2020-11-06, 03:41 AM
(2020-11-05, 04:29 PM)Kauri Wrote: I think Surprise Canyon was closed to vehicle access around 2001, but I could be remembering wrong. So these comments were probably from when folks could drive to Panamint City.
Kauri, great point which did not occur to me even after reading several register comments referring to "coming up from Chris Wicht." I wondered to myself "Who is this Chris Wicht fellow?" Not until my return and googling Chris Wicht did I learn that it's the parking area at the mouth of Surprise Canyon where the old mine works are. Duh!
This then explains why Mike Reynolds and Tom Arnold noted their route commencing at Chris Wicht rather than writing down "from Panamint City." It's cool how well preserved the Sentinel Register notes are after more than twenty years of weather inside that sturdy ammo can.
BTW, the log/register for hikers at Chris Wicht is well used and does not offer a "check back out option" just noting check offs for various reasons for visiting the canyon. I suppose this is because Chris Wicht is not in DEVA National Park.
Life begins in Death Valley