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| Inyo Mtn Wilderness--LMT sampler, CA | |
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| | Inyo Mtn Wilderness--LMT sampler, CA | | | |
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Inyo Mtn Wilderness--LMT sampler, CA
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| no partners | | Inyo mtn Wilderness-- Taste of the LMT. Long drive in--South Pass into Saline Valley was signed "Road Closed" then "severe washouts, HC and 4X4 required". We went along and camped at a view point looking down on Panamint Springs, the dunes and the Cottonwood mtns and a nice view of Telescope Peak in the Panamints. Rather windy and cold. Next morning down the road, rough, some spots in Grapevine canyon where the road grader couldn't go, drivers had piled up some rocks to assist with wash crossings. Major water had come down, and it had flowed onto the road several places where the road bed was at least 10-15 feet above the wash. Encountered a backpacker from Germany coming up the grade; had left his subaru rental up on the main road before it drops down the steep slide.
A couple of rock slide spots. Then out onto to majestic long view toward the huge pan of Saline Valley, and the Salt Lake. It takes a deceptively long time to get there. Turn off to the spur to Little Hunter/Hunter Canyon, the trailhead. That road was really rough and routed into the spring bed flow, I was driving over 5 foot high willows in a two track trough where you couldn't see out for all the vegetation. In a gravelly area we stopped as it seemed the road basically disappeared and you'd have to freelance it. It was almost mid day and we decided to scout out the area and locate the start of the southern terminus of the LMT which I had read was tricky to stay on initially.
The Lonesome Miner Trail is about 40 miles long in total with about 21K gain and 17K loss in the Inyos connecting multiple historic mining sites, and off course going between springs. This was to be a sampler, a hard one, but to a most interesting area of Beveridge.
We ran around and couldn't find the trail. We hiked to the Joy and Vega mine areas and explored. We finally got serious and poured over the map and the directions ( Michel Diconnet's book on Western Death Valley and environs). Next morning we headed out. The trail is washed out in two areas but is cairned and is very good in other sections considering it's age and almost non upkeep. Highlights early on--- one part you are on a two foot wide trail on a two foot wide ridgeline with some nice 100 foot plus drops. The footing is good and it's like you are levitating--- great views are the theme for this section. The historic and really nice tent platforms about 2 miles and 2500 feet gain along, part of the Gold Standard mine area. Above that a short washed out section where the trail for about 30 feet is simply foot placement in a scree slope. If you start out with the wrong foot or you loose it here you will slide down a 75 degree slope for about 30 feet. It'll make your head hurt as you concentrate with a backpack on.
A little over 3 miles and 3K gain; Brian complained he felt like he was overheating. It had gotten warm, and I had gone light on water assuming we would make BigHorn Spring. I knew something was wrong as I went out ahead of him from the tent platforms and I hiked almost 20 minutes without him coming up and joining or passing me. I felt good, but I am not a fast hiker and especially with a backpack for 4 days of exploring, and this much gain on a rocky, sloping trail. We found a cool shady spot and he took his pack off and laid back. We started up again, rounding a little arete with big views into Hunter canyon we looked up to the nearby prospects and the ridge above which would be the summit to cross over then drop to the spring ( about 1000 foot descent). Brian said he would not make it. I thought about dry camping but it was exposed and windy. We turned back. It took a while to get down with a lot of rest breaks. The shadows were getting long but we made it back to the car. Brian was pretty sick after that. He was better the next day but it takes a while after you get overheated, I've been there and done that. I was disappointed but the LMT will still be there, and I plan to make it back there at some point. What I saw was tremendous, but I know also to not underestimate the trail conditions. |
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