Frank Farmer > Area map, showing the hike route from Shot Rock Vista (left) and our dinner location at Plasse Resort by Silver Lake (right).
Frank Farmer > Our trip began on a Thursday, where we started with two nights car camping at Gray Meadows above Independence.  On Friday we headed back to Bishop to get our wilderness permit, ate breakfast at Shatz Bakery, and visited the Rowell Mountain Light Gallery. Then we swam and relaxed at Keough Hot Springs, south of Bishop. We then headed south to visit the Manzanar Japanese-American Internment Camp, just north of Lone Pine. That evening we had a fancy dinner at a French restaurant in Independence. On Saturday, we began a two-night backpack trip out of Onion Valley and over Kearsarge Pass, to Kearsarge Lakes. During the early part of our trip we also spent time with Bob, Geno, Dick, Herb, Frank, and other friends who were biking and hiking in the area. They hiked up to Kearsarge Pass before us and met us at the pass, as they descended from a climb of Mount Gould. Rich also solo climbed Mount Gould on our backpack trip, while Mark and Jean and I dayhiked to Bullfrog Lake. Mike did not backpack with us, but hiked to the pass and then headed off to stay in Bishop and daytrip out to the bristlecone pines. We met some other interesting people in the backcountry and around Owens Valley. All in all, this was an interesting and fun trip. It was great spending time with friends and learning more about this area. Thanks to Rich and Bob for setting up this trip!
Frank Farmer > Area map showing the surrounding peaks and lakes.
Frank Farmer > Trip map for Death Valley Driveapalooza. 

On Friday, we drove in on Hwy 168 to the Big Pine-Death Valley Road and camped at Eureka Dunes.

Saturday, we hiked the dunes then drove over the Last Chance Range to Scotty's Castle, where we walked around outside and took some pics. Then we drove by Ubehebe Crater and took more pics. We then drove out Racetrack Road, with a brief stop at Teakettle Junction. Sean and I attempted Ubehebe Peak, making it to the last saddle just below Ubehebe Peak (we started hiking late). We camped just outside Lost Burro Gap, about a mile from Teakettle Junction.

Sunday, we drove into Hidden Valley then up to the Lost Burro Mine, where we walked around and took pics. Then we continued on through Hidden Valley and up the back side of Hunter Mountain. We stopped at Hunter Cabin. We continued on over Hunter Mountain and South Pass, with a lunch break near the junction with Saline Valley Road. We took Saline Valley Road to the junction with CA 190 and headed east to Panamint Station for gas. We then drove down Panamint Valley a bit and up to Wildrose where we checked out the beehive-shaped charcoal kilns. We camped at Wildrose.

Monday, it rained in the morning and then turned to snow. We headed down Emigrant Pass Road and stopped at the Emigrant Rest station on CA 190, where we fixed breakfast. We planned to drive Titus Canyon, but were concerned about flash floods (there were some coming down from Emigrant). We drove to the exit from Titus Canyon (it's one-way), where we encountered some people who drove out. They said, "DO IT!" so we headed back down to Mud Canyon and drove out into Nevada to the entrance to Titus Canyon. We drove that, stopping first for manifold-warmed foil-wrapped lunches, then for a short hike at Leadfield and later for petroglyphs. We exited Titus Canyon then headed for Furnace Creek for more gas and toured the visitor center. We then headed up to Dante's View where we saw the sunset (just made it). We then headed to an abandoned trailer park outside the park's east entrance, that some friends told me about, where we camped Monday night. All was well except that at 4:15 am a strange car parked too close for our comfort zone, so we got into our vehicles.

Tuesday morning, we fixed breakfast and headed for Badwater. We took the obligatory pics at Badwater, then headed west on CA 190 over Towne Pass. We stopped and tried to see the UA-16 wreck on the summit ridge. We continued on back to 395 at Lone Pine and headed north. 

We went out and back thru South Lake Tahoe on the Pioneer Trail and Kingsbury Grade. We had two 4WD vehicles and walkie-talkies, which really helped. This was a great trip!!! 

Thanks to Sean and Jeff for providing the transpo and great eats and being awesome trip buddies!!!
Area map, showing the hike route from Shot Rock Vista (left) and our dinner location at Plasse Resort by Silver Lake (right).
Frank Farmer > Area map, showing the hike route from Shot Rock Vista (left) and our dinner location at Plasse Resort by Silver Lake (right).
Area map, showing the hike route from Shot Rock Vista (left) and our dinner location at Plasse Resort by Silver Lake (right).
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