Video - 1997 Overnighter at Panamint City

[DAW89446]

I thought I’d share a video of mine from an April 21/22, 1997 overnight trip I took with three others to Panamint City. I was living in Ridgecrest and working in Trona at the time.

It was my first and only visit. I had some landmarks wrong in my head, thus I botched the location of Limekiln and Brewery Springs.

The video encompasses the majority of the hike up to Panamint City, and around the main ruins the following morning. I was having issues with a dying video camera, so didn’t get any of the camp in the evening or a hike up to Shotgun Mary’s cabin and Sourdough Canyon. The camera died for good after I shot the closing scene at the junction of the Sourdough Canyon road and the main road below town.

The video is 21:55 long.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4pTPN7...Y84ZYdOm9A

[Kauri]

These historic videos are a treasure--thank you for sharing, and I hope the files never get lost.

[DAW89446]

These historic videos are a treasure--thank you for sharing, and I hope the files never get lost.

I not only have the file on my Google Drive, but also on an external hard drive, archival DVD, and VHS tape.

I used to have two of those VHS/DVD recorders, but the VHS units on both started eating tapes and I had to toss them. I still have about 25 VHS tapes that I haven’t dubbed to DVD. VHS units are almost extinct and those available are huge amounts of money. There are a couple of services where I can have them archived professionally, but it’s not cheap. One of these days …

[Kauri]

Wow, good to know, I still have a VHS player so I should be taking better care of it since I have some old family videos that are only on VHS. Eventually I too will need to transfer those, when I have time...

[DAW89446]

Wow, good to know, I still have a VHS player so I should be taking better care of it since I have some old family videos that are only on VHS. Eventually I too will need to transfer those, when I have time...

I believe Walmart will do them, but I’ve not followed through on it other than asking if the service is still available. Even their prices weren’t cheap, something like $20 or so per tape transferred to thumb drive or DVD.

[MojaveGeek]

Fun to see old videos, thanks for posting them. And yes, there is a continual dilemma with transcoding analog media as the physical devices age and cease to exist. But it's rather a chore to digitize hours of, say, VHS, unless you have the right setup.

[DAW89446]

But it's rather a chore to digitize hours of, say, VHS, unless you have the right setup.

I had two Magnavox DVD/VHS recorders, both purchased for around $150 at Walmart. It was pretty easy to dub VHS to DVD, just start the process and walk away.

Within about five years (around 2016) both had developed the tendency to eat VHS tapes. I first attempted cleaning tapes, but it ate those too. I researched the issue and found it involves the mechanics of the player, not a cheap or easy fix.

By then I could not buy a new unit unless I paid extremely high prices because supplies were limited since they were being phased out. I haven’t checked in a while, but refurbished units were running over $500 on eBay and other outlets. I have never had any good results with refurbished electronics so I have passed.

[Daymoth]

I thought I’d share a video of mine from an April 21/22, 1997 overnight trip I took with three others to Panamint City. I was living in Ridgecrest and working in Trona at the time.

Just got back from the City and loved watching your video. Gotta say the trail has changed since jeeps are not being rigged up the road!

[DeathValleyDazed]

The video is 21:55 long.

Thanks for the archived video which I thoroughly enjoyed watching because it helped me relive my two visits to Panamint City. I'd love to return one more time and explore all of the side canyons and mine works.