Hiking Up Surprise Canyon to Panamint City Ghost Town

[@mikesizemore9238]

I am one of those old hippies that lived there in the late 60s early 70s..I wish I would have known you were doing a trip there.. I could have shown you where they brewed their beer.. There is also indian petroglyphs right next to the trail that not many people know about.. If you go further up the canyon towards Thompson camp, you can find the Tee Pee rings left behind by the indians that lived there.. I lived there for 4 years when those cabins were awesome.. We lived there before the miners of the 80s came in and trashed the place.. One last item of interest.. If you follow the canyon up and over the pass. you can look down and see Hungry Bills. Its an old orchard where the City got their fruit from.. built by the indians!

[@evopwrmods]

Wow cool information....thanks

[@davidelo5843]

I love your videos ! I am 70 years old and a Vietnam Veteran ! I have a lot of lung and heart problems but your great videos lets me see some great places that I could never get to now ! I sincerely thank you and please keep doing these magnificent wondrous adventures !

[@billmccabe6188]

Nice message to Sarah. Just wanted to wish you well. Sir.

[@bobjozsa5266]

Sarah; 👍🇺🇸

[@tallballer09]

I’m am now 75 years old but I and my old passed buddies have experienced Panamint City since 1969.We used to drive up the road to go up to the city for many years. Great memories!

[@underthetornado]

My grandpa, whom I never met was a miner and a geologist. During the depression he dragged my mom and sis and gramma all over the place. She told me this story from her dad. In the days where men would stake a claim and take off into the mountains of Mohave. Instead of saying 'good luck" they'd say "pan a mint!". Thus the Panamint Mountains and city.

[@manking5041]

Wonderhussy, back in 1991 I hiked up to Panamint City with a group of people we explored the desert with, Leonard Herschel and his daughter were on this trip. Leonard died of cancer a few years later. He was a Vietnam vet and one hell of guy. I was a teenager and Leonard was always sneaking my buddy and I an Old Milwaukie or two on outings. At 18:17 is Leonard. Thank you for the shout out to Leonard I appreciate it!

[@larrywdel]

You remind me of my deceased daughter (facial looks, talk, laugh, and determination) She (1964 -2006) was a model, for ladies magazines. Her height as a 5'7" model kept her from many modeling jobs. She did hand, facial cosmetic posing. Then surprise to all, she enlisted in the Army and became the driver for a two Star General. She got injured in War games in Germany in 1990;s, that lead to her death in 2006! Love your videos's!

[@mobiltec]

That first mining camp you came across was "Novak Camp". Rocky Novak and his father George (You met Rocky at the Balarat Store) owned it. The mill was amazing and I have photos of it before Rocky "accidently" burned it all down some years back. I'll email you the link to the photos. Those two books I told you about would name all the machines. The Panamint Valley website that you saw the logo for is where the forum is that I helped start. Many of the members go up there on a regular basis.

[@holdersteven]

At the eastern most part of the canyon there's an old cemetery .It' s easy to miss because it was mostly over grown when I was there in 1996. There's a very interesting history about the place and why the canyon is called Surprise Canyon. They hauled the silver away in 500 lb ingots so that the robbers couldn't steal it with out having a wagon and plenty help loading a 500 pound ingot

[@David_a_journeyman_curmudgeon]

I love that you didn't play any music during this video. I like the tag along experience which is impossible to do with annoying music playing in the background. Good work on this.

[@leemclean379]

On that city of Los Angeles truck that's an air brake valve I'm enjoying watching your adventures I love hiking old ghost towns I have a tendency to clean up modern litter

[@bowser186]

I used to live in Trona 1960 -1982, in the early 60's my family drove up there in a old Rambler made it all the way to the Cabins and the smoke stack. In the 70's and the early 80's used to drive up there to visit the Hippies and get high. Fun times.

[@jameswallin9894]

I know Andy the captain of the Time Bandit and have a picture of and his brother Jonnathane with the crew. He use to live in Snowflake, AZ. where we live . I wish I could make some of those hikes you go on. I am a 74 year old Vietnam Vet and with problems like the rest of us old vets. Keep up the great exploration.

[@buster4236]

The handle setting on top of the dash of the truck with the Los Angeles Water emblem is an Air Brake hand brake application device. You would pull the handle towards you while sitting behind the steering wheel, and this would apply the brakes on the trailer you are pulling. All tractor trailer vehicles have this hand valve which applies the trailer brakes only and not the brakes on the tractor. Your videos are very informative. Outstanding, keep them coming.

[@davidthelander1299]

Johnson bar, or ‘trolley valve!’

[@MountainFisher]

l went there in 1970 and those hippies were leftovers from the Death Valley Pop Festival there near Ballarat, it was in April. We drove up there during the festival to get some decent water as the well water in Ballarat got muddy from so many people using it. That creek is from a spring and is or was a year round flow. l see you like the hippie art, did you think the faucet might work? LOL Those cabins look like somebody is living there and maybe they are. There were a lot of wild burros up there when l was there, l guess because people were feeding them Quakers oatmeal and other breakfast cereals. They may have been wild burros, but they'd walk right up to you to see if you would give them some food. When l hiked Death Valley they were always doing that, bit annoying after a while. l am really surprised that some of that stuff is still there. lt was cool that you found those notes. Looks like an interesting hike where l drove so many years ago.

[@chuckbrasch4575]

Hey WH cool program! Brought back memories. In 1963 I drove my new Chevy Corvair up the canyon all the way to P.C. The only buildings were vary old , delapidated ruins and the brick smoke stack. I have some pictures here somewhere showing my car parked at the base of the smoke stack. All the buildings you showed were additions after the first flood in 1972. That one tore out all the 'original' ruins. It wrecked the road pretty good but still passible. Then in 1984 another bigger flood took out every thing. Then for awhile the only way to get up was by 4x4 jeep 'rockhopping'.. Some much for "history"......

[@gordbaker896]

Very well done. You are well prepared for the trip - sneakers!!! Those smaller pieces of equipment with the big flywheels are old rock Crushers. Dump Truck may be International brand. A type of heater on that 'gas' tank. Salamander type. So very interesting. It is too bad that some seem to need to trash these places.

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

Ohhhhhhhhh the plants look like Iris's they have pretty flowers...

[@justme-n-gracie]

Hiked up this road back in the late 70's with my father and family/kids etc... we were a couple miles up the road (on foot) when we were met by a guy with a rifle... he took my father aside and advised him that visitors were not welcomed in Panamint City... my father gathered that they were growing pot up there and didn't want any observers... so we rested a few minutes under the watchful eye of the "guard" and then headed back down to our vehicle. We went back down near Balarat and explored a large old mine there that my father had been to before. Many 4 wheelers were pissed when Surprise Canyon was closed to vehicular traffic... was one of the best and most challenging trails in the area... the falls were spectacular to watch 4 wheelers attempt to climb. this road was NEVER a "good" road lol and there was another 'back road" that came up the back way from the desert... it was just as bad... maybe worse. Yes first truck was an early 60's Ford, 2nd one Chevy. old "lantern" looked like a single burner Coleman stove... good video lol @ you hiking in flip flops!. I wonder where the "hot guy" you were following disappeared to...? A lot more people have been to Panamint City than you think...

[@edyoung6756]

Love the videos Sarah. I used to have that kind of energy back in the olden times (that period before the year 2000) when they were still making those "Budweiser cans." I still remember drinking those. Keep up the good work, ya little whippersnapper. You're an awesome lady. - Ed Young

[@Sheddtycoon]

What a great video young lady. I lived in Mojave in the 40's, brings back old memories of my older brother and I exploring old places like you are doing. Bill

[@BradGryphonn]

Very cool Sarah. That shifter was if I am right, may have been the hydraulic control for a tipper tray.... Thanks again for a great explore :) ..or a handbrake

[@Wonderhussy]

tipper tray! Hmmmm!

[@richardbrooks3569]

I like that you leave the artifacts as you found them. Looks like a hell of a hike. I'll never do it, so thanks for the look at Panamint City.

[@jerrybeavers3808]

I am really enjoying your channel. Thanks for taking this old man on your hikes with you. It's something I couldn't do myself. So I really enjoy it.

[@MrRoughknuckles]

I'm a subscriber Sarah, I can't believe this video, It's great and that note to you , thanks so much.

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

The first part of your video (you didn't know what the machine was) Im pretty sure it was a stamp mill.... they would extract the gold/silver (precious metal) from the rock.... they would pound the rock which would fracture at weak lines.... those being gold and silver veins..... (1:33 min) Doc.... p.s. I love all your video's... You always make me smile.... Doc.

[@garyvanmeter4911]

I've been there 2 times, but it has been awhile. First in 1991 after the March Miricle I drove my lifted Cherokee XJ up and had to winch up the waterfalls with a decent amount of water coming down. The CJ 5 with us pulled up a Jeep Trailer! But the trailer flipped over once, he broke a front axle shaft and his trailer nitch broke off. It was a very tough trail, but we made up in about 2 hours and stayed in the wood cabin. FourWheeler Magazine paid me for the article I wrote about it. Then about 10 years ago I hiked it. What is sad to me is how the hikers mistreat places like this so much. I wish they would at least aul out their trash! Before it became wilderness it was in far better shape. The same goes for Lemoigne Cabin. After it became wilderness I hiked it and spen the night, but a few years later the hikers destroyed it. And I say that as a hiker. myself.

[@johnholcomn8560]

We need more people with your respect for the wilderness.

[@conradheinlein5509]

The truck is a1960 Ford's step aside bed pickup f100 model. Thanks for the hike. The busted up dumped truck is a sixties Jeep military dumped utility truck.

[@JamesJackson173d]

The next canyon over to the right of Surprise Canyon going up is Pleasant Canyon. 10 or slightly more years ago it was passable in a 4X4. I had a 1995 Jeep Wrangler. The reward at the top was a panoramic view of Death Valley. Very memorable.

[@surfordie82]

So cool to see that Kato generator @13:30 . Interesting anecdote: at my current company, Kato is one of our biggest subcontractors... they're helping us design and build an electromagnetic propulsion system that launches Navy planes from the newest generation of aircraft carriers. Looks like they've been in the industry a long time!

[@cmac956]

Hi there ,it was a great 4X4 trail, did it many times, had to winch the last up hill section thanks to the lib nuts in calif. they closed it to 4X4's ,good video thanks for the look see.I can't walk it body's wore out .

[@BabyBoomBamBoomer]

Thanks for the cool video! Our group of six hiked up and stayed a couple of nights a few years ago, with backpacks, Huff-n-puff! There is a lot to explore in the surrounding area. Great memories!

[@kenmartin2636]

Hello,WonderHussy,,Im Kenny from Canada,the Okanagan valley.is home to some of your greasewood,cactus and being a semi dessert area we have California Big horn sheep mountain goats.Along with Deer,white tail,Mule Deer,Moose,Elk,Bear mainly Black and Brown with the odd Grizzly.Coyotes,Wolves,foxes and other various woodland animals.I really respect you highly,because you don`t break into anything,vandalize or take any artifacts that should be left for future generations to see.I started watching your adventures and I must say I am just like you are.I like adventure and exploring old buildings,mines and ghost towns.During the Gold Rush the miners moved North up into Canada on their way to Alaska.We have old Ghost towns ambandoned towns.I have been planning a trip to Las Vegas after I saw the dessert and how freakin awesome and so super cool the old artifacts,terrain,buildings,abandoned casinos,Hotels and Lake Mead.The cement factory,etc and the stories that they could tell.I really enjoy your commontery.Ireally look forward to all your videos, and I would like to send you some info pamphlets on the gold trails and Ghost towns in B.C.you`re freakin cool and totaly awesome.

[@ronwloutzenhiser5953]

Much better, and enjoyable, than any other Wonderhussy that I've seen.

[@strarrowblue]

The Massie's from the GoldFever Show on the Outdoor Channel went up there many times. They have been going up there since the early 90's. Neat to see that place again. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnmorris9711]

the grinder thingy is an arastra. An arrastra (or arastra) is a primitive mill for grinding and pulverizing (typically) gold or silver ore. Its simplest form is two or more flat-bottomed drag stones placed in a circular pit paved with flat stones, and connected to a center post by a long arm.

[@ShellyAnn1a]

There is another Panamint City, it is west of Bishop, CA, up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We, the High Desert 4x4 Club, drove in back in 1976, it takes a 4x4 to do it. At the time we went in, the first portion of the road was a jumble of boulders, that we had to walk our rigs across. Once past the boulders, the road was not to bad and it was a pleasant drive in. However, there was one section that was built by some Chinese workers that is built right on a vertical cliff face, it was only about 8 inches wider than my Dodge Power Wagon. This section of road, about a quarter of a mile, more or less, was built without cutting into the cliff face, to do it. When we drove in we had to follow a ground guide across it with only one vehicle going at a time. Once past that stretch of the road we found a real nice spot to pitch our tents, alongside this small stream, full of brown trout, and cold enough that we could put our drinks in it to keep them cold, we also put our watermelons in as well. - - - There were not much left to the town, just a bunch of rock foundations, the largest being the saloon/dance hall, found all kinds of broken whiskey bottles and shot glasses. When we went into the mine we found it to be one of the cleanest and easiest to explore at the time. It looked like the miners had just left it. We went in as far as the 1,500ft mark, on the main branch, painted on one of the support beams. We did a lot of exploring of the area, fishing in the various creeks we found. The day we left, it decided to snow, in the middle of June. I do not remember how far back in it is from Bishop, but it took several hours to get to a spot to camp. Give almost anything to be in my 20's again and healthy. - - - //es//A Proud Honorable Disabled American Veteran, 1965-1994 - Combat Medicine and Pharmacy. An Avid Outdoors Woman until my stroke.

[@rickobrien4025]

Shelly Ann 1a...if you have any photos of the area you just described , I would LOVE to see them. Sounds like an area second to the Lost Dutchman mine , a real treasure . Brown trout in a stream, old whiskey bottles and glasses AND a mine ? That is MY kinda place !

[@jackiem8420]

Wonder Hussy, I love how you see the beauty in old antique rusted stuff. I did think the wind chimes were cool also. I like your Wonder Hussy bracelet. It was cool that you found the note that was left for you. That was a neat surprise. Keep up the interesting videos. I never knew how beautiful the desert is until I saw your channel. I love it and great work as always. Be safe in your travels!!

[@Wonderhussy]

thank you!!

[@ryanthompson1095]

Wonder Hussy I love watching your videos your awesome

[@mmcnyc2527]

Actual photo of stack building ...www.sgphotos.com/photostories/panamint/mines/12.jpg

[@davidgolden1776]

@@mmcnyc2527 ❤👍

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

My best pal and accomplice in ischief for the last 35 years is an accomplished modeler. In recent years, I've noticed at the modeling shows an increase of models of busted out, rusted, mangled old trucks that almost always win "best of show". It's far eaiseir to build one that is brand new and tricked out with chrome and whitewalls, etc. But to get that, "I got smashed in rock fall, bent a wheel and broke an axel on this damned road and left this piece shit truck here for 35 years of hard winters and relentless summers" look takes sheer artistry. Someday, some modeler(s) might just make that trip with lots of battery power and document those wrecks up one side and down the other and we'll see them at "The Nats" once this sad pandemic has run its course. I sure hope so! Thanks for planted the seed, Sarah! I always love your adventures! And I wish my Dad was still alive because he bummed around from mining camp and lumber camp for about 8 years during The Depression (That other one) in CO, MT and NV) and just might have been able to enlightened us all w/ old tales from this place. Oh we;;. None of us lives forever . . .

[@woodspepperman9344]

Great video! I was in Death Valley the same weekend, but up a few canyons from you. It is clear that you did your homework OR know someone that is familiar with the area. You are correct, that is the Hilton. The reason that there are so many bones at the Hilton is there is a mountain lion that lives in the canyon and eats burros. Note all the burro jaw bones you found. Also, there is water available up there, just check the spring first to make sure there is nothing dead in the wooden catch up canyon. The sink will work IF the pipes are connected properly. The ruins that you walked through before you started the hike used to be the home of Rocky and his dad (George). Rocky is the caretaker at Ballarat now. I love the PanamintValley.com sticker on the mirror. I have one just like that! I know you and your sister were in a hurry, but you missed SO much cool stuff up there. Keep up the great videos!

[@davidsiler5505]

It was nice to see the water.

[@jimrook5726]

Hi. I enjoyed your vedeo on Paniment City. I drove there when I was in high school in Shoshone. My dad was the road forman for Inyo County and kept the road open after floods. Many years later they gave up trying to keep it open. I see the smoke stack is still standing. Jim Rook

[@mikestirewalt5193]

The Barker Ranch is just south of you. Famous for where the Manson Family hid out after leaving Spawn Ranch, although they were back and forth between the places since one of the "family" was related to the Barker's and knew about it and told Charlie. They eventually found him curled up inside a little hutch under the bathroom or kitchen sink, hiding. I've seen only a few of your videos so you may already have been there.

[@greghall_The_TechEditor]

@ 22:04, the "Servel" refrigerator, it cooled using either a Propane or Kerosene burner, depending on the model, to boil ammonia and water. Cold is produced when the ammonia re-mixes with the hydrogen from the water. Chances are it would take very little work to put that fridge back in operation. Typically these units can run 50 yrs with very little service.

[@michaelmccamish4008]

I see that you love to explore the great out doors. If I may give you a tip, lots of the areas that you hike in especially Death Valley have hundreds if not thousands of Indian petroglyphs. It has always amazed me seeing these drawings and thinking they are hundreds and even thousands of years old. Some research and you will know where to look. Love your videos. Been to many of the places, they have changed over the years.

[@rotex]

Not all of them are authentic. Some artist types from Darwin have done a lot of them. They get a kick out of fooling the so-called experts.

[@K7CARadio]

Very cool hike. Another awesome video that I book marked for future reference. I remember watching Gold Fever video of 4x4's going to Panamint Springs back in the day. I don't know if I'm up for a day hike, but would be super cool to stay for a week or two and explore. Thanks for the great video. 👍😁✌

[@Wonderhussy]

it would be a good basecamp for day hikes and exploring!

[@jrubybowman]

You got a surprise in Surprise Canyon! I bet you have the most interesting scrapbook. Love your vids!

[@denniswilliams7985]

Panamint City was called the toughest, rawest, most hard-boiled little hellhole that ever passed for a civilized town. Its founders were outlaws who, while hiding from the law in the Panamint Mountains, found silver in Surprise Canyon and gave up their life of crime. In 1874 the town was at the height of its boom with a population of 2,000 citizens. By the fall of 1875 the boom was over, and in 1876 a flash flood destroyed most of the town. The chimney of the smelter is the most prominent remnant of the town's heyday. The site of Panamint City is accessible via a 5 mile hike from Chris Wicht’s Camp, which is located 6 miles northeast of the ghost town of Ballarat. Mining in the area continued on a sporadic basis up until recent times. The ruins of old Panamint City were added to Death Valley National Park in October of 1994.

[@denniswilliams7985]

www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/maps.htm

[@denniswilliams7985]

from Death Valley National park, Ca. Nv. good map also

[@alanlovesmusic6442]

That was a really great video. Thank you for sharing. It would take me all day to hike up that trail.

[@bradbrown8759]

Fascinating. Your a natural. PBS should give you a show.

[@sosteve9113]

great find,a real ghost town,and somebody leave you a note,how cool is that

[@jamesgraham7390]

I Hiked up to Panamint City back in the early 90s with two Co-Workers out of Trona ,CA. I remember after about a Half hour into the Hike I just happened to look up the side of a Mountian next to the trail and saw an Old Miner dude looking down at us!!! Quite Creepy to say the least. His name might have been Cris Wick I remember someone saying due to the fact he owned a claim up there not sure though.

[@rubentrujillo3511]

You have an awesome video here I really appreciate your hiking sharing and commentary, i felt- feels like I'm there with you, I love mysterious places like this, when in Death Valley years ago i ran out of time, didn't have a chance to hike up to panamint so you did it for me, thank you!

[@jeffpalmer5502]

Interesting video, Pleasant narrative and no valley girl inflections, and no annoying music. you have a listenworthy voice. I'm surprised you don't wear tall boots though, all those rickety floors and such. I like wandering around old places too. be careful around all that Rusty stuff and thanks for the vid! Think I'll valve a Coke now !

[@kendufner9733]

I think that beer can at 14:37 is a Hynne Beer can rather than a Flynne Beer can. Googling finds matching image hits on Hynne and not for Flynne.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

That was one of the coolest I've seen you do! Amazing girl! Those cabins were so cool. Thanks especially for this vid! Too bad you didn't spot your beefcake. If you had a drone, you could looked from the sky. kek.

[@squadaimat2923]

all of your videos are like little adventurous stories. great keep us entertained, thanks

[@judgetk8327]

Good vid hun. Those green leaf things were called leeks. They are eatable but onion strong and major bad breath afterwards. We eat them when we were kids. We used to eat a couple before we went to school and we would get sent home. Your cool.

[@chuckbrasch4575]

correction: the plants are Dutch Iris, they have very colorful flowers, but are non-edible....would be interesting to see them in bloom........

[@drhambone1598]

excellent adventure as always thanks for sharing

[@tracygallaway886]

Wow the Panamint Hilton. The Michelin guide needs to hike up and rate the Hilton!! Yahoo! thanks for another Great video!!

[@bigsluice1440]

Oh I almost forgot. You should hike up Happy Canyon to the water desertion dam for SKIDOO mining area. A lot of the old pipe is still there. The pipe was about 15 miles long and about 3.5 miles from the forest service building on Wood Canyon Road on the way to the Charcoal Kilns you will find a marker of where the pipe was. The name of the town SKIDOO came from the term 23 SKIDDO. The term was first, the town came second.

[@talindakelley189]

I grew up for the most part in a small called Trona, there on the edge of Death Valley, it's pretty much a ghost town now, there are still people living there but, from what old friends tell me it's mostly abandoned, you should go check it out.

[@rickobrien4025]

Did you happen to know a guy named Bill "Willy" Fuller ? He STILL lives there , right on a corner lot with his artwork in his front yard . Wonderhussy has been there TOO !

[@robert4524]

Good travel video, I enjoy your curious and adventurous spirit.

[@DFDuck55]

I recognized the wooden milk crate before you showed that it says "Dairy" on the side. My dad was a milkman from the late 1950s till the early 1980s when he retired and I took over the business. That was my favorite job I ever had. Starting in the early 1960s I would skip school to go with him on his milk route. So when I took the business over there was zero learning curve, because I had already been doing it for so many years.

[@terrancemahoney4669]

The lever on the dash of the second truck is for air brakes. It was for just the back brakes or if pulling a trailer then just the trailer brakes.

[@blaneycrabbe3390]

Thanks for the trip! I'm not able to get out much anymore. Thank-you.

[@Stevieray55]

Wow U two are awesome these super great adventures into the wilderness with y'all are spectacular no doubt

[@rickdozier3609]

The shifter is either for hydraulics or trailer brakes.

[@snackman2005]

I stumbled on your video by accident. I'm glad I did. You have a way of taking the most ordinary things and making them interesting. Old refrigerator, beer can, old truck etc... Keep up the good job!

[@Monkey-ut7ke]

Those barrel woodstoves were really popular in the 1940s and 1950s when most rural working families had access to welding equipment. The Barker Ranch had one before it burned down, for example..

[@underthetornado]

Just started watching some of your movies. Very interesting. I'm a local. 65 year old female. I admire your spirit to just hike and camp alone In the Mojave. You give me hope. Lol. I'm in tt in one of the living ghost towns but I'd like to get a van again and camp. After this virus thing passes. Or maybe before.....who knows right?

[@DavidCoffinLL]

Interesting on the "Guard Wilson" voice at 22:48 after looking around I found this Tom Wilson, who married one of Hungry Bill's daughters, was not full-blood, according to Goodwin, but was born in Darwin in 1872 of a Mexican father and Shoshone mother. Until young manhood he lived with his mother and uncle in Bruce Canyon in the Argus Range. After working in his younger years in the mines around Darwin, he married late in life, moving to Hungry Bill's Ranch, from which he and his family migrated to the Eagle Borax area in the winter. Because he spoke English fluently and was quite familiar with the ways of the whites, he became a sort of liaison between them and the local Indian population, consulting with and advising the latter informally on important matters. On his 1928 enrollment application, Tom Wilson stated that he was fifty-six years of age, born 28 October 1872. He was of one-half Indian blood, having been born to Manwella Wilson, a full-blood Shoshone born in the Panamint Valley, and her Mexican husband whose name Wilson did not know. Although born at Darwin, Wilson was now living in Death Valley near Death Valley Junction. His first wife, a full-blood named Susie Button, had died in 1918; his second wife, Susie Wilson, was the mother of his son Seeley, born 12 May 1929 at Furnace Creek. Wilson listed his occupation as cowboy. [360] www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/deva/section3a14.htm

[@Wonderhussy]

interesting!

[@LoVeAmBiEnT]

Wah Wah we Wah. Niiice

[@k.whiking4372]

AS always another great adventure. Well done.

[@robbieb.4927]

Wonder Hussy!, your hike was way worth it and I would give anything to just go on one hiking expedition with you that hike you just did was so awesome and Thank you so much for videoing it and sharing this on youtube for all of us to watch and enjoy!. Too bad you did not see the Hot looking guy/hiker, I would have gotten real jealous over that if I saw you with another guy??. ha ha ha lol. =))

[@Westcoastjazzer]

One of your good ones! Well, I guess they are all good! Thanks' for bringing us along on another sweaty trip into the unknown, always fun!

[@courtneyhall7140]

lady wonder,having been raised in the west i really love your videos.it takes me back home.

[@Mascotal]

First truck is a 1965 ford 1/2 ton pick up. I used to have one. last truck is a mid 50's chev. I used to have one of them two. That's not a shift knob, it's a hand valve for air brakes when you pull a trailer.

[@henryw4129]

Nice video! I appreciate your effort in recording and posting it.

[@mojavedesert2610]

Love your videos! Revealing all the California desert gems!🏜️👀✌️....

[@mountainman9010]

Awesome video Wonder Hussy. You find the most interesting places and make it enjoyable to watch. A 35 minute video had my attention the entire way. Also sounds like you have a great deal going with them Canadians eh.

[@Wonderhussy]

Cool!!!! Yeah, I love my Canadian gig....more coming soon!

[@skymiller530]

Loved the vid. SO GLAD you didn't rehash old garbage from last vid. I was waiting and hoping, and you came through. Way to stay tough; You don't owe anybody anything.

[@Wonderhussy]

everyone is different and we all have respect that

[@pierreklee7490]

This looks like a cabin they have in Alaska where you can stay if you need and use what you need as long as you leave something for the next traveler.

[@Wonderhussy]

yeah I think these cabins are all over the backcountry...so cool!

[@clarktferrill]

I thought I had been everywhere ,Man......My travels pale compared to yours...Another great Wonder...I've been all around Ballarat....Missed this place...On my bucket list now...

[@Wonderhussy]

check it out sometime!!

[@dezertraider]

Very very cool Video as always WH,,Thank you for bringing me into a place that is so very farr from here.Hugs..73s

[@booniebuster4193]

Very good video. I know this is a very old video, but I just have to tell you something about my trip to Panamint City. Actually, I've been up there 2 times. It was the first old ghost town that my wife and I ever visited. The first time was in 1969 shortly after I got married. My new wife of about 6 months and I hiked up that canyon. There was no road at that time. The trail looked very much like it did on your trip. The hike turned out to be too much for my wife who was about two months pregnant at the time. But we didn't know it. Unfortunately she miscarried a few days later. The second trip up there was in my 1970 Ford Bronco. The road was repaired then. I think that was about 1972 or so. We made camp at the base of that smoke stack. We had a latrine in the woods just to the west of the smelter. We camped there for about 3 or 4 days. I have pictures of me standing on that brick wall. I was very young man at the time. I'm 74 years-old now and I doubt I could make that trip again. The odd thing is that there was nothing there when I was up there. No wooden buildings that I can recall. No generators, not trucks, no metal building... nothing! Just rock wall foundations of where the houses had once been. The only thing that looks familiar to me in your video was that smelter and smoke stack. I thought for sure it would have fallen by now.

[@flatopicker]

I don’t remember any surviving buildings either. I was in the Marines stationed at El Toro, so it was ‘76 or ‘77. We were all over the hills around the smoke stack. One of my pack grabbed an ore car he found in one of the tunnels and took three of us to get it to the truck. Seeing the ‘Hussys video brought a lot of it back. We drove up the road at 5 mph cause that “road” wasn’t much of a road. We spent the night before we got here outside of Ballarat and hung out with some people that were squatting there. I can’t believe there was any real activity after we were there. I understand that there’s a story about the discovery of silver. Nevertheless I did read that in it’s hayday there were 20,000 + people crammed into that canyon. Anyway, thank you and Wonderhussy for the trip down memory lane.

[@cruizzer77]

Wow, how cool, a ghost town that actually sees some volunteer maintenance! Thanks for taking this trip to show us Sarah! Knowing that there are people who go up there on a regular basis and try to keep those cabins maintained explains why there are items of recent vintage around and running water inside. But what seemed to be really out of place to me was that steel construction shed and the big diesel generator. That generator is a commercially made unit and even though I don't know for sure during what period this model was made exactly I would guess it is of seventies vintage. Can anyone confirm? Now it is kind of a strange idea that those hippies in the seventies brought it there as they're typically on a budget and could hardly afford such a generator in almost brand new condition. So was there some commercial operation still going on at that time? The road allowing truck traffic in and out existed until 1983 so it could be possible.

[@imgettinby]

If it was stolen there would be no need to take it out, but more likely it was just more trouble than it would be worth to haul it down again. Especially if it had stopped working properly. Many companies just write stuff off like that and leave it.

[@johnlothspeich5401]

Sarah, thanx for your sharing your adventures with us . I love your happy n joyful personality . What a sweety. keep up the good work . John from old poway calif

[@paulyh4531]

Thanks for another great video , wish i had your stamina and energy 👍

[@joannahuskey6425]

Beautiful hike. Love the rustic remains

[@dekcgi7891]

.....Like your smile..... Love your style.....!!

[@milotorres6894]

Heard it is a cool hike 😎👍 thanks for the vid brought to me via KZbin during covid 19 like the Panamint Hilton and F-100 60s half ton step-side love the water shot on trail croques on pack definitely.

[@abbeykroeter]

That looks like a very fun (but strenuous for my old ass) hike! You're very tough Wonder Hussy. Makes me wonder about the people who brought all that shit up there. That took some patience. It's so nice (and rare) to see things left for each other's benefit and it seems like respect is plentiful for the needs of the next hiker. Thanks again for the fun commentary. I think I might try the hike before April is over fi you think it won't be to hot through Death Valley. This month (my usual favorite for travel) was wasted with being too busy at the day job, and finally getting my ride in working order.

[@Wonderhussy]

Thanks! I think some of the stuff was brought up when you could still drive up the wash

[@steveanderson5888]

Awesome video and great job on your Journey that's beautiful country up there and you are one beautiful woman!

[@nativenevadan7110]

I've lived in Vegas 25 years and you've shown me more placed in and around LV than I ever knew existed! Thank you sooo much, keep it up. Do you ever consider posting your hikes before you go to get a group outing?

[@jvatell6111]

The "Beefcake" hot hiker guy was a mirage or fictional tale, but the "Hot Hiker Girl"...Looking GOOD! (as always) ;-) Wet, soggy shoes always makes the hike/trip seem much longer also...been there too many times :-( Thanks for sharing as always. It was a GREAT video to wind down the day!

[@Wonderhussy]

haha thanks!

[@jeffhicks1008]

Back in the mid 1970s when we were kids, you used to be able to explore old mining caves in the Angeles national forest just outside of Valencia, in the Bouquet canyon area! Then a few morons got lost and I guess died in them and now you cant explore them anymore. Just like the rock said " There is no limit to human stupidity" Cool vids and I miss all that history of that area but I live in Texas now and nothing like that here. Thanks and keep doing more.

[@AmyRoutt]

oh my goodness. I had a professor in college that brought my class on a field trip here (interesting field trip, I know lol) But I could never remember what it was called! I happen to be subscribed and recognized it. thank you!! haha

[@Wonderhussy]

fun trip!!

[@terryrhyne9112]

It was A early to mid 50's Ford truck. You did a fantastic job beautiful scenery.

[@oldhdriderhdrider5822]

Thanks for the awesome video. Very interesting places you have taking us. thank you

[@HollywoodGraham]

Cool Wandering Wonder Hussy, I am not much for long hikes anymore but would like to check this one out and maybe keep going for a while to see what is beyond. Thanks.

[@jimkey920]

The Servel Fridge is a Gas Operated one. Very interesting place. Thanks.

[@Wonderhussy]

thanks for the info!

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

Ford Truck... circa.... late 50's early 60's It makes sense that the gold mine/silver mine is located at a water source.... they would use the water in a sluice box to separate dirt and soils from the metals... Doc.