Pleasant Point

5/8/2005

Corinne Newton (SnowNymph)
Justin Schmunk (Calhiker)
Jay Frederking
John Keller
Rick Kent

Though it was windy, the hike to Pleasant Point (via DPS route A) was easy and enjoyable.  We parked just above the Cerro Gordo ghost town and hiked up the road.  The false summit on the way (which is what you see from the road from a distance) is more interesting photographically than the true summit.

Upon descent we opted to return via DPS route B.  Descending the loose scree/slate slope was not very pleasant but we eventually caught up with the faint miner's trail that took us back.  Along the way we explored a mine, ruins, and a still intact minor's cabin.  

Notes

Info on Cerro Gordo:

http://www.explorehistoricalif.com/cerro_history.html
http://www.lonepinechamber.org/history/ghosttowns.html
http://www.ghosttownexplorers.org/california/cerrogordo/cg.htm

Bessie Brady Steamer

http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/bessie_brady/page23.html
http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/stories2/desert_steamer.pdf

Owens Lake History

http://www.ovcweb.org/OwensValley/Waterhistory.html
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2005/01/19/maisel/
http://www.answers.com/topic/owens-lake

For next time:

Explore, explore, explore
Check out the Cerro Gordo ghost town & mine
Hike up to Cerro Gordo Peak
Take another look at the tramway
Stop in Swansea
Check out the ruins near the start of the Cerro Gordo Rd
Check out Darwin
Hike in to Darwin Falls
Check out the SALT tramway
Photograph the flowers on the drive up
Stop at the Charcoal Kilns
Stop at Cartago? look for the pier
Stop at the museum in Independence