How hard is the hike up to Panamint City? I've seen pictures and and I've heard stories about it, but is it worth the effort? And what time of year would be best?
CactusHugger wrote:How hard is the hike up to Panamint City? I've seen pictures and and I've heard stories about it, but is it worth the effort? And what time of year would be best?
James Sel wrote:CactusHugger wrote:How hard is the hike up to Panamint City? I've seen pictures and and I've heard stories about it, but is it worth the effort? And what time of year would be best?
Hot with rattle snakes. Uphill, then up a few waterfalls and more up hill. It kinda isn't bad the last mile. It is hard for a hiker and very hard or impossible for a non-hiker. For a frequent hiker not so bad. This is without a pack.
mrfish wrote:A few of my friends drove up there in the 1970s. The falls were buried under gravel and 4-wheel drive wasn't even necessary all the way up the canyon. It's too bad that things were allowed to deteriorate to the point that the BLM wound up closing the route. I hear the road above the falls is now completely grown over with willows for over a mile and the only way up, other than with a helicopter, is to walk. This effectively places Panamint City off-limits to most of the population. I'd like to have had the chance to explore Surprise Canyon, but I reckon that'll never happen.
Founded in 1873-74, Panamint City had many mills, saloons, stores, a red light district, a cemetery - all built along the uppermost end of the Surprise Canyon. Panamint City was regarded as a "bad and wicked" town, with Death Valley on one end of town and the Panamint Mountains on the other end. Due to the constant hijacking of the ore wagon, the miners soon cast the silver into one large ingot that was too big and heavy to be stolen. Then it hit. On July 24, 1876, a flash flood roared down the canyon and washed nearly the entire town away leaving nothing worth saving. This spelled the end of the town. Some people say they got what they deserved for their wickedness. The County of Inyo used to maintain the road to Panamint City until about 1983, when a terriffic series of cloudbursts completely washed the canyon out to bedrock.
sandshark wrote:I came across some info about cabins up at Panamint City. It sounds like a strenuous hike to get there, but it would be nice to have cabins to stay the night in waiting at the end of the hike. Does anyone know anything about the current condition of the cabins?
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