Saline Salt Tram November 9-10, 2007

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Very nice....Jim!

Thanks for sharing!

I always enjoy the History side of trips.

You Always do the Kewlest Stuff!:wings:



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[Green Ganesha]

Jim, once again, your narrative, photographs, and research are phenomenal! The tramway, an engineering marvel, is the centerpiece of an area filled with fascinating relics: the original road through San Lucas Canyon, the tunnels below Cerro Gordo, the ruins of Beveridge, and all the lesser tramways cross-hatching the Inyos. Throw in the Saline Valley hot springs, and it's one of my favorite offroading/camping destinations.

Just curious: do you already have Mary DeDecker's booklet, "White Smith's Fabulous Salt Tram"?

 

[teotwaki]

Jim, once again, your narrative, photographs, and research are phenomenal! The tramway, an engineering marvel, is the centerpiece of an area filled with fascinating relics: the original road through San Lucas Canyon, the tunnels below Cerro Gordo, the ruins of Beveridge, and all the lesser tramways cross-hatching the Inyos. Throw in the Saline Valley hot springs, and it's one of my favorite offroading/camping destinations.

Just curious: do you already have Mary DeDecker's booklet, "White Smith's Fabulous Salt Tram"?

I have a number of old Mitchell and Wheelock books but not Mary's. It has been out of print for a long time too. Apparently Mary scooped some other person and bought the photos and negatives that are used in the book.

Thanks to everyone for all of the complements. I have a few more pictures to upload and I think Rich has a few too. Mike took lots of nice pictures of me; sort of like having a backpacking paparazzi!

 

[Green Ganesha]

I have a number of old Mitchell and Wheelock books but not Mary's. It has been out of print for a long time too. Apparently Mary scooped some other person and bought the photos and negatives that are used in the book.

Jim, I have a copy of Mary's book. ("Book" is a stretch, since it's only 24 pages long.) If you'd like, I could scan it for you.

 

[Green Ganesha]

Here's another resource, which perhaps you've already seen: an August 1959 article from Desert Magazine.

 

[teotwaki]

Here's another resource, which perhaps you've already seen: an August 1959 article from Desert Magazine.

That is priceless! I loved the comment about the supply of straw for the mules still being there.

 

[bayswim]

What a Trip

We were just in Saline this past long weekend and while leaving Monday, we looked up at the tramway and said that our next trip would include Cerro Gordo, etc.

You just sealed the deal. Thanks for posting....very enjoyable to read.

 

[teotwaki]

We were just in Saline this past long weekend and while leaving Monday, we looked up at the tramway and said that our next trip would include Cerro Gordo, etc.

You just sealed the deal. Thanks for posting....very enjoyable to read.

Great! That is exactly what this forum is for. When you plan your trip you can hit me up with questions.

 

[teotwaki]

More Tram History

This has filled in a gap in my knowledge and corrected a misunderstanding. It looks as if the entire tramway was electrically powered from an Edison plant at Cottonwood. Gasoline engines were used in the Saline Valley for driving machinery and often broke down. Below is the story of the men who extended the tram's electric lines down into the the valley

from Explore Historic California
http://www.explorehistoricalif.com/salt_tram.html

The Electric Crew Comes to Saline Valley

by Cecile Page Vargo

In the 1920’s two men, Charley J. Southey and William A. Kemp, worked on electrical lines that were needed for the salt operations. In July, they ran across a prospector in Big Pine who advised them how to survive working in the hot summer sun. Work was impossible after 2 p.m. when temperatures peaked, so they were told to head for Saline Valley early in the morning, around 6 a.m, and not quit for lunch, just grab a donut or sandwich that could be eaten quickly while continuing to work. Charley and Bill heeded the old prospectors advice and worked their eight hour shifts straight through until 2 p.m.

The living area at Saline Valley in those days, was supplied with a six inch pipe that brought water in from Hunter Springs to flow into a big bathtub. The men would wet their shirts before they put them on, then wet blankets and hang from the ridgepole of their tent to keep cool.

On the tram was a refrigerator car that was kept cool with ice. Fresh meat and vegetables came in twice a week. Dried beans, cereals, and other staples kept the men satiated in between time. The cook was noted as being very good, and the men talked of wonderful meals including such innovative dishes as cantaloupe pie. The living quarters were near fresh water from Hunter Creek, so water was never a problem.

When Charley and Bill first arrived to work, salt was not being transported out of Saline. Machinery for the salt operations had broken down and was being worked on, but the tram itself was running. Electricity was being put in the valley to replace the gasoline engines that strained to work in the summer heat. Valves were known to burn and gears would run dry. Bill Kemp remembered that much of the equipment the salt company used had rawhide gears that failed often and needed to be replaced.

Charley and Bill went to Saline Valley with a mule team by way of Waucoba, and came out on the tram. Once the tram started running, they would ride from the valley up to Station 7, the first station above Saline Valley. From there they had to walk back down to their work place. The equipment they used for their work was hauled on the tram also, and snaked backed down by hand to where they could use it. The sides of the mountain were way to steep for the teams of mules.

One trip into Saline by truck was nothing but trouble. At Bunker Hill Mine, near Willow springs, all the rubber was lost off of the wheels and chains were broken. They were stranded until word was gotten out to a man named Laney who came in and helped them unload. Everything was then teamed down into the Valley. At Willow Springs, the men remembered grapes growing there, and enjoyed them by the handful before heading down into Saline Valley . Everyone walked into Saline except William Kemp and the mule skinner. William played the banjo and sang, as they traveled by the light of the moon at night when temperatures were more comfortable.

The gondolas, or buckets of the salt tram were comfortable for the men to ride in. Two men at a time could sit inside, facing each other. The bottom of the buckets had drain holes on them and a line of salt could be seen on the ground beneath the tram line. when Charley and Bill rode the tram in 1920 there were no lids on the buckets, but in it’s early days there were.

The ride on the tram must have been daunting. As they traversed over Daisy Canyon, the men could see cars lying on the canyon floor. They would look up ahead and wonder when the next bucket would break loose, and come back to ********** them. One afternoon, after a hard day’s work, Charley and Bill were coming back down to Saline Valley, and chose to hike up to Station 7 and ride a bucket back to camp. Charley was in the bucket below Bill Kemp when the power went off. Time lingered forever. Another man, by the name of Bill Southey, and others hadn’t loaded up yet, so took hand lines and threw them over the cable and walked down to the stranded bucket. Other hand lines were added on as they needed them. Bill Kemp was about 125 feet above the ground when they arrived at the bucket, and he came down hand-over hand on the double line. Charley was about 300 feet off the ground by the time they got to him. His hands slipped and he burned his hands and legs, but somehow made it down. The tram remained out of operation until sometime that night, so the men were glad they were not left hanging there the entire time.

 

[teotwaki]

Tram Electric Power Lines

A lot of the electrical infrastructure has been damaged by time, vandalized or stolen. Many miles of galvanized steel line are gone, electric motors and transformers scrapped for copper windings and brown ceramic pole insulators shot into pieces.

A few of the remote areas have survived...

Large power pole where the lines transition from heavy gauge cable to single strands of galvanized steel. There should be three downhill strands


close up of insulator on downhill side


broken insulator from missing third downhill strand


power transformers, oil cooled


electrical breakers, adjustable for break point

 

[teotwaki]

Catch all photos

A number of Mike's photos make some good points as to terrain.


Trying to rediscover the old mule trail


Steep scree covered slopes that we came down


Posing.....


Where the heck am I??? I need my GPS!


After climbing down the waterfall we had to climb back up to get to the control station

 

[teotwaki]

and a few more

Historical photo from the Colorado School of Mines of barrels near the control station


the view towards Saline valley and a lonely barrel


side view of same barrel


Just look for the bright orange backpack


Made it back by sunset!



Thanks for all of the interest and comments! I know Rich has a number of photos to share but has been busy and will soon post those.

 

[rmarz]

By rmar

It is tough to compare my quickly made snap shots with your pics! Great Job Jim with both the pics and narratives! Here is one of mine from when we parted ways (okay when I bailed) on the east side.........

 

[trailerman]

I'm late to this thread, awesome pics guys. When we went through there in October I was impressed with how difficult the construction of this enterprise must have been. Your research paid off Jim, and well done to all of you.

 

[RHINO]

awesome trip and great pics !!!