Hiking To The "Roughest" Ghost Town In Death Valley
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- čas přidán 15. 04. 2022
- This week I take the long trek into an abandoned Death Valley mining town that was discovered by bandits hiding out - Panamint City. It would grow to become known as 'the next Cerro Gordo' as it became a boomtown. Some of the same characters that helped build Cerro Gordo made their way over to Panamint City. The hike was beautiful and went through waterfalls, washes, and more. I hope you enjoy!
More photos: / brentwunderwood
Cerro Gordo t-shirts, hoodies, and more: store.cerrogordomines.com/
SEND BOOKS FOR THE MUSEUM TO GET A SURPRISE BACK: PO Box 490. Lone Pine, CA 93545
#GhostTownLiving #HikingAdventure #PanamintCity #DeathValley #AbandonedMiningTown #Boomtown #HistoricSite #GhostTownExploration #OutdoorAdventure #Waterfalls #ScenicHike #CerroGordoConnections #WildernessWanderlust #ExploringHistory #NatureTrail #CerroGordoAdventures
Thanks everyone for checking out the video!! I hope you watch till the very end for a special announcement/opportunity. If you're interested in participating, the mailing address is PO Box 490. Lone Pine, CA 93545. See you all soon! Have an amazing week!
❤
Very cool, love watching these videos, I wish structures in the east stood as long, I come from a coal mining family, it would be cool to see some of the old coal mining structures from years ago but I'm afraid they're all about destroyed.
I think it would be cool if you met up with Cody’sLab
you make my heart happy
Thanks Brent. I've been watching your show since it started and have enjoyed watching you renovate everything and the work you did in the mine. LOVING your goats and kitties LOL
I explored that region back in 67-69 when I was just a high school kid interested in mining camps and ghost towns. Now I'm going to turn 70 in July and so glad to have experienced the region of Death Valley and the Panamint Range. For those who love solitude, history and just that haunted, lonely feeling you get when exploring old haunts of the old west, go for it, you will be richly rewarded.
Awsome.. ❤️
under rated comment!!!
I believe there was a drivable Road to that area up until sometime in the late 1970s mid 1980s. Then it was washed out that's when they started doing the Jeeps with the winches, then that was discouraged when it fell into further disappear.
Awesome Sir!
Must be very special for you to follow this channel and see that some of it get rebuilt ❤️❤️🙏🙏
In the early 1980s, my father and I drove our jeep up to Panamint City to visit one of the miners my dad knew. The road was well-maintained by both the mining company and Inyo County and could easily be traversed by passenger car. Active underground hardrock silver mining was going on in Panamint City at that time but the operation looked fairly small -- maybe a dozen or less men. We spent several hours at the mine touring the operation and later ate lunch (miner's stew) prepared by one of the miners at the Hilton cabin.
In the 1983, several storms and cloudbursts hit the Panamint Mountain Range hard resulting in several flash floods that washed out the road near the mouth of the canyon where the small waterfalls are making the road impassable. By that time, the spot price of Silver had receded significantly from previous highs of $50 an ounce ($350 today when adjusted for inflation) making the mine less profitable resulting in its closure.
Starting in the 1990s, Panamint City was "rediscovered" by many off road enthusiasts who would winch their jeeps up the several waterfalls and then drive up Surprise Canyon into Panamint City. These off-road adventures came to a halt when the BLM closed Surprise Canyon to all motor vehicle traffic in May 2001.
Today, Panamint City is one of the quintessential hikes in the Death Valley area. For most, it is too long and strenuous for a day hike -- 5 miles distance and 3700 feet elevation gain. But it's a perfect back packing destination and is best explored in the Spring and Fall when temperatures are moderate. From Ballarat drive north on Indian Ranch Road for 2 miles and then turn right onto Surprise Canyon Road which bears north east. As you ascend from the valley floor up the bajada towards Surprise Canyon 4 miles away, the road becomes becomes rough and a high clearance vehicle or 4x4 might be necessary. Park at the trailhead which is Chris Wicht Camp (an area that was once populated by a handful of residents until it burned down under reportedly suspicious circumstances in 2006) and prepare to get your feet wet as you carefully ascend the slippery waterfalls. From there it's a gradual but somewhat steep hike to Panamint City with intermittent areas of shade, open canyon and bushwacking (especially in the lower half of the hike). Once you reach Panamint City, potable drinking water (best to treat it just in case) is available year around at a faucet by the garage (red iron structure ) shown at 16:11. "The Hilton" Cabin is ok to stay in but "The Castle" in Sourdough Canyon (about 1500 feet NW of the Hilton Cabin) is the most comfortable accommodation. Both cabins have wood burning stoves for those chilly nights. You'll find other structures nearby that are suitable for shelter, but not nearly as well appointed.
From Panamint City, one can explore what remains of the old 20 stamp mill with its tall square red brick smoke stack that's still standing like a sentinel, the other cabins and structures, the mining equipment, the mine itself, the tram way and the many old roads that lead to numerous mines up canyon and on the northern and southern slopes of Surprise Canyon. After exploring what the canyon has to offer, return to your camp/cabin for a evening of solitude and quiet that's only occasionally interrupted by braying sounds of the wild burros that roam the surrounding hillsides.
If you do decide to go, I promise you won't regret visiting this hidden gem in the Southwestern desert.
Edit: I forgot to mention that a small part of the 1967/1968 biker movie "The Glory Stompers" starring Dennis Hopper and Casey Kasem seen here: czcams.com/video/in26d7UFILk/video.html from 2:05:41 to 2:08:40 was filmed in Panamint City.
Did you guys take any pictures of your trips there in the '80s?
That's incredibly cool! It sounds like you've hiked it since the first visit. Have you been there since the 1980s?
been there! hike is not too steep. be careful to trailhead. need high clearance not a honda like my friend drove and wrecked. also the old man that lived at the trailhead use to shoot at people. death valley rangers warned people. usfs moved him. we brought him beer and cookies and he was friendly. 😃
great story and info mate cheers - on my list (and ignore the Trolls who do and know little of interest)
ok folks don’t believe me. i met the guy living in the cabin at the trailhead. have him cookies and beer said thank you for letting park here. then i met two hikers up the trail that said he shot at them. they were scared of him lol. death valley rangers told us to be careful too. just be kind and people will answer back in kindness.
The Panamint mountains (in Death Valley) is an amazing place to camp. Fields of wild flowers, little pools of water surrounded by trees to bathe in, the bats covering the sky (and disappearing) for a precise time about 5 pm every night, packs of wild burros, spectacular view of the stars.....
Very cool. Thanks for taking me on your hike. Now when you hear someone complain their life is tough, take them here.
My guy is just out here livin his best life, Buying old ghost towns and saving Great history. Love it man. Keep it up!!!
@@the300poundleprechaun9 he's stated in multiple videos that he doesn't
Frfr
@@GratefulOverlander thanks for the meaningful contribution
What you have a guy of your own?
@@Mike-pn8ln he doesn’t fully own the ghost town cero gordo?
Hi Brent I'm 97 yrs old woman who's lived all my life in Detroit when you commented on crumbling city's and towns I thought to myself I've seen Detroit in its hay day and watching it still slowly crumble business's and people leave..what's left isn't as beautiful as where you are ..but it's peaceful
Love watching your videos.. thanks ♥️
sad but true, time to rebuild back stronger, much love from lansing michigan
@M7*11
People like you inspire me. I can only imagine how much change you've seen in your life
Yeah that's really too bad things are crumbling away there. I wish it could be restored with new great ideas that would last Hundreds of years and restore life for the people working there. While still remembering the past and the historical memories of what once was.
I've lived in the Detroit Metro area my whole life, I would love to hear your memories of what the city used to be like. It's so hard for me to imagine it from what it's like today.
Because of this video, the part at the end, I finally looked at a book my grandfather owned to see what it was about. It’s just been sitting with my other old books collecting dust. He died the year after I was born, so I don’t remember meeting him, and I didn’t hear a lot about him growing up except that he was a lifetime gold miner here in Oregon. Well, the book…is about mines. Of course!
Now I have to read it, and risk being struck by the same gold bug that got my granddad. 😆 After that, it’s yours.
What’s the book’s title? I would love to read it!
Get struck by that gold bug, SheWho! And you will be renamed: SheWho DigsGold.
That is a hell of a hike, always has been since our first trek up there with the Boy Scout in 2010. I've done it 7 or 8 times now. With all of those trips except the last one with Mr Rob Tyler and his son. Seeing the Castle still in great shape is excellent as its come a long way from when we found it in 2011. Now we didn't discover it by any means but Mr Tyler definitely made it a point to make the place a haven for tired hikers and really clean the place up. So many people have put a lot of time and love into that place and it's great to see. Reading the comments with the outpouring of support for Rob and his son Brett was enough to bring a tear to my eye as I thought about the years and the miles hiking that trail with those guys, and how I miss it. I know Rob still has plans to go back up there sometime and I do as well leading a new generation of scouts there sometime in the next few months as Mr Tyler did for me. So thank you for the great video and telling a cool story of this great place.
An incredible story, Rob is one of a kind
Keep it alive.
Super cool. I would imagine every scout that goes there has some core memories from it. Very cool.
Man, that Tyler family story is hesrt breaking. Hope Rob is doing ok. The world is all too cruel.
should bring rob over to brents place
Just a dad trying to stay close to his son. Very tough.
So rough
I wanted to cry
Amazing
Thank You Rob Tyler
and RiP to Your Son, Sir. 🪦🙏
Heart
Back in the late 1950's my dad once took us up to Panamint City, and believe or not, as an eight year old kid, I thought the old dirt road was too bad to drive on. We managed to get most of the way. That Canyon though, I don't remember it being that gouged out since we drove up it. But then, I imagine, the flash floods would have decimated the road since the canyon would have funneled the water and created a great force to carve it. Thank you, Brent, this video brought back good childhood memories. As my late father used to say, "In the end, Mother Nature, will always win."
That old cabin called "the Castle" was absolutely great to see! Shows how strong the bond can be between a father and his son, doesn't it? Fantastic video, Brent! Thank you for the time and effort you put into them. Stay safe.
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Yeah that connection is amazing!
So glad to know you made it up there and have been able to see this video! What Brent is doing with Cerro Gordo and this page is so awesome. I am so sure now that there are so many more stories like this that are never heard of. So glad you had and shared your experience here!
do you have pictures from your trips with your dad?
I live in a super tiny gold mining town in Nevada. A lot of the scenery in this video and most if not all of these videos really looks very similar to the view I have nowadays. I came from Washington so it was quite a shock to move from the greenery of Washington State and a decent sized city to the middle of nowhere in a desert in Nevada. It took me around a year to really settle in and not feel so far away from home and actually feel like where I live now is home. It's extremely beautiful and peaceful. I love where I'm at now and no longer miss the state of my birth. The middle of nowhere Nevada is now home.
Time to start a CZcams channel 👏
Apparently still an M's fan!
@@rootbox for life my friend. Through good and bad, I'm a hometown fan!!!
@@valkenburgert that's an excellent Idea!!!!
@@FatherFirst Sweet! Just be genuine, be yourself, show whatever you want to share and I’ll for one would definitely be interested! I’m a 3D animator, hit me up if I can help with intro’s or whatever. For free, might help kickstart things.
I never would have found your videos if it wasn’t for Matt from off the ranch. I am now obsessed with watching all of your content. I have nothing but time recovering from cancer.
How to Brent:
1. Wave and say, “Hello there!”
2. Slap chest and say, “My name is Brent.”
3. Say that you have been living at a ghost town for ‘n’ months or ‘n’ years.
4. Drone shot
5. Something about how living in a Ghost town is good for you.
6. Hotel
7. Jeans
8. Must find a new way into union mine
😊😊😊
I love how visitors are taking care of the structures left and leaving history and newspapers. It's so awesome. 🥰
I’m always nervous that people will vandalize places like this. Luckily most people that would do that are too lazy to hike back there and the people that will hike back there will do stuff like this instead.
@@derekrippee3468 I totally agree. Utah is a good example of things being ruined by people. Like graffiti or they just trash everything. It's really sad, and it really kills the mood of adventure and exploring.
@@derekrippee3468 The NPS had a crew up there a couple months ago cleaning up spray painted graffiti. It's hard to understand the motives of some people.
Wait til the influencers are done with it.
@@derekrippee3468 that’s what I’m thinking. This video makes me want to hike it and my toxic trait is wanting to tidy everything up for the next person to come to a nice cozy place 😂
You have done awesome becoming an "extroverted Introvert" in your life (me too.) Great videos, look forward to more!
That walk up the creek at 10:25 is absolutely magical. Like going through a hidden tunnel that ends up in a valley of the forgotten.
The waterfalls and greenery made your hike look like you were entering a different world let alone town! Its sad that not much remains as it must have taken so much effort to get everything there. However the way mother nature claims the land back just goes to show how important it is to preserve places such as Cerro Gordo. Thank you for taking us all along. Hope you and the animals are enjoying warmer weather!
❤!
I met Brent in Ballarat in the back of the General Store talking with some of the locals. Super nice guy and invited us to go see his ghost town. These were some amazing places in and near Death Valley.
I am now 70 and I stayed in Panamint in the later 70's. This brought back wonderful memories. Even a spiritual hipply lady who guided people in peyote spiritual journeys. An a very old man who loved there at the creek. Thank so much to nostalgia. Steven Sacks Kumamoto Japan.
oh my, I love how you went to ballarat. i used to go to the ballarat in australia so much. my grandparents owned a farm there. and my family came to australia due to the gold rush in ballarat! love it
Good afternoon Brent, I'm actually from the Australian town of Ballarat. The town of Ballarat and the surrounding areas are huge with mining history. Predominantly gold mining. My son and I watch every one of your videos together, and look forward to each and every one. Keep up the great work.
Kind regards Geoff and Kaleb. #aussiefans
I'm Perth and couldn't figure out what city he was talking about because he butchered the pronunciation
Yo!! Im from Ballarat too!! Surley we know of eachother lol. How cool!! .. Also, love how Brent pronounces California's "Ball-Rat" haha
@@ceejayblacks1834 Hey mate, my name is Geoff. I'm actually living in Buninyong at the moment
Hey Brent! I'm also from Australia. We pronounce Ballarat as "Baallaaraat"
Sovereign hill is the tits. Brent would love it. And maybe the story of the Stockade rebellion aswell.
I've had 3 hip replacements. Yes 3. So my days of hiking and exploring are over. Your adventures remind me of some of the beauty of life. I thank you.
Geta 4 wheeler , mabe
Jeep. Atv. Side by side. All great options to scratch that itch.
Brent: you're one of the most amazing people I've ever "met" on the interwebz. You're living the dream that so many of us had as kids, and I'm so happy to be a part of it all, however tangential that part may be. Keep 'em coming, mon ami, and please know that for every hike, mine exploration or simple walks around Cerro Gordo, we, your invisible friends, walk with you!
This video left a lump in my throat. Just seeing the wood on the cabins. No wood can look like that unless it's 100 years old.
Rob's note was special (I was waiting for you to read it to us). Thanks Brent.
Brent thanks for making this video !! . The last time I was in Panamint city was in 1992 during CA4WDC Panamint Valley days with my Jeep . Driving up those 7 waterfalls , actually winching up them wasn't fun . That yellow colored mining equipment you found in the bottom of the canyon in the wash was used as a wincing anchor point at the top of the falls
I remember seeing that old pickup but it's sad to see how bad the cabins in Panamint city have become . Also that metal building with the newer mining equipment was in much better condition than it is now . There used to be a Ford 2.5 ton dump truck , grader and bulldozer there also
And yes that 80' tall chimney is awesome to see and it still looks good some 30 yrs later . Again thanks the trip back down memory lane , it was an awesome video you made
Wow! I can’t imagine Jeep’s going up that!!! Crazy!!
This was a magical trek. At time stamp 10:30 - 10:45 it looks like you were entering an enchanted forest, and fairytale creatures would appear along the way. 😍 The hike along the streams and waterfalls was stunning. The smokestack is magnificent and the signs of it starting to crumble, even though it is to be expected, the thought of it eventually collapsing, makes me sad. And to Mr. Tyler, who rebuilt the "castle", I am glad he was able to spend time building it with his son, Brett. I was able to pause the video in spots and read portions of the entries. Brings added meaning to this trek, as I see images of faces long gone...Lola, Mr, Reddy, Remy Nadu, the picture of seldom seen Slim, and his final resting place... show the people that lived in these places, and left their mark. Seeing the image of the 20 mule teams freight company, and then seeing the wild mules, walking around, living in the ruins of Ballarat, blew my mind. I usually rewatch, soaking in every bit of the history. Thank you so much for taking us to Ballarat and Panamint City. ❤️ Can't wait for your next video! Until then, take care, Brent. Happy Easter!
Like rattlesnakes.
That particular part of the hike is actually called "Limekiln Springs"...
Thank you for taking us along. For health reasons I can’t get around like you can, but feel like I can still explore through your eyes.
Thank you for taking us on this tour. We live in Northwest Nevada and love exploring ghost towns. Unfortunately, we can't make this kind of trek. We are both in our 60's and my husband had surgery for a broken back. But we love to see your videos. Thanks again!
I am an Aussie…took me a while to understand the town that Brent was saying was named after an Australian town. We pronounce it BAL-AGH-RAT not bawl-agh-rat.
Another great update, thank you Brent.
I was looking for this comment 😆
I was about to pronounce Ballarat correctly too 🤭
RIGHT I was like Australian city?!?! Rewind…. hhhuuuhhh
Exactly!
Yeah I couldn't understand what he was saying for a bit there... Ball-ough-raht.. Finally clicked he meant Bal arr Rat!
Its amazing how long things can last when not bothered or destroyed by humans.
But also sometimes it's at the moment buildings are not maintained anymore that they fall apart
Brent, thanks for the trip up the hill to see the old cabins. I never saw them in 1963 when I drove my new Chevy Corvair up to P.C. Some where I have a picture of my car parked at the base of that smokestack.. The road then was OK for little cars. In 1972 a flood took out that road, but it was still OK for jeeps. Then in 1984 a massive flood took out everything. Now the only way to get there is hike! All that machinery must have been taken up before '72. Lots of memories! ! Thanks again.....
These videos have me feeling like a kid again. When we used to explore abandoned places, walk the train tracks, wondering what places looked like before we were born. I love this channel. I would still be doing this stuff but I have a lot of health and heart issues. So these videos help scratch the itch for adventure into histories.
Easily one of the most fascinating channels on CZcams! Such incredible history and the views are just breathtaking! Thank you Brent!
That hike was amazing. Wow.
A nod to hundreds of common folks who made this town possible. Yeah you need the folks with the money to buy the materials, but it's the common folks that made life possible here. The ones that built the road and the buildings. Hats off to the working people.
Thank You for sharing these videos of these Beautiful abandoned places, I must say Thank You Panamint has really touched My heart .And Thank You Tyler for making that cabin so Special,definitely would Love to visit Panamint cabin some day💕
Hey Brent...would be good to know something about the wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles etc.) that surround you in this magical place. Keep up the good work. All best from the UK.
Not a lot of animals in Death valley, hence the name Death Valley(from a local) There are animals there just not a lot so hard to find.
Every single video Brent makes is absolutely amazing. Full of history, natural beauty and amazing effort. There aren't many channels driven by this kind of passion and it really does make a difference.
Totally agree!
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Good evening from the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Thank you VERY much for sharing this experience with us!! Like you, we have tons of mining history in our area. It all is so fascinating. I look forward to exploring the CA mining history some day!
I love seeing your videos. My husband and I love visiting old gold mines and ghost towns and learning about their history. You do a great job of bringing their history to light.
Hi Bret love your videos. The town in Australia is called Bal-la-rat Keep up the very informative videos Cheers from Daryle from Western Australia
As always, love your videos BUT I just wanted to let you know and I believe I'm not the only one, you don't only have to post videos about Cerro Gordo history, mines, or other ghost towns. You living in Cerro Gordo has so much people would be interested in as well. For me living in the boonies near Lake Mead/Grand Canyon West, there's a lot of having to do things on a whim, being creative, using old materials, etc. You have animals that definitely are a part of Cerro Gordo, as well as you. You living there and how your daily life and things you have to do ARE interesting (taking care of the animals, what do you do with them (just leave them in the pen, or take them out sometimes?), your garden beds. What ever happened with those? How did they turn out? What challenges did you have with them?
I'm not saying your videos aren't great. They are and I'm a big fan. I only say this because there was that lull for a while, where you weren't posting much. Maybe it was just burnout. Maybe you didn't feel you had anything to share. But your everyday life, the challenges you face, how you attempt to overcome them, how your plan turned out if it worked or didn't work are all something I know I'd personally love to also see in your videos.
I watch a lot of off-grid type of stuff and DIY videos as well and, for instance, where you live, I would imagine using an outhouse in the winter has to suck. But there's ways people off-grid have made bathrooms using a 5 gallon bucket with shavings at the bottom, then covering with more wood shavings and it supposedly doesn't smell. I actually had to do this myself last summer when it was 102-104 degrees in July and a microburst took out 25 power poles, leaving us with no electricity. No electricity, no way to pump my well or well pump from my tank to my house. So water was a huge issue because you need it to drink, to bathe, to cook, as well as flush toilets. So that came in real handy. A toilet seat fit right on it perfectly. Some of these off - grid people build a whole setup around that bucket where it's nice. See Off Grid with Doug and Stacey and their toilet videos, lol. Other good channels are Girl in the Woods and her husband's channel Bushradical and videos from 9252lifeoffgrid (until the past month when they went back on grid). Each of those channels shows the challenges and difficulties they face and how they work to overcome them.
Other things could be solar ovens if power were out, or rocket stoves for cooking outside for the same reason. I myself took old refrigerators people threw out in the desert and painted them, drillled holes in the bottom and made them as raised garden beds and they work great because they're insulated, which is a good thing in hot, dry zones. Again, the DIY things are just endless to make it work here for me and you probably most definitely have that going on as well. It's still a part of Cerro Gordo -- your life living in the middle of nowhere, far away from everything Cerro Gordo.
Anyway, I hope u get that we all love your videos and EVERYTHING you have to deal with there,where it's not easy to just go to the store to buy something, but rather have to DIY, improvise, and make things work. :)
I agree with you, I would love to see more of the day to day life in Cerro Gordo😊👍
I definitely have to agree with you too! That area in general is so fascinating, both for history as well as geology, climate, and culture, plus just the challenges of daily living, for how remote it is, the harshness of the environment, as well as altitude all impact life there.
I'm a bit more interested in the exploring and history, both near and far, so this video really scratched that itch... but the homesteading stuff is very interesting also.
Wouldn't mind another "day in the life" type infrastructure video.
And I would love to see the existing buildings there. But, why not just make a suggestion instead of writing a soliloquy?
@@traceytrotter9934 LOL. You obviously read it, right? If it bothers you, you could've always scrolled past it. Yeah, I guess I was a bit long winded, but so what? How did that hurt you or anyone else, huh?
My father and my uncle at ages from 14 and 17 grew up in the bush. 8 kids, mother died and father worked away and could only make it back occasionally. (He walked all night to be home for Christmas one year). My Father and my Uncle lived off the land and with help from the native population. They were like billy goats when I had the privilege to climb with them when I was younger. Also a sense of direction that I would trust as much as a compass or GPS.
This is the biggest gift ever, taking us with you on these incredible adventures, places some of us wouldn't even know existed! I continue to be fascinated and I can't wait to see the Death Valley in person. Thank you 😃
THIS is amazing, YOU are just super amazing. Please never stop, love from Amsterdam.
This is awesome! I hiked up to Panamint last month with my 14 year old son because I was inspired by your videos of Cerro Gordo! The hike was TOUGH! Took us about ten hours going up but on 4 hours back down. We camped under the old smoke stack and hiked up to the Wyoming mine! Thanks for visiting Panamint its awesome to feel connected to your journeys, someday soon we will be coming to visit Cerro Gordo! Let me know if you need HVAC 😉
Pls send him an email with yr info.
Thx.
Thanks for the video! I had the privilege of meeting Seldom Seen In 1968 just before he died. He had a nasty case of skin cancer but was amiable and it was a pleasurable experience. The road to Panamint City was good then.
As an Australian I feel it's my duty to correct your pronunciation of Ballarat. (Bell-a-rat) or (Bal -uh-rat). Doesn't make sense but neither do Australians. 😃 Love the videos and the explorations.
I was Gunna make this exact comment, scrolled for a lol bit and found another Aussie all over it 👌
Looks like I've been beaten to it by another fellow Aussie
Ha, I was going to chime in too!!
hahaha love how us Aussies always look for someone else's correction before we add one, good work!
It hurt every time I heard it
Your little hikes back into history is so very cool. You tell the stories so well too. Thank you
Great content. Always enjoy your adventures
You should do a story time of any creepy encounters you’ve had in the mines
Brett I really appreciate your videos as they exude the love and joy you find in discovering and revisiting the amazing brave men that did one of the hardest jobs in the world. My dad spent most of his life as a miner. At age 14 he went to work underground in the coal mines of Cadomin Alberta to help support his family. He mined gold underground in Yellowknife Northwest Territories, copper in Brittania Beach BC and ultimately finished his career above-ground in an open pit mine in Arizona. He was the hardest working man I've ever known and took pride in every job he ever did. He also never threw anything out and found amazing ways to save and repurpose. We spent years talking about mining and we shared day trips exploring many of the abandoned mines in Arizona. He spoke with pride and sometimes sadness when he reminisced of his life as a miner. He passed away a few years ago from lung cancer but ever time I see one of your videos it reminds me of the man I admired and remember so fondly.
Britannia has an amazing mining museum, 100% worth checking out!
@@chrishartley7493 yes it is. We went there a decade or so ago when visiting relatives in B.C. I was born in Squamish and lived in Britannia Beach till I was 7. It was great to see the town still standing and the mining history being honored and preserved so well.
Bro, that is absolutely beautiful! I used to live in that area(trona) with my wife and three young children, all girls. I've had several of those grueling hikes after riding up there on dirt bikes ATVs etc but the cinematography that you offered is outstanding because we were all exhausted exploring those places. If you love dirt biking ATV and four wheeling I suggest anywhere just outside of death valley.... In the winter.
The name the castle, I would say perfect fit for that place. And still looks very livable. I will say thank you rob as well. And my condolences on losing your son. The man did a great job of saving a lot of historical valued items as well as his history. Again thanks for this video this is awesome. Like I said before I would love to live up there. I like Solitude and privacy. Even at my age is 65. I can't think of a better place to spend the last years of my life then right there at the castle.
Thank you for sharing this adventure! Stories like that of the father and son bring tears to my eyes, along with motivation and inspiration.
Isn't it strange that within a couple of decades of each other, two towns, both called Ballarat, both based on gold mining, both notorious for their 'night-life'...existed in California and in Australia.
There are several mining towns in California named after other locations, (i.e., Randsburg, Johannesburg) because the miners came from those places.
There's an episode of the "Gold Fever" show with Tom Massey, where he and one of his daughters hike up there. But he had also been there when he was younger, and remembered the days of being able to drive up the road.
During the show, he runs into a old guy in Ballarat, who explains that he was working on buildings in Panamint City when the 'final' flood happened in 1983. The guy said an investor was having the facilities renovated and equipment updated, and planned to reopen workings there. The crews finished work on a payday Friday, and left to go whoop it up in the nearest town. He said when they were leaving, they could se the storm clouds on the way. The following week, the road was gone. He talks about the thousands of dollars of equipment which had to be abandoned.
From what I remember, the canyon was still accessible to vehicles for people willing to winch themselves up until 2001, when the government closed it to OHV's.
What are OHV's ? and why the government interferance ?
@@davidnikulka1437 off highway vehicle, they are off road vehicles and have to be registered to drive in public lands
@@davidnikulka1437 Off Highway Vehicles (Quads, dirt bikes, anything which isn't legal to drive on the roads, and any road legal vehicle being operated off road).
When the 'final' flood hit, it basically washed out so much of the road, it would take major construction to rebuild it, and it's in, or you have to pass through, the Surprise Canyon Wilderness Area. Attempts to get permission to rebuild the road have always failed due to environmental study requirements, and nobody is rushing to do the required studies...because it's never going to happen.
I mean, seriously...you see the lush oasis that canyon has become since traffic was limited to walkers only?
There's *no* way tearing that up for a road is ever going to fly with the environmental damage it would create just doing the road.
In truth, I actually wouldn't want them to.
If people were allowed easier access to that place, it would be trashed (literally) within hours. Graffiti would be everywhere, all the trees would be cut down and burned, and what little water in the stream wasn't sucked up by thirsty travelers, would be fouled by garbage, engine oil and coolant, human waste, and mud from thousands of OHV's tearing up the land. Also, every bit of the ghost town which hasn't already been stolen *would* be...probably down to the very bricks of the smokestack.
@@nevyen149 I fully agree....leave it be as is. No "improvement" needed.
I'm such an empath, and at some points I find it hard for me to click on your videos because I always end up with a knot in my throat, I always end up with the feels about the town and the people, ones have perished in particular.. Its crazy how we leavea bit of our selves in certain places, even far after we're gone... more amazing that after us get to experience similar things.. You're very good at capturing these things, and excellent at putting it into words for us to listen. Thank you.
Great video - again! Had driven to this place several times, when there was still a road of sorts. Stood in that large crack in the chimney! Brother did the cultural resources (archaeology) survey for the most recent mining outfit. Heard they landed a plane there! You do great work!
Something about the castle and that little note hit different. Hope the guy manages to find some peace, cannot imagine the pain of loosing a child before the parent. Life can be cruel
24:30 hit me hard, teared up out of nowhere... I do thank Brent for sharing, not even a different place, instead he shared a different lifestory there...
I am beyond words of how well this was produced and how much I enjoyed it. Thank you sir!
Thanks for filming this. This was my second backpacking trip, all during covid, and I already have fond memories. I cracked my rib when I slipped climbing up the waterfall, but the rest of the hike was still worth it. The sunset was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen.
Thanks for bringing us along, such a beautiful and interesting hike!
Gorgeous hike! Thanks for taking me along again!
@A 🅥 Why are you promoting your videos on someone else's page? You're like a school in the summer time. NO CLASS!
What a beautiful hike, those waterfalls are stunning. I can't realistically take on these kind of physical tasks, but I'm glad you share them with us. Such fantastic sights!
Thanks for doing this and making the effort to keep a bit of history alive!
I have only just found your channel and am busy watching the back-episodes.
I was born and raised in the village of Buxworth in Derbyshire, England a few doors away from the home of Joel Clayton, who emigrated to California in the early 1800s and founded the town of Clayton California. (Buxworth was named Bugsworth when Joel lived there.)
Watching your videos has brought Clayton and Mount Diablo back into my mind and I'm imagining a lot of similarities back in the day with Cerro Gordo- rightly or wrongly.
I had the fortune to visit Joel's house in Clayton in the 1990s, but your videos bring its 1800s life into my imagination.
Thank you for the personal memories and also for your very informative, educational and enjoyable work. I hope you manage to achieve all you wish.
I just love how much you have grown to appreciate the simple things and struggle of the people working in these towns!!
As a resident of modern day Ballarat Australia it’s amazing that even back in those days information was still able to travel across the globe. I’ve lived here my whole life but never knew that a hopeful prospector would name a town with the dream of striking big like many of the miners here. Love the content keep it up!
When gold was discovered in the US people flooded in from Europe and China. By sailing ship.
@@rogersmith7396 Same thing in Australia .
interesting pronunciation of Ball-a-rat on this video.
Just wish he had pronounced it correctly. Otherwise wonderful fantastic video.
I love this channel and this presenter. He’s so interested in everything and so intrepid. Thank you
Facinating history, loved the video, thank you Brent. Kindest regards from the UK.
Have to give it to this guy. Gave up everything to give this shit a go, recorded it, CZcamsd it and has nearly 1.5mil subscribers. You did it man. Congrats. Here since day one.
Me too
Same here
What a gorgeous walk up the stream! And the Hilton volunteer cabin….very well cared for. I wouldn’t mind staying there for sure! Despite the decay, very interesting place. Isn’t it amazing what is hidden in our mountains and desert? Thank you so much for sharing a place I will never in this lifetime get to. Just stunning! Even the second cabin you went into was just amazing. ❤️❤️❤️
I took my first flu shot on July 5th and on July 7th two days later I got so sick I've been dying today I'm very sick and dying the only dream I have is too visit Cera Gorda just too see it I'm an American citizen in North Texas and I'm going too die never seeing Cera Gorda. I've been too the grand canyon and Las Vegas because of my grandparents but I'm never going too get too see your town. I'm very sick today and I could only dream of my wife of 35 years and my 15 year old daughter will never see your beautiful town. Thank you brother for your beautiful videos. I don't believe I have a year left in my life. Thank you and I'm dying Waiting for your next video. Don't you realize you are American heroes doing what you do. I've been with my wife since we were 14 we are now 48 going on 35 years I know the love America means.
Amazing stuff you're doing Brent!
I love when you go out and explore. The quality of your videos are so clear I feel like I'm there with you. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us all.
I have to strenght and warm up before watching his videos, I twist and turn, like I am actually helping, my kids laugh and worry I have lost my marbles. I get sucked in every time. Thanks for the workout Brent.
From Australia, I enjoyed your trek immensely, looking forward to more episodes.
Brent, I was watching this video, listening to you talk about the amazing human history left in these abandoned places you go to. They are truly amazing, although watching the portion about Rob Tyler restoring the "Castle", made me think that even though there is amazing history in these places but Rob, his son, you, and people like you means there is still plenty of room to make more history in these places. Thank you for your service.
That was so magical to watch you hike up there!
Brent, when I hear you breath somewhat labored, I then know that journey takes amazing physical condition. You are a stud and motivate so many. Cant wait to see you and CG again soon!!!
A stud? He isn’t doing a video flopping out his willy is he?
@@xr6lad😮😮
This use to be one of the best 4wd Rock Crawling spots back in its infancy. The waterfalls were legendary obstacles.
That was beautiful! Thank you for taking us along.
Thank you for taking us on that journey
Arguably your best video ever! Thank you for sharing you knowledge of how these places came to be. Facinating!
Thank you for bringing us along on these great adventures !
Thankyou for bringing us on this amazing tour. Love it
I love your introspection...makes your content real and human. Thank you.
nice, waiting from Hungary and in time for a relaxed evening.
I really love when you take us for an adventure and share the history, it must be a blast walking the wash and then in the end finding the miners village and see all the things that still exist🤠⛏
Thank you for taking the time and effort to hike there and preserve on video the beauty of this land and record efforts of those who sought their living there.Great job, really enjoyed this.
As a disabled person in this world I really appreciate your videos and your hikes thank you.very much I use go out searching for gold and seen some of the old towns I wish I still could but thanks to a drunk driver I'm not able to.so I watch alot of really good people on you tube ty.
Another amazing video! Thank you for taking us along, Brent!!!
Thank you Brent for everything you do and share with us : the world ! 😬
Thanks for taking us along! That was a very cool old site! I love old books too, so I'll keep a look out for one. You never know when something might turn up. I'd be proud to contribute!
Your outlook on everything that you see, find and work on rebuilding is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing everything with us. God bless and keep on doing what you're doing!
Amazing Brent, we have been a fan since the beginning and the journeys you take us on are amazing!
You got my attention This should be good. Greetings from YUMA AZ and a beautiful spring afternoon.
What a great channel. This has opened my eyes to a lot of great history that is so near to where I reside. I knew of this history but had no idea the depth, detail and quantity. Such a possititive, enriching and awesome lifestyle. Thank you and keep doing what you do. 🙏
Its so amazing seeing you go on these adventures alone, I love seeing moments I can compare to things I've been through, its very inspiring to see what you're doing