Saline Salt Tram November 9-10, 2007

[Hedge]

Teotwaki, thank you for documenting and sharing this adventure.

 

[James86004]

Great thread!

 

[luk4mud]

Thanks for bumping a great set of pictures, Franz. Makes me want to to go back. I thought most of the really cool parts of the tram were gone, but now I know better. Maybe I'll go visit the bucket o' grease just to say I did!

 

[Linus Tremaine]

I am so proud

I am so proud to be able to claim membership in this online community. Whenever I get depressed about things that are going on it the world politically, environmentally or otherwise- I know that I can come here and find people who will fight to protect the things that I love. I feel a great bond with all of you, even though it is merely an indirect bond via the internet. Still, I know that when I am traveling these trails that great people have come before me and that is why I am able to see what still remains.


Jim,
your information is priceless and your defense for our history is a great representation of what all expo members should strive for. Thank you and everyone else for going out of your way to do the right thing for the people who follow you.

 

[Borrego60]

Very nice posting on the tram and would love to visit it some day. Pictures were great and the mountain shots of the tram most excellent.

 

[teotwaki]

I've always wanted a grease bucket. This reminds me of the concept of the "Outdoor Museum" that David Roberts talks about in his book: "In Search of the Old Ones." Nothing neuters history like removing items from the context either in the spirit of preserving them or for making them more accessible. Some things should be really hard to get to and hopefully the route not too plainly revealed even on this board. I'm also glad the spirit of this board is "Leave the stuff there."

The route is not always an obvious hiking trail but the tram towers and the cables are easy to follow. However, it is a difficult descent and involves some route finding. You have to be in fair shape to do it in a day. Folks who go to that much effort are unlikely to vandalize things that are down a steep mountainside.

 

[teotwaki]

Very nice posting on the tram and would love to visit it some day. Pictures were great and the mountain shots of the tram most excellent.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[kjp1969]

Edited. I goofed. Big time. Sorry Jim!

 

[Borrego60]

I was wondering how were the dirt roads leading to the tram,and places to offroad and camp? Maybe do an expedition there one or two days with some folks from the portal.

 

[teotwaki]

I was wondering how were the dirt roads leading to the tram,and places to offroad and camp? Maybe do an expedition there one or two days with some folks from the portal.

On my most recent trip the roads were quite good. The previous snow drifts were gone and the road was undamaged by mud. There are two sections that require 4WD. One is between Cerro Gordo and the Tram cabin. Coming from Cerro Gordo (Keeler entry) it is a loose left-turning uphill section with lots of ruts. The other is the section coming from the other side of the Tram Cabin (Swansea entry). It is a loose dirt uphill section followed by a steep and rocky uphill section.

Modest ground clearance is fine but vehicles with a wide stance will have to beware of tire sidewall damage.

As for car-camping there are a few places but it is so limited due to all of the so-called "wilderness" road closures.

Coming up from Swansea has the best areas:

After the uphill rocky section there are a number of nice sites in the trees above 6500 feet. After that you could camp by the Burgess Mine cabin but if it is windy you are fully exposed. Great views in all directions! You can also stay in the old Burgess Cabin. It is often used by hikers of the Lonesome Miner Trail. The best spot is close to the Tram Cabin on the right side of the road on a little spur that provides great views of the Sierras.

Coming up from Keeler towards Cerro Gordo:

Before C-G there is a lot of "private" desert land (mining claims) that is not that suitable. After you go through C-G on the road towards the Tram Cabin there are a few spots but none are far from the road so any vehicle activity won't be far away.


In my other planning posts on the Tram there is a link to great topo map from a Land Rover club. Search on my name as author. Keywords are "saline", "salt', "tram" and "Inyos"

 

[HiddenDuke]

Jim,

I enjoyed your trip report the first time and enjoyed it even more the second. Thanks for the pictures of a place I will most probably never get to see.

 

[kjp1969]

Edited. Boy did I goof that one up. Sorry Jim!

 

[Borrego60]

Thanks loads for the info, I will have to get up there this year I hope. Loved the write up and the pictures. I will post something in the future if maybe a group can get together and do this trip.

 

[Thorminator]

Got pointed here from the treework forum, this place is great. This expedition thread was fascinating reading, truly fantastic piece.
I live in Wales, and close by there are some very old slate mines that used a 'Blondin' system, very similar to the salt tramway. This piece has inspired me to go and photograph them while they still stand.

 

[teotwaki]

Got pointed here from the treework forum, this place is great. This expedition thread was fascinating reading, truly fantastic piece.
I live in Wales, and close by there are some very old slate mines that used a 'Blondin' system, very similar to the salt tramway. This piece has inspired me to go and photograph them while they still stand.

Welcome aboard! I've seen some of the other forum's postings and ascending 300+ foot trees is quite inspirational.

Please get those photos of the Blondin system and post them up in a new thread with some history and local information. I'd love to see it!