your steering wheel is turned! Going from Swansea to Salt Tram Summit route definitly has many more rocky stretches.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.