JUST FOR FUN! Panamint City Backpack in Death Valley National Park

Whenever this blog gets too boring, its time to post some fun photos, so here goes: Our recent backpack in the Panamint Mountains. 5 Lovely photos - not the best, just some random fun shots.

Including the person who carved this into the rock along the waterfalls in 1997!

Brother Brian climbs down the waterfall trail - just a stroll in the big Panamint park! Yes, they call this part of the "trail"!

Fairy-land near Grapevine Spring! Yes, the water comes directly out of the rocks! Find this spot if you can!

1874 Stewart 20 Stamp Mill remains. Sadly, Death Valley National Park has no interest in keeping this beautiful art deco brick smokestack standing. After being in situ for more than 140 years, DVNP is happy whether it stands or falls. Sigh. Yes- your tax dollars at work...Now, if it the smokestack were instead a one-of-a-kind red-peckered-darter-pucker-licker-snail, that'd be a different story.

This is what the original Panamint / Surprise Canyon 20-stamper looked like circa 1875 - note the train of loaded mules heading up to the mill to dump their loads. Since it was man-made (duh!), DVNP doesn't mind the last standing remnant of it to fall over. I just do not understand why our park officials do not care at all. With the bricks still in situ and a helo drop of concrete, we could patch it up to stand for another 50 years. Does ANYBODY out there care? Of course not.

Tim Waag: That's me, your fashionable blog host! Set to hike "back to the beer"!

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