I arrived very late thursday night. Set up camp and went to sleep.

Woke up late and missed the sign up for both the trail runs that i wanted to do that day. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I decided to have my own " adventure "

the view looking back into camp.
That poor guys motorhome broke down right there.


off to right i noticed a crevice/valley close by.




I found a well worn trail that headed in that direction.

the day was overcast and not too hot.


at the other end of the crevice i found this sign.


I took this trail until i came to this sign.


I headed up into the hills on a trail beyond the sign.
Along the way was lots of discarded metal.


and old stone remains of houses.

I came upon an old mine!


another old mine around the bend.




these bones on the ground made me think twice about going inside.


another mine.


how did they get way up there?


the view back down the trail.

Nice pics, man! Looks like a fun, low key trip. Thanks for posting!

this is where i got stuck hanging over the "edge"


I got on the CB radio and three rigs showed up.
They were very helpful and really liked getting out all of their recovery gear to help.
They told me i was the most interesting part of the day. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
i still felt a little ashamed to have gotten stuck.
We had to use three Straps , Winch , snatch block and a rig in front to get me back on the trail.


My Saviors.



in the last picture you can see the trail in the upper left that i got stuck on.

i went straight back to camp as it was getting late in the day. the sun sets at 4:45 !

I wanted to do the Defense Mine trail the next day so i made sure i was signed up before i went to sleep that night. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The run left at 8 am and everyone lined up. 35 rigs.


and we're off!!


The trail got small and rocky and slow going.
The only two Toyota Landcruisers in the group BOTH broke down.
So peeps started Crawling up anything they could to ease the wait!


Finally we were making it up the trail.


The Defense Mine.

Mine entrance.


heading inside.


High Exposives Room (empty)


This was a Tungsten Mine.


Looking down from the Mine.



Can you see the only Montero in the group?
Guys were thinking i could not make it up many obstacles along the way.
I could hear their chatter on the cb.
"that Montero will get stuck here"
Until i flipped on my Air Locker and cruised right up.
They were impressed by Montero Power and told me so! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" />


this is the view back the way we came up.
in the center lower you can just make out the Lookout Trail.
half of the group went up to the Lookout.

Lookout view into Panamint Valley.
Camp is off to the right out of sight.


People lived up here long ago.







How they got this vehicle up here i just do not know.


after we got back to camp i met the other Montero owner.
He comes every year and lives close by.
He loved my rig and asked tons of questions about the mods.
I turned him on to 4X4Wire so we may hear from him soon.
he had air shocks on his rig that could be raised or lowered in the cab.


There was one other Montero but it was only a couple years old and was not modified at all.

My last photo is of the entrance to Panamint Valley as i was leaving for home.



There was only one accident that i know of for the weekend.
A lady flipped her rig down the side of a mountain.
She was injured but not so bad that she needed to be airlifted. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Oh boy. Even a $99 camera would produce much better pictures. You have to invest into the equipment. You spent more $$$ on the gas traveling over there than a half-decent camera costs. You have great views but you just cannot capture them because your photo equipment is inadequate.

This is what $99 Panasonic DMC-LZ8 pocket camera can do:



This is what a $99 Nikon in Death Valley can do:



This is what $400+ SLR can do in the desert:



Just get a real camera, and you will be fine.