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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Hmmm...that region sparks some old memories. Maybe some of you will know this fellow.
I went to events called September Fest near Inyokern, California a couple times back in the 80's. A bit to the west of this area, I believe. The
gatherings were hosted by a fellow named Johann, who was from South Africa and built his private getaway in this arid land. In a nutshell, that Fest
was bizarre...to say the least. Anything and everything happened at his place...kind of like the first few Burning Man gatherings. Another place
somewhere out in the desert was called the Hot Springs, the site of some other times. Featured lots of small planes.
I had arrived at Johann's with amigos on motorcycles on my last visit, and I was a mite surprised when Johann warned us all not to drive naked into
Inyokern. That's when I found out the theme was nudity. The next day there were about 20 parachutists who floated down and joined the fun
times...naked. Now that was quite an entrance.
p.s. As I remember, Johann was a chiropractor, like our mutual friend who originally invited me...Johnny Tequila from Baja.
edit to add this photo...I scratched around in my morgue and found Johann in this collage. Hope that helps.
[Edited on 12-29-2014 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Inyokern
Pomp...was that Doc Johannes Beyers ???
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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The more remote areas surrounding Death Valley Natl. Park, but back then not actually IN the Park, was where some pretty bazaar stuff went on like
parts of Panamint Valley, and Saline Valley to the NW was where "Warm Springs" was, and still is. The Park Service having now recently taken over
Saline Valley and environs has pretty much had a hands-off attitude for the immediate Warm Springs area, and just let it evolve------a wise decision,
IMO as there is a long tradition there (nudity) and it is so remote that most visitors are not even aware of it's existence. Warm Springs is really
quite remarkable in that there are several developed pools of warm and hot water where people gather under the palms, all done by private people doing
a lot of work over many many years. It's a long and pretty tough dirt road just to get there.
Barry
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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Could be, bajaguy. I'm sure I knew his last name at one time, but I've forgotten it. He did come to Baja (Mulege) once to visit his old buddy, JT.
I heard a rumor that he met an untimely death, but cannot vouch for that.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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Sunrise at Badwater.... Love that image, Ken!
Nena
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Nena,
Thanks. The person in the image was a beautiful Japanese woman. Her husband was just outside the frame to the right. He and I with our tripod
mounted cameras and her were the only ones out there that windy/rainy morning.
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2323
Registered: 10-17-2013
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Thanks for sharing - DV is one of my favorite places. And cool that you were advantageous with the rain water.
Maybe a half dozen years ago, it rained in DV big time, and Huell Howser went there and saw people kayaking in Bad Water. Of course, the flowers were
going off too.
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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WOW 
Got to see it last spring with the Fam, your photos are very moving.
Happy New Year
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe  | | Nice pictures Ken. I think the first one was taken where the hwy crosses panamint valley? I usually stop there to shoot compositions of cracked mud.
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It was taken just east of the intersection of 190 & Panamint Valley Rd. Every trip to DV involves a drive over to Panamint Springs Resort for a
craft beer and a burger. They have the largest selection of craft beers for 100+ miles.
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by tripledigitken]
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Better than the "home brew" in Darwin ...
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: Originally posted by tripledigitken | | Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe | | Nice pictures Ken. I think the first one was taken where the hwy crosses panamint valley? I usually stop there to shoot compositions of cracked mud.
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It was taken just east of the intersection of 190 & Panamint Valley Rd. Every trip to DV involves a drive over to Panamint Springs Resort for a
craft beer and a burger. They have the largest selection of craft beers for 100+ miles.
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by tripledigitken] |
Have you ever visited those dunes just north of that spot? You can see them from the road. I would think there are better opportunities there to find
one without human tracks, which is a challenge at the mesquite dunes.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Igor,
Yes, many times I've wondered about those. Another bucket list item.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe | | Quote: Originally posted by tripledigitken | | Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe | | Nice pictures Ken. I think the first one was taken where the hwy crosses panamint valley? I usually stop there to shoot compositions of cracked mud.
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It was taken just east of the intersection of 190 & Panamint Valley Rd. Every trip to DV involves a drive over to Panamint Springs Resort for a
craft beer and a burger. They have the largest selection of craft beers for 100+ miles.
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by tripledigitken] |
Have you ever visited those dunes just north of that spot? You can see them from the road. I would think there are better opportunities there to find
one without human tracks, which is a challenge at the mesquite dunes. |
Those dunes you see are the "Panamint dunes" I believe and were totally protected by the BLM for years (no vehicles). Not sure how the Park Service
is treating/managing them, but I believe you have to walk to them, and it's a long walk. They are pristine, as are the Eureka Dunes in Eureka Valley
north of Saline Valley, and you can drive to the base of the Eureka Dunes, but not "on" them. They are remote, so pretty pristine.
Barry
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: Originally posted by Barry A. |
Those dunes you see are the "Panamint dunes" I believe and were totally protected by the BLM for years (no vehicles). Not sure how the Park Service
is treating/managing them, but I believe you have to walk to them, and it's a long walk. They are pristine, as are the Eureka Dunes in Eureka Valley
north of Saline Valley, and you can drive to the base of the Eureka Dunes, but not "on" them. They are remote, so pretty pristine.
Barry |
I agree it's a long walk, and I have not noticed any vehicle access. The Eureka Dunes are my favorite. The last time there we didn't see another
vehicle in the 4 hours we visited. They are much larger than Mesquite Dunes as well. Here are a few shots of that trip.
My footprints were the only I saw on this visit.
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by tripledigitken]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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| Quote: Originally posted by Barry A. | The more remote areas surrounding Death Valley Natl. Park, but back then not actually IN the Park, was where some pretty bazaar stuff went on like
parts of Panamint Valley, and Saline Valley to the NW was where "Warm Springs" was, and still is. The Park Service having now recently taken over
Saline Valley and environs has pretty much had a hands-off attitude for the immediate Warm Springs area, and just let it evolve------a wise decision,
IMO as there is a long tradition there (nudity) and it is so remote that most visitors are not even aware of it's existence. Warm Springs is really
quite remarkable in that there are several developed pools of warm and hot water where people gather under the palms, all done by private people doing
a lot of work over many many years. It's a long and pretty tough dirt road just to get there.
Barry |
Been there a couple of times, no not in the pools, just there. Wanting to do Steel Pass as it's one of the few areas I've not been thru. http://forum.salinepreservation.org/ is the org. that maintains the warm spring pools.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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My son and I did the Steel Pass road ( Warm Springs to Eureka Dunes) 2 years ago, and it is a great adventure. We were in a Nissan X-Terra and it
was no problem. I do recommend 4-wheel drive, but really not necessary most of the time. It is very narrow in places, some sandy areas and rocks,
but again no problems were encountered back then. Great Photo ops.
Barry
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Barry,
How did u access Saline Valley, south from 190 or the racetrack?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Ken--------we came in from hyway 190, and it was a challenge. The road was gone in places, as flashfloods had hit the area hard several weeks prior
to us going in, and Inyo County had closed the road completely with signs. Most of the serious damage was fairly shortly after we left the highway
190 and before we started the descent into Saline Valley. We had to make our own road from scratch where the road and the flash floods occupied the
same space for several miles. It was fun, and we did make it thru with no damage to our X-Terra or the terrain. My X-terra has special after Market
suspension (Calmini) all around, and is raised 2.5 inches all around, but other than that it is stock------just had to go really slowly, and pick your
way thru the boulders. We did use our stock rear locker, however, as I recall, mostly because of soft sand. Most of the road further north and down
into Saline was in fine shape, as was the Steel Pass road.
We have never done the "Race track" approach to Saline (from the east), but would like too. Been to the Race Track from DV several times. I believe
that the race track road down into Saline is in pretty bad shape, tho, and may even be closed by the Park Service-----don't really know at this time.
Barry
[Edited on 12-30-2014 by Barry A.]
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Barry,
When were going to Saline Valley in the early 70's the road from 190 was in good enough shape for my 1959 ford station wagon to make it. Warm Springs
was always a must do while in the valley. We once backpacked up to the old mining town of Beveridge. That's another story.
Ken
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: Originally posted by tripledigitken | Barry,
When were going to Saline Valley in the early 70's the road from 190 was in good enough shape for my 1959 ford station wagon to make it. Warm Springs
was always a must do while in the valley. We once backpacked up to the old mining town of Beveridge. That's another story.
Ken |
Wow, Beveridge------------I have heard that is one mighty tough hike!!! Those that I know that have done it have come from the top of the Inyo Mts
(via the jeep road out of Cerro Gordo north along the crest) , hiking east down into Beveridge, and then continuing on down to the east to be picked
up in Saline Valley-------and that is STILL "one tough hike", tho mostly downhill.
I salute you!!!!
Barry
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