Old story, same old story...

Back to the easier trail.

Last real challenge, down that.




Made it!!

Now I've got some hiking to do...




I hiked for what seemed like forever...




I've reached my limit, sweat running into my eyes I sit down to rest for the return trip...




I wipe my eyes and laugh aloud, I have found them!!

I climb all over and find as many as I can...

Be careful...long ways down.

Damn Rebel!

No cops around this time ........ Rob the outlaw........ Parking lots are not safe.......

Made my way back to the bike.

I had helped a fella unload his DR650 in Beatty this morning and I saw him again here in the canyon...he'd ridden pavement around to Furnace Creek and was wanting to go as far as the hard spot just to check it out.




Eye of the needle...




Out of the canyon.

Gas station for fuel and a cold drink, topped off my water as I'm staying in the backcountry for a couple of days.

West Side Highway

Warm Springs Road




I could see a rig coming my direction, so I stopped and took out my earplugs to make it easier to talk to them. I'm hoping to find out which cabins are occupied in Butte Valley so I don't wander around in the dark looking for a place to stay.




They said that both cabins were occupied, told them that I was ok with that since there's two more...I like to drop a little hint just like I've gotten over the years, gives a person a reason to come back.

I figured they were talking about the Geologists' and Stella's Cabins, so I headed straight for Asa Russel's Camp.






Used a fireman magazine to start a fire.






It's been a long day, I'll sleep good in a toasty warm cabin.

haha ... I've only ever seen two cabins, too ...

... about ten years ago you told me
I could find the Escape Route and bump down
Mengle by myself on Bicycle Phil's old loaded KLR ...
spent the night in Stella's ... my first BLM cabin ...
there was nothing like exploring and seeing DV for my n00bie first time ...
what a glorious trip that was ...

thanks for all the little hints and encouragement over the years!

We've seen three of the four cabins but for some reason, we drove past Russell's without checking it out. Thanks for the heads up and keep the pics coming. Also didn't realize there is a hard and easy section on Echo. Guess we have always done the hard route to the steps.

I've stayed here before and learned a lot about keeping the rodents out of my stuff...move table away from the wall and make sure it's not under a rafter, all gear on the table, done.




I couldn't put the bike in the garage because there is a broken header and a door is knocked down, not to mention the wind damaged roof. I let some friends of the backcountry know and hopefully they can find the time to bring a beam and make repairs.






Noodles for breakfast.

I'm going to stay here another night, but I need some firewood and a fresh book, so I'll do some cabin high gradin'.

The view on the hike over to Stella's:




Clint and Stella:




Stella's Cabin:

Back over to Russel's Camp, there wasn't anything to pilfer from Stella's.




Asa Russel, photo by Emmett Harder:

There's a tree down, but the axe is missing and I can only find a hand saw, not a bow saw. I'll go over to the Geologists Cabin for a look otherwise I'll move somewhere else and tent camp tonight.




Found everything I need for another night in the cabin, I even took back the can of Spam that I left here a couple years ago when Dave and I were here.

Lunch and a book.






I love all the old pictures that Asa pasted on the wall of his cabin.














Without the guy on the left in that last photo we wouldn't have the town of Shoshone and we can thank the man on the right for keeping it going for many years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Jacobus_Fairbanks