Day one's track covered portions of the Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea trails.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The changes in elevation were dramatic and there were several very steep sections one of which consisted of loose chalk-line stones several feet deep. Even walking on these stones were difficult and one truck ended up stuck with one wheel about 25-30 inches deep off the road. About an hour of tugging and winching got the truck back on the road.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Four trucks all campers came out - Paul and Noon, Kyle and Cutter (the dog), Ed and sons, and Scott and Camile.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The views from Saline Valley of the "back side" of the Cerro Gordo and the New York Peak were nice.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Ed "Rexterra" trying to figure out some mystery mining action.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
One on the many abandoned or inactive mine camps near Cerro Gordo
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
A truck that had seen better times.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The private town of Cerro Gordo
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The American Hotel which was featured in Ghost Hunters.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
A thief, a bear, a lover of back scratches, Cutter!
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The salt tram and some close-up details. There is some restoration work on-going.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
That's 1904 ... not 2004!
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Nice pose.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
The camp site at +9000 feet. The views in both directions, down into the Saline or Owen's valleys were amazing. The campers sat around watching shooting stars and telling UFO stories!
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Come morning we had to back-track to our winching point to recover some left-behind gear so we got another ride down that "wonderful" shelf road with miles of off-camber action.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Down within 100 yards of the highway were many petroglyphs.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Looking at the log book from the Burgess Mine we signed in and then I turned back just a handful of pages and nailed our visit from three years ago on the first shot.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Had some fun shooting the textures of the Burgess Mine office both before and after sunset.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Some Milky Way action
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip
And a haunted lantern from inside and the Big Dipper.
Saline Valley, Cerro Gordo, and Swansea Trip