Hi Jeff My grandparents as well lived in Lone Pine for about 40 years. I remember when visiting them seeing the park .the gift shop..and a hamburger stand. The town of Lone Pine small but I loved visiting .
I would like to sincerely thank y'all for these wonderful videos! I live in Hollister (about 45 minutes SSE of Silicon Valley), and used to go on road trips, camping, fishing, hiking or just adventures with friends then my children. 2011 I got very ill (doctors told me, "You've got 6 months to live, one year if you're lucky.") But I'm STILL HERE, enjoying grandchildren who love me; I've been teaching them how to camp, fish, cook over open fires, use & sharpen a knife properly, do things safely etc. I can't get up and go like I used to, and will never see the deserts, mountains and all in between I love so dearly; your videos are the next best thing, they give me the joy of seeing places I love. I thank you for this from the bottom of my grateful heart, please keep making them!!
Thank you for your comment. One of the primary reasons for creating these videos is to share with those that are less fortunate, whether it be health or financial, and cannot go out and see these places. That's why I like to call these "virtual video tours" - to take people to places virtually. Hang in there, I have many more virtual places to take you to!
Check out the film High Sierra starring Humphrey Bogart...he's leader of a robbery gang to hold up a hotel and the ending car chase through Lone Pine and ends up on the "Highest Crag" in the High Sierra, Mt. Whitney for the ultimate shootout. Another must-see Lone Pine film is Bad Day at Black Rock starring Spencer Tracey. It was filmed in Lone Pine where he gets into a tussle with the locals while investigating a guy who disappeared. Ernie Borgnine and Spencer get into a hell of a fight and Spencer plays a one-armed man!
We've watched them all and found the places where they were filmed. The train scene at the beginning of Bad Day at Black Rock is spectacular. The picture in this video of Hwy 136 crossing the Owens River appears in High Sierra as Bogart approaches Mt. Whitney. Thanks for commenting.
Oh wow, in Keeler at a about 14:00 there is a old American Motors Nash car, my dad used to buy them & restore them, I always told him they were a giant upside down bathtub, he traveled the country in them, good old cars. Love this stuff, thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting us know. Yes, we produce a unique style of of video. It probably shows that I create training videos for my "real job".
@@BackRoadsWest1 There are so many youtubers who will say "Video about Lone Pine!" and then what you get is them making coffee and preparing breakfast, and a discussion about something completely irrelevant. I like yours better!
@@bob_frazier yup, I know what you mean. Frustrating at times to find out about a place. I'm sure you've seen our Lone Pine tour? th-cam.com/video/UwuUuNms470/w-d-xo.html
I used to live in Darwin, about 50 years ago, it seems to have grown some, my first girl friend was their, her family had resided their for generations, her first name began with an M, I wondered the desert all around there, including what was called "tower mountain" not a mountain. I recall instinct causing me to circle around and check my back trail (with my brother) and we were being tracked by a very large cougar, we never saw him/her, so was probably just curious, but good instincts.
Go easy on him. I was in public school in a small town too. My graduating class had 46 kids. More effort was spent on survival (food & heat) than was on education. At school we could keep our rifles in the truck as long as our ammo was in the glove box. And the knife on our leg had a blade that was fixed and shorter than eight inches.
I read when they filmed THE BIG VALLEY on location, Lone Pine was often the area they chose. Stanwyck actually requested that her ashes be spread in the Lone Pine area, so much did she love that countryside.
Lots of Randolph Scott westerns and Have Gun will Travel episiodes show Mt Whitney and Lone Pine area, just watched an episode of HGWT where they filmed at Laws, even Locomotive no 9 was running.
I worked at the Darwin mine, late 80’s. You could go around behind the mountain to a spring/oasis. Great place to cool off. Worked underground most of the time.
Excellent! Thanks for the comment. Yes, we have explored the diggings behind the mine. Maybe we'll cover in another video. We also had an invitation to go into Darwin Mines, but we ran out of time.
Awesome, thanks and thanks for commenting! Yea, I'd like to make more travel videos of that area. Hopefully you've seen our accompanying tour of the Lone Pine area: th-cam.com/video/UwuUuNms470/w-d-xo.html
As someone who lives in LA, why did LA get so large? The natural water we get here isn't enough to support the population here and there's not even groundwater and thus have to get water from a hundred miles away.
Los Angles is a monster that has bled most of southern California dry of water. The day of the BIG ONE Earthquake and L.A.s slippage into the ocean cannot happen fast enough.
Keep in mind, Southern California has no water. That's why most comes from Northern Calif. Only a small amount comes from the Owens Valley. L.A.'s slippage will occur over a few million years, so we won't see it happen.
No, they are STEALING most of it from Northern California; that's why most of the Northern Californians want to be split from Southern, plus, the Inland and Valley people have NOTHING in common with those in the big Coastal cities!! But the way they want to split it, I don't know if anyone will be happy; I just know that I am a Constitutional Republican, and have NOTHING in common with the Communist people in places like L.A., S.F. etc.
IMHO,the ONLY way to drive into Death Valley N.P. is hwy 190 from Owens Valley. Be prepared for world class desert scenery along with dramatic Basin and Range topography.
I really enjoyed this video especially the Cerro Gordo part. Been through there many times, maintaining a microwave site further on up the road atop the White Mountains. The Owens Valley is still a beautiful place. It's unfortunate that the city of LA robbed it of it's water source. Should you go to the museum in Lone Pine you can view pictures of steam boats crossing the Owens Lake. Thank you for posting this video I really enjoyed it.
That's a heck of thing -- without water, LA would be a small town itself. I love it though. Can't beat parts of LA, just wonderful. No city like it in the world, not saying it's best. But I sure know what the best *state* in the USA is, or at least was: California. Because you got LA and SF and even Lone Pine and each of these cities had people come from all over the world to visit. And we got other great stuff -- I could probably list 100 amazing things in CA without even trying that hard. Yosemite, Malibu, La Jolla, a dozen coastal towns, Hollywood, Sequoia National Park, Lake Tahoe, even proximity to Vegas and Reno... you get the picture, I am sure. Some of CA biggest problems come from our having such a big heart, when other places kick people out, our cities feel obligated to help them. If a homeless guy is caught panhandling in Vegas, I think at one time and maybe still, they buy him a bus ticket to LA.
I watched the whole thing. interesting. too bad on the trip to Darwin, you missed the only bar and best tacos in the world that my mom and me made back in 68 69. I was 16, 17, had to fire up the generator every morning to cool off the beer for the miners. My mom made the taco meat, and I fried all of the taco shells in a cast iron skillet, using two forks. trip to town(Lone pine) to pick up supplies and beer every week. My entertainment during the week, was going out into the old cadillac, and listenting to XERB with Wolfman jack after dark only (atmospherics) Trips to Lone pine, visiting people like cindy, Theone Johnson, and Karen anderson, Ross, was my only connection to sanity. There was one girl in Darwin, Her dad talked to my dad. My mom and Dad said, stay away from her or her dad will hurt you. Hello David reese and rayetta.
8:53 what is that tune, please? I love the way they play the base as a solo there. I tried soundhound and it says "Ripples in a pool", but there are so many with that title, and it's not that tune.
Below are the music tracks I used on this. Without restoring a bunch of data, I can't tell you where it was used. All music came from AudioBlocks.com. Good luck! The Forest 2:44 Random Thoughts 2:45 Easy Ride 2:31 I wish I was in Dixie 1:58 Chasing Dreams 2:02 Worm Place 3:00 The Entertainer 3:00 Kaleidoscope 2:48
@@BackRoadsWest1 Thanks. In your clip it would be "Random Thoughts", but the searches on google for it gives several results, however not that tune. Anyway it's a nice tune.
@@JohnBrown-pq9tj you're being mean😌 Do you not see the sinful immorality happening around the world? Pride comes before the fall. As it was in the days of Noah it will be the same in the last days.
I could only imagine life out there as a child in those days such openness all the danger but the life adventure. I hope most lives were innocent like that back then but then again people were tougher in those days.
Love these abandoned Ghost Town Videos, just came across this one, could watch this all day. And please if you know the "artist/group" name playing @ 9:00 minutes in, who is it if you know? Thanks, keep up the great Vids.
Thanks for commenting and glad you enjoyed the tour. Sorry, I don't know much about the music, other than I have a subscription to use copyright-free music from Audioblocks.com. I'm always searching for music that matches the mood of the tour and the length of time I need.
I'm amazed that LA could just buy all the natural water resources upstream and then just destroy an entire ecosystem with no consequences. US never ceases to amaze me.
I just watched a great documentary on Amazon Prime called “Darwin: No services ahead”. It came out about 10 years ago but it was extremely fascinating to see what life is like living in Death Valley. I highly recommend it to anyone in this comment section.
Thanks, I just watched it. Interesting. I certainly cannot imagine living there, but seeing those people, wow. Just FYI, although the border for the National Park is maybe 5 miles from Darwin, Death Valley "proper" is actually 2 valleys away from Darwin.
BackRoadsWest1 lol interesting indeed. And thanks for that correction. I really need to get back on the road, your videos always give me inspiration. Keep up the good work.
Very informative video!!! Thank You!!! I've learned more from this video than I have from anything else I've seen!!! The Owens Lake area must have really been something in its heyday. That is before the city of LA sucked it dry to become the crime ridden gangland and homeless encampment that it has!!!
Hearing comments like yours makes my efforts all worth it! Thank you. Yes, L.A. may have sucked that area dry and changed its climate and economy, but it turned L.A. into an economic powerhouse where so many industries (aviation, movies, etc.) now thrive. Crime is a problem with any big city and the reason why I don't live in any of them anymore!! The Owens Valley is still a beautiful place to visit.
Thanks for your feedback. I totally agree with you. But here's my dilemma. The video is 27 minutes long. Everyone out there says videos need to be around 15 minutes for most people to watch them all the way through on TH-cam (today's unfortunate attention span). I still like to make most of my videos in the 20-30 minute range. Some are 40 minutes. With that said, shall I try to squeeze in more picture and video in that time so people can see more? Or should I put in less pictures and make them display longer, so as you say, people can see them more clearly. I favor seeing more in the period of time. There's always the pause & rewind options or just watch the video again. What would you do?
I had relatives in the 1800s with a cattle ranch in Olancha. After LA stole all the water in the early 1900s in Owens lake, they had to sell the ranch and move away.
L.A. "stole" water from other sources than the Owens Valley. They are the water mafia! But without that, California wouldn't have Hollywood, a big aircraft industry, and the list goes on...
Wherever you go, property lines are clear cut. Mapping apps like Gaia GPS definitely point out where they are. There's also a lot of BLM land that mining claims get filed on. In my experience, I haven't run across any squatters on properties like you see in this video.
He's doing well, especially now appearing on TV shows. I'm happy for him and glad that he didn't mess up the site, which we were all fearing. He really appreciates the history.
We just recently lost the American Hotel, the Icehouse and the small house net to the Hotel to a fire. I just ran across the channel and haven’t looked at everything yet but I’m surprised the salt tram road from Cerro Gordo to Swansea wasn’t discussed. There’s quite a bit left of the transfer station at the summit, fairly easy from the town to the transfer station in a stock 4X4. From the station to Swansea has gotten quite a bit rougher over the years. Is there a video on Darwin Falls and (for the lack of a better description) the Koi Pond?
Yes, I heard the bad news yesterday. We were in Tonopah this week and the winds were terrible. So I'm glad to hear not much more got burnt due to the winds. As for discussing other things, you can't make videos too long! This one is already long enough and I wanted to keep it to non-4WD people. But we've been to the top of the Salt Tramway - beautiful drive and view. We actually cover Darwin Falls in our Death Valley on-line guide: www.backroadswest.com/brw/death-valley/
My wife and I have been involved with Cerro Gordo for over 20 years. When Mike passed away (I believe 2009) we relieved the caretaker (Robert) about a dozen times for 7-15 days staying the Belshaw house. One Christmas week we had a 5 day run of -10 degrees to a high of about 20 degrees, very cold! I just ran across your channel really good content I’ve passed the word around. With just a few exceptions I’ve spent a lot of time in the areas you displayed. Are you still using the same 4 Runner? If so any more head problems?
Hey BackRoadsWest1 Awesome information you have shared so well! I was going to ask you if you can recommend a Death Valley video then I saw your reply that it's online! Appreciated! I nearly certain you also we're the professional that did the TH-cam on Utah National Parks. They were just excellent as well as this. I just Subscribed to your Channel... Great work to help others plan their trips! Thanks, Craig Williams Architect
@@BackRoadsWest1 Appreciate your straightforward response. I was just looking at the pre-draining pics and thought there might be a rationale to explain this. 💟
A very wealthy inventor/engineer named Statham sponsored a chess tournament that attracted the best players in the world, including. unusually for the time, USSR players, former world champs and contenders all competed in the secluded town. This was 40 years ago, ran for several years. Statham owned the Playboy Mansion before Hefner bought it.
Tremors was filmed all over the Lone Pine area. Go the movie museum in Lone Pine for a map of filming locations. I've never been able to figure out where the town was setup. I think it was on the south side of Owens Lake near Olancha.
Been there and are going back this year, what I found out is that a replica sign for Perfection is on Cactus Flat rd. Where they removed the set for the town. Other locations are from Alabama Hills to Darwin. Small artifacts and still there.
By the way Paul, don't know if you are going to the area, but as BRW mentions the area is full of bucket lists. Darwin is a spooky place, my wife said she doesn't want to go back there, I agree.
I'd recommend reading a number of books on the subject. Mullholland didn't "steel" the water rights, the City of L.A. directed him to using his suggestions and he carried out their plan. Same with the Colorado River water rights.
@@BackRoadsWest1 I visited the area in 1985. In the early 1900s the area was thriving agriculturly. The lake is now a chemical laden playa with toxic windstorms. The water rights were obtained under handedly. Much friction and violence ensued for years until the residents moved away. LA did need the water as it was the oil capital of the US then.
@@frankjose2231 I've been visiting Owens Valley since the late 1960s. I once had to wait for a train crossing 395 near Olancha. The tracks were removed in the '80s. Keep in mind that much of its economy also centered around mining that also played out and had nothing to do with water. But there are "no trespassing" signs by order of City of L.A. all the way to Mono Lake, which is kind of rude. The book I'd recommend reading is Cadillac Desert (www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Desert-American-Disappearing-Revised/dp/0140178244), which is the de-facto standard on understanding water issues in the USA. Anyone that deals with water issues has read this book. There's also a recent book on William Mullholland that I read that is really good.
@@BackRoadsWest1 it really is a matter of the water going to LA that had no other viable source. Without it, no matter how it was obtained, LA would not have thrived.It shocked me when I saw what was left of area, but I did not know the story behind it. The water benefited 20 M people vs maybe 50K.
@@BackRoadsWest1 I live in NM and fully realize how important water is. The Colorado river cannot supply huge cities like they plan.. The Anasazi had to move their pueblos to river valleys and tributaries 800years ago or perish
Just the hotel burnt down, but nonetheless, a big loss :-( Only solace is that the hotel was somewhat of a reproduction, which means the rich dude that owns the property now will probably rebuild it.
You'll have to remember too that, except for the farming communities, many of the towns were classic mining towns that only lasted a few years. L.A. was where all the commerce was and the so important sea port. A large city like L.A. would have never materialized in the Owens Valley.
Gee Kat, they're right, we've been there and are going back this year because of the video! I don't want a virtual tour, just interesting and unknown info. You'll love it!
We just took a road trip up to Bishop for the weekend, love all of highway 395, nostalgia.
My grandparents worked/lived in these areas and my mother was born in Lone Pine in the 1930s. Good video.
Hi Jeff My grandparents as well lived in Lone Pine for about 40 years. I remember when visiting them seeing the park .the gift shop..and a hamburger stand. The town of Lone Pine small but I loved visiting .
maybe your mom remembers john ford's visit? that would have been quite a happening, i think.
Just what I need for my springtime 2023 road trip. Thanks! 😊
I would like to sincerely thank y'all for these wonderful videos! I live in Hollister (about 45 minutes SSE of Silicon Valley), and used to go on road trips, camping, fishing, hiking or just adventures with friends then my children. 2011 I got very ill (doctors told me, "You've got 6 months to live, one year if you're lucky.") But I'm STILL HERE, enjoying grandchildren who love me; I've been teaching them how to camp, fish, cook over open fires, use & sharpen a knife properly, do things safely etc.
I can't get up and go like I used to, and will never see the deserts, mountains and all in between I love so dearly; your videos are the next best thing, they give me the joy of seeing places I love. I thank you for this from the bottom of my grateful heart, please keep making them!!
Thank you for your comment. One of the primary reasons for creating these videos is to share with those that are less fortunate, whether it be health or financial, and cannot go out and see these places. That's why I like to call these "virtual video tours" - to take people to places virtually. Hang in there, I have many more virtual places to take you to!
YOU ALL! Imbecile
@@jimajams7080 Y'all sum kinda dumdum.....
@@jimajams7080 Come on, man. It's a commonly accepted use of slang that has become part of everyday language. A little harsh there.
@Cheryl Pemberton How are you doing now? Hope all is well and you're still enjoying those grandchildren!
Check out the film High Sierra starring Humphrey Bogart...he's leader of a robbery gang to hold up a hotel and the ending car chase through Lone Pine and ends up on the "Highest Crag" in the High Sierra, Mt. Whitney for the ultimate shootout. Another must-see Lone Pine film is Bad Day at Black Rock starring Spencer Tracey. It was filmed in Lone Pine where he gets into a tussle with the locals while investigating a guy who disappeared. Ernie Borgnine and Spencer get into a hell of a fight and Spencer plays a one-armed man!
We've watched them all and found the places where they were filmed. The train scene at the beginning of Bad Day at Black Rock is spectacular. The picture in this video of Hwy 136 crossing the Owens River appears in High Sierra as Bogart approaches Mt. Whitney. Thanks for commenting.
The siblings and I used to swim in the keeler plunge. Still my favorite place on earth
Oh my yes! I had forgotten about the plunge. Thank you for the fond memories.
Thank you both for your efforts to provide wonderful guided tours of the historic west. I am sure that Huell Houser is looking down with a big smile.
Thank you. I hope he is too!
Oh wow, in Keeler at a about 14:00 there is a old American Motors Nash car, my dad used to buy them & restore them, I always told him they were a giant upside down bathtub, he traveled the country in them, good old cars. Love this stuff, thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed your music selection. And it was nice revisiting this area with the added historical facts I had not had during my travels.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting.
Well put together. Great sequencing. Very well thought out. Impressive.
Thanks for the kudos!
That was amazing. Never seen a tour produced this way, wow how very nice!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for letting us know. Yes, we produce a unique style of of video. It probably shows that I create training videos for my "real job".
@@BackRoadsWest1 There are so many youtubers who will say "Video about Lone Pine!" and then what you get is them making coffee and preparing breakfast, and a discussion about something completely irrelevant. I like yours better!
@@bob_frazier yup, I know what you mean. Frustrating at times to find out about a place. I'm sure you've seen our Lone Pine tour? th-cam.com/video/UwuUuNms470/w-d-xo.html
@@BackRoadsWest1 I have not seen that, I will watch it today, thanks!
I used to live in Darwin, about 50 years ago, it seems to have grown some, my first girl friend was their, her family had resided their for generations, her first name began with an M, I wondered the desert all around there, including what was called "tower mountain" not a mountain. I recall instinct causing me to circle around and check my back trail (with my brother) and we were being tracked by a very large cougar, we never saw him/her, so was probably just curious, but good instincts.
Learn the difference between "there", "their", and "they're", so you don't look like an idiot. This is elementary English.
THERE, WANDERED...
@@slappy8941 Expecting that on YT these days is pretty much hopeless.
Go easy on him. I was in public school in a small town too. My graduating class had 46 kids.
More effort was spent on survival (food & heat) than was on education.
At school we could keep our rifles in the truck as long as our ammo was in the glove box. And the knife on our leg had a blade that was fixed and shorter than eight inches.
@@andrewbrady3139
My goodness! Will there be any small towns left in America in a hundred years? I hope so.
I read when they filmed THE BIG VALLEY on location, Lone Pine was often the area they chose. Stanwyck actually requested that her ashes be spread in the Lone Pine area, so much did she love that countryside.
we camped there when i was a kid almost 50 years ago. i loved that place.
Did she die? NEver heard about it.
The 395 and communities/roads off of it offer and endless amount of adventurers. Thanks for capturing here. I've got some more ideas now!
Thanks for commenting. Yes, just thinking of the number 395 makes me want to go there right now!
Listen to them, the 395 rules! We're going back in Oct, now I'm going to watch the video in lone pine and the Alabama Hills!
Lots of Randolph Scott westerns and Have Gun will Travel episiodes show Mt Whitney and Lone Pine area, just watched an episode of HGWT where they filmed at Laws, even Locomotive no 9 was running.
they filmed at Alabama hills just south of lone pine--the train still does short runs--over 800 films done in owens valley
@@dethray1000 Beautiful out there
Cerro Gordo also had an aerial tram that went down to Keeler. The current owner of Cerro Gordo has a youtube channel.
Yes, we just watched the video. He's doing a great job documenting everything and putting it on YT. Thanks for commenting.
Brent's new hotel should be opening up soon, going to check it out and help his cause.
Love the Map reference to clarify where you're at. GREAT!!
AGREED!!!!!!!!
I worked at the Darwin mine, late 80’s. You could go around behind the mountain to a spring/oasis. Great place to cool off. Worked underground most of the time.
Excellent! Thanks for the comment. Yes, we have explored the diggings behind the mine. Maybe we'll cover in another video. We also had an invitation to go into Darwin Mines, but we ran out of time.
Hi, Thanks for all of these great videos. Would you please list the music you've used in them? Particularly this series of ghost towns.
Thanks again!
Excellent job, watched many of these, yours one of the best
Awesome, thanks and thanks for commenting! Yea, I'd like to make more travel videos of that area. Hopefully you've seen our accompanying tour of the Lone Pine area: th-cam.com/video/UwuUuNms470/w-d-xo.html
🍎 Love these ghost towns. So interesting to see the past and wonder about it. We have a few here in Montana as well. - Henry
This was a beautiful video
Thank you!
I love your maps, and the narration!!
Thank you!
Excellent video. Went down 395 in 1999 on my way to Reno but never saw all these places.
Thank you!
As someone who lives in LA, why did LA get so large? The natural water we get here isn't enough to support the population here and there's not even groundwater and thus have to get water from a hundred miles away.
Los Angles is a monster that has bled most of southern California dry of water. The day of the BIG ONE Earthquake and L.A.s slippage into the ocean cannot happen fast enough.
Keep in mind, Southern California has no water. That's why most comes from Northern Calif. Only a small amount comes from the Owens Valley. L.A.'s slippage will occur over a few million years, so we won't see it happen.
No, they are STEALING most of it from Northern California; that's why most of the Northern Californians want to be split from Southern, plus, the Inland and Valley people have NOTHING in common with those in the big Coastal cities!! But the way they want to split it, I don't know if anyone will be happy; I just know that I am a Constitutional Republican, and have NOTHING in common with the Communist people in places like L.A., S.F. etc.
Interesting video so much fascinating history 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Very interesting and beautiful places. Enjoyed your video very much
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting.
Wish we saw this last Oct, luckily we did see some locations by chance. We are returning in Oct and will spend more time, well done!
IMHO,the ONLY way to drive into Death Valley N.P. is hwy 190 from Owens Valley. Be prepared for world class desert scenery along with dramatic Basin and Range topography.
Great tip. I'll be there springtime of '23!
I would give everything to go back to when those towns were young and in there prime 😭
Me too
Wow , a fine production .
Thanks !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done! Thanks for that! Rox
Great music selection actually.
I really enjoyed this video especially the Cerro Gordo part. Been through there many times, maintaining a microwave site further on up the road atop the White Mountains. The Owens Valley is still a beautiful place. It's unfortunate that the city of LA robbed it of it's water source. Should you go to the museum in Lone Pine you can view pictures of steam boats crossing the Owens Lake. Thank you for posting this video I really enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting.
That's a heck of thing -- without water, LA would be a small town itself. I love it though. Can't beat parts of LA, just wonderful. No city like it in the world, not saying it's best. But I sure know what the best *state* in the USA is, or at least was: California. Because you got LA and SF and even Lone Pine and each of these cities had people come from all over the world to visit. And we got other great stuff -- I could probably list 100 amazing things in CA without even trying that hard. Yosemite, Malibu, La Jolla, a dozen coastal towns, Hollywood, Sequoia National Park, Lake Tahoe, even proximity to Vegas and Reno... you get the picture, I am sure. Some of CA biggest problems come from our having such a big heart, when other places kick people out, our cities feel obligated to help them. If a homeless guy is caught panhandling in Vegas, I think at one time and maybe still, they buy him a bus ticket to LA.
Very Interesting and Historic videos . Thanks for sharing and doing such a Great job
My pleasure and thanks for commenting!
I watched the whole thing. interesting. too bad on the trip to Darwin, you missed the only bar and best tacos in the world that my mom and me made back in 68 69. I was 16, 17, had to fire up the generator every morning to cool off the beer for the miners. My mom made the taco meat, and I fried all of the taco shells in a cast iron skillet, using two forks. trip to town(Lone pine) to pick up supplies and beer every week. My entertainment during the week, was going out into the old cadillac, and listenting to XERB with Wolfman jack after dark only (atmospherics) Trips to Lone pine, visiting people like cindy, Theone Johnson, and Karen anderson, Ross, was my only connection to sanity. There was one girl in Darwin, Her dad talked to my dad. My mom and Dad said, stay away from her or her dad will hurt you. Hello David reese and rayetta.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, I wish I can make these videos longer, but there's only so much you can fit in one.
XERB and Wolfman Jack, blasting 50,000 watts, clear channel out of Rosarito, Mexico!
I wouldn’t mind having one of those taco’s right now
You should have more subs to reward you for your work.
Thanks for the kudos. If possible, spread around links to our videos, we would really appreciate it!
Great adventure! Thanks for sharing.
Gord
damn i missed the petroglyphs...... ANOTHER ROAD TRIP!
,me too Mark, was there last Oct and coming back this Oct. Also traveling the 191 Hwy in Utah, zeroed in on petragraphs along the way!
I'm very happy to see your videos, thank you
You're welcome and thanks for commenting.
Would you have more clips with music on your channel please? I think you make a great composition of video and music.
Of course! Just browse through our channel: th-cam.com/users/BackRoadsWest1
if youre interested in cerro gordo Ghost Town Living is the channel of the owner. theyve made alot of progress fixing up the town.
Yup, I watch Brent's stuff all the time :-)
All the 30s westerns were filmed here and Alabama Hills. Roy Rogers and Dale Evens movies. Tremmers, Star Wars lots of movies filmed here.
excellent video!
Can't wait to visit the area
8:53 what is that tune, please? I love the way they play the base as a solo there. I tried soundhound and it says "Ripples in a pool", but there are so many with that title, and it's not that tune.
Below are the music tracks I used on this. Without restoring a bunch of data, I can't tell you where it was used. All music came from AudioBlocks.com. Good luck!
The Forest 2:44
Random Thoughts 2:45
Easy Ride 2:31
I wish I was in Dixie 1:58
Chasing Dreams 2:02
Worm Place 3:00
The Entertainer 3:00
Kaleidoscope 2:48
@@BackRoadsWest1 Thanks. In your clip it would be "Random Thoughts", but the searches on google for it gives several results, however not that tune. Anyway it's a nice tune.
@@BackRoadsWest1 Thanks. That would be the "Random Thoughts", but it doesn't pop up in any searches, at least not this tune.
Thank you so very much. This video of yours is one of the best of its kind :)
Thanks for your kind words!
Some very cool photos of the Cerro Gordo hotel and "bar" before it all burned down two years ago
Thank you! It looks like Brent is doing a great job on putting new life into Cerro Gordo. Can't wait to see the finished product!
Outstanding video, thank you.
You're welcome and thank you for commenting!
Another excellent video! Thank you.
Thanks for inspiring my next trip (after the Lock-down)!
Prepare for the second lock down after this is over
@@David.lovesU Well that didn't age well.
@@JohnBrown-pq9tj There should be more pestilence in the near future since we are in the last days foe these are the labor pains the Lord spoken of.
@David.lovesU Oh don't try to double down, your prognostication was garbage. Just own it.
@@JohnBrown-pq9tj you're being mean😌 Do you not see the sinful immorality happening around the world? Pride comes before the fall. As it was in the days of Noah it will be the same in the last days.
I could only imagine life out there as a child in those days such openness all the danger but the life adventure. I hope most lives were innocent like that back then but then again people were tougher in those days.
This looks like a good route for the American Pickers TV show.
Well done! Thank you for this.
You're welcome. Thanks for commenting!
Great video thanks for sharing 👍
You're welcome, thanks for commenting.
Love these abandoned Ghost Town Videos, just came across this one, could watch this all day. And please if you know the "artist/group" name playing @ 9:00 minutes in, who is it if you know? Thanks, keep up the great Vids.
Thanks for commenting and glad you enjoyed the tour. Sorry, I don't know much about the music, other than I have a subscription to use copyright-free music from Audioblocks.com. I'm always searching for music that matches the mood of the tour and the length of time I need.
I'm amazed that LA could just buy all the natural water resources upstream and then just destroy an entire ecosystem with no consequences. US never ceases to amaze me.
That was 1902, then 1930 for the expanded aqueduct. Things (laws) have changed since then.
But, L.A. wouldn't be what it is now. No Hollywood, no aviation business. Pluses and minuses.
I just watched a great documentary on Amazon Prime called “Darwin: No services ahead”. It came out about 10 years ago but it was extremely fascinating to see what life is like living in Death Valley. I highly recommend it to anyone in this comment section.
Thanks, I just watched it. Interesting. I certainly cannot imagine living there, but seeing those people, wow. Just FYI, although the border for the National Park is maybe 5 miles from Darwin, Death Valley "proper" is actually 2 valleys away from Darwin.
BackRoadsWest1 lol interesting indeed. And thanks for that correction. I really need to get back on the road, your videos always give me inspiration. Keep up the good work.
We bumped into Darwin last Oct, it was awesome, but spent an hour driving through and not a sole was seen. A little unnerving...
Watched similar video on TH-cam, maybe the same. Fascinating, it was in weird human interest way.
Watching a movie now filmed in Lone Pine in 1959. Very interesting.
Well, if you liked that video, then watch our video covering the Lone Pine area: th-cam.com/video/UwuUuNms470/w-d-xo.html
Great video, well done!
Thanks!
Great video thank you
My pleasure! Thanks for commenting.
This is an Awesome video. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching
Very informative video!!! Thank You!!! I've learned more from this video than I have from anything else I've seen!!! The Owens Lake area must have really been something in its heyday. That is before the city of LA sucked it dry to become the crime ridden gangland and homeless encampment that it has!!!
Hearing comments like yours makes my efforts all worth it! Thank you. Yes, L.A. may have sucked that area dry and changed its climate and economy, but it turned L.A. into an economic powerhouse where so many industries (aviation, movies, etc.) now thrive. Crime is a problem with any big city and the reason why I don't live in any of them anymore!! The Owens Valley is still a beautiful place to visit.
you need to hold the picture frames for a longer time so people can really SEE the pictures more clearly.
Thanks for your feedback. I totally agree with you. But here's my dilemma. The video is 27 minutes long. Everyone out there says videos need to be around 15 minutes for most people to watch them all the way through on TH-cam (today's unfortunate attention span). I still like to make most of my videos in the 20-30 minute range. Some are 40 minutes. With that said, shall I try to squeeze in more picture and video in that time so people can see more? Or should I put in less pictures and make them display longer, so as you say, people can see them more clearly. I favor seeing more in the period of time. There's always the pause & rewind options or just watch the video again. What would you do?
Very well done.
I had relatives in the 1800s with a cattle ranch in Olancha. After LA stole all the water in the early 1900s in Owens lake, they had to sell the ranch and move away.
L.A. "stole" water from other sources than the Owens Valley. They are the water mafia! But without that, California wouldn't have Hollywood, a big aircraft industry, and the list goes on...
Do you know if property ownership/ boundaries are fairly clear cut there?
Wondering if people just squat on mine property and call it a day(?)
Wherever you go, property lines are clear cut. Mapping apps like Gaia GPS definitely point out where they are. There's also a lot of BLM land that mining claims get filed on. In my experience, I haven't run across any squatters on properties like you see in this video.
A link to the Cerro Gordo TH-cam channel would certainly be welcome.
I'm sure he'd appreciate the interest.
He's doing well, especially now appearing on TV shows. I'm happy for him and glad that he didn't mess up the site, which we were all fearing. He really appreciates the history.
Ghost town living is his TH-cam channel. Awesome channel BTW.
Love the App, will get full version for my next trip!
We just recently lost the American Hotel, the Icehouse and the small house net to the Hotel to a fire. I just ran across the channel and haven’t looked at everything yet but I’m surprised the salt tram road from Cerro Gordo to Swansea wasn’t discussed. There’s quite a bit left of the transfer station at the summit, fairly easy from the town to the transfer station in a stock 4X4. From the station to Swansea has gotten quite a bit rougher over the years. Is there a video on Darwin Falls and (for the lack of a better description) the Koi Pond?
Yes, I heard the bad news yesterday. We were in Tonopah this week and the winds were terrible. So I'm glad to hear not much more got burnt due to the winds. As for discussing other things, you can't make videos too long! This one is already long enough and I wanted to keep it to non-4WD people. But we've been to the top of the Salt Tramway - beautiful drive and view. We actually cover Darwin Falls in our Death Valley on-line guide: www.backroadswest.com/brw/death-valley/
My wife and I have been involved with Cerro Gordo for over 20 years. When Mike passed away (I believe 2009) we relieved the caretaker (Robert) about a dozen times for 7-15 days staying the Belshaw house. One Christmas week we had a 5 day run of -10 degrees to a high of about 20 degrees, very cold! I just ran across your channel really good content I’ve passed the word around. With just a few exceptions I’ve spent a lot of time in the areas you displayed. Are you still using the same 4 Runner? If so any more head problems?
Was there a couple yrs ago and so sad to hear....very cool place.
Hey BackRoadsWest1
Awesome information you have shared so well! I was going to ask you if you can recommend a Death Valley video then I saw your reply that it's online! Appreciated!
I nearly certain you also we're the professional that did the TH-cam on Utah National Parks. They were just excellent as well as this. I just Subscribed to your Channel...
Great work to help others plan their trips! Thanks,
Craig Williams Architect
And what exactly did the draining of beautiful Owens Lake do for Los Angeles? And what are we getting for having this lake bed now?
Are you looking for answers? Don't ask me!
@@BackRoadsWest1
Appreciate your straightforward response. I was just looking at the pre-draining pics and thought there might be a rationale to explain this. 💟
Love "Dixie" 14:40 reminds me of when life was simple and full before this country was hijacked.
Wild W, agreed, why do you think they are called the Alabama Hills!
Yes, there are many Civil War references in the area. Mountain peaks being named after Confederate battleships, etc.
Are there any places to eat along the route?
Yes, the food that you bring with you. In other words, the answer is no. Driving 20 miles past Darwin on 190 is Panamint Springs, which has an eatery.
@@BackRoadsWest1 Hahaha thanks. Will take a picnic.
Very cool thx
A very wealthy inventor/engineer named Statham sponsored a chess tournament that attracted the best players in the world, including. unusually for the time, USSR players, former world champs and contenders all competed in the secluded town. This was 40 years ago, ran for several years. Statham owned the Playboy Mansion before Hefner bought it.
Yea, I kind of remember hearing about that story years ago. Thanks for sharing.
I've been near there. It's kind of spooky. So quiet.
Spooky is right! There last Oct and coming back this Oct, spent an hour driving through Darwin and didn't see a sole.
Been there many times and rarely see anyone.
@@BackRoadsWest1 other than seeing Death Valley, we had no idea that the395 had so much! We love the movie Tremors.
Link doesn't work and the Virtual tours link is no longer in use.
Thanks for pointing that out. Something obviously got changed. Here's the correct link: www.backroadswest.com/blog/ghost-town-trail-near-lone-pine/
Nice video. Music?
audioblocks.com
The American Hotel in Cerro Gordo burned to the ground on June 18th. 2020.
It sure did. Hopefully the new owner will restore it accurately. Looking forward to see what he does with the property.
Links to the music??
Storyblocks.com
Keep the pictures of Cerro gordos hotel because it had burnt down sents your pictures were taken.
Oh we will, but Brent, the new owner, I'm sure has plenty of historical pictures as he shows in his videos.
How come there's no junkies,or homeless people?
Maybe because there's no free handouts to be found?
Kevin, only 2% of the country has That! This is history...they drank whiskey!
This is also the area where "Tremors" was filmed.
Tremors was filmed all over the Lone Pine area. Go the movie museum in Lone Pine for a map of filming locations. I've never been able to figure out where the town was setup. I think it was on the south side of Owens Lake near Olancha.
Been there and are going back this year, what I found out is that a replica sign for Perfection is on Cactus Flat rd. Where they removed the set for the town. Other locations are from Alabama Hills to Darwin. Small artifacts and still there.
By the way Paul, don't know if you are going to the area, but as BRW mentions the area is full of bucket lists. Darwin is a spooky place, my wife said she doesn't want to go back there, I agree.
@@samphillips4124 'Spooky" because it looks like 'a regular' little town, but there 'ain't' a soul around to be seen!
@@blaneycrabbe3390 Darwin? Hell yeah, spent an hour driving through and taking pics, then my said lets get the hell out of here! Thanks, we survived.
The whole eastern sierra runoff was stolen by Mullholand
I'd recommend reading a number of books on the subject. Mullholland didn't "steel" the water rights, the City of L.A. directed him to using his suggestions and he carried out their plan. Same with the Colorado River water rights.
@@BackRoadsWest1 I visited the area in 1985. In the early 1900s the area was thriving agriculturly. The lake is now a chemical laden playa with toxic windstorms. The water rights were obtained under handedly. Much friction and violence ensued for years until the residents moved away. LA did need the water as it was the oil capital of the US then.
@@frankjose2231 I've been visiting Owens Valley since the late 1960s. I once had to wait for a train crossing 395 near Olancha. The tracks were removed in the '80s. Keep in mind that much of its economy also centered around mining that also played out and had nothing to do with water. But there are "no trespassing" signs by order of City of L.A. all the way to Mono Lake, which is kind of rude. The book I'd recommend reading is Cadillac Desert (www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Desert-American-Disappearing-Revised/dp/0140178244), which is the de-facto standard on understanding water issues in the USA. Anyone that deals with water issues has read this book. There's also a recent book on William Mullholland that I read that is really good.
@@BackRoadsWest1 it really is a matter of the water going to LA that had no other viable source. Without it, no matter how it was obtained, LA would not have thrived.It shocked me when I saw what was left of area, but I did not know the story behind it. The water benefited 20 M people vs maybe 50K.
@@BackRoadsWest1 I live in NM and fully realize how important water is. The Colorado river cannot supply huge cities like they plan.. The Anasazi had to move their pueblos to river valleys and tributaries 800years ago or perish
Hahaha the rag time Dixie
Yup, that's what they listened to in those days.
@@BackRoadsWest1 I have never heard it played in the style of ragtime. Pretty neat though
Really sad watching this, especially Cerro Gordo. Since many of the buildings just burnt down.
Just the hotel burnt down, but nonetheless, a big loss :-( Only solace is that the hotel was somewhat of a reproduction, which means the rich dude that owns the property now will probably rebuild it.
@@BackRoadsWest1 the local (So Cal) news made it seem a bigger fire, but looking at recent pictures. I know better now.
Swansea is pronounced : SwanSEE .
I've heard it both ways.
NOW I KNOW WHERE THE REAL KEELER AND. LAKE WHOA BE GONE IS
D .A . G . BOULDER COLORADO USA.
And to think instead of having Owens Lake and all these little communities instead we have Los Angeles. California lost big time.
You'll have to remember too that, except for the farming communities, many of the towns were classic mining towns that only lasted a few years. L.A. was where all the commerce was and the so important sea port. A large city like L.A. would have never materialized in the Owens Valley.
You don't get to look at things long. Boring
No everyone wants to see a 2 hour long video. If you want to look for a longer period, go there in person!
Gee Kat, they're right, we've been there and are going back this year because of the video! I don't want a virtual tour, just interesting and unknown info. You'll love it!
@kat2873 no one asked for your negative feedback. Quit being rude and go visit. Crybaby.
Or watch it in a slower speed setting? Or hit pause? SMH.