2023-11-01, 06:02 PM
Took the R1T up to mouth of Goler/Golar Wash on 23 Oct. At least 2ft of gravel debris at mouth just before the exposed bedrock. Hiked up to the "falls" about 1/4 mile in: huge washout, exposing jagged bedrock and large boulders. Basically, one might get up this far in a rock buggy running 40" tires; worst I have seen in over 50 years of travel up and down the canyon, including times when we used our Toyota 'crawlers due to flushings. A group in UTV's came up to the mouth while we were there, including a Razor; they turned around and went back to Ballarat after hiking up the wash a bit. Also heard that Pleasant Canyon is impassible to Claire's Camp, at least. Same story to Brigg's cabin up South Park. Don't know about getting into Butte Valley via Warm Springs Canyon; will try that route soon. Inyo County Road Services are too busy to fix Goler at this time, but they will get around to it. And, road between Ballarat and Goler has been filled in by the Briggs folks (I assume) but mostly with fine particle lake sand, not gravel; thus, it is extremely dusty. I have posted some pictures on the Panamint Valley.com site.