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Grumpy Old Guy

(3,120 posts)
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 02:12 AM Oct 2022

Balllarat Ghost Town

Last edited Tue Oct 25, 2022, 04:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Ballarat Ghost Town lies in Panamint Valley, a desolate area that lies on Death Valley's western border, and shares its forbidding climate and terrain. I was in the area for a Dark Sky Festival, but I couldn't wait to spend some time here as well.





























This truck pictured below allegedly belonged to Tex Watson of the Manson Family. Their hideout was nearby.













It seems I have to go back. I didn't know there was a cemetery.



























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Balllarat Ghost Town (Original Post) Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 OP
I had just learned about the Dark Skies group several weeks sgo, when a niyad Oct 2022 #1
The Dark Sky Festival was amazing... Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #2
Some background ... eppur_se_muova Oct 2022 #4
These are very interesting photos. brer cat Oct 2022 #3
The town was very active from 1897-1905. Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #8
I too seemed to miss this area during Callalily Oct 2022 #5
Thank you! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #9
thank you for posting these! mike_c Oct 2022 #6
So do I! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #10
Great photos, my dear Grumpy! CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2022 #7
Thank you dear Peggy! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #11
Those are wonderful alfredo Oct 2022 #12
Thank you Alfredo! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #13
Black and white was appropriate for the subject alfredo Oct 2022 #14
The photos are superlative! My husband's disability prevents us from traveling to remote Ziggysmom Oct 2022 #15
Thank you very much for the kind words. Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #17
Fabulous Fotos Grumpy Old Guy! Very, very nice black and whites! George McGovern Oct 2022 #16
Thanks George! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #18
Photos are excellent and I love the presentation! HAB911 Oct 2022 #19
Thank you sir! Grumpy Old Guy Oct 2022 #20

niyad

(112,436 posts)
1. I had just learned about the Dark Skies group several weeks sgo, when a
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 02:24 AM
Oct 2022

friend was in Westcliffe (one of four Dark Skies communities here in Colorado). Fascinating.

The photos were very interesting. Somehow I misssed that area when I was in Death Valley.

Grumpy Old Guy

(3,120 posts)
2. The Dark Sky Festival was amazing...
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 02:56 AM
Oct 2022

despite the horrendous wind storm that nearly shut us down on the third day. That's life in the desert.

Panamint Valley borders Death Valley directly to the west. The roads all lead into the park. Ballarat is thirty miles north of Trona, the birthplace of the 20 Mule Teams that delivered borax to the world.

eppur_se_muova

(36,227 posts)
4. Some background ...
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 06:19 AM
Oct 2022

Trona is the name of a mineral, one of several mined from dried alkaline lake beds. It is the only major commercial source of sodium carbonate ("washing soda&quot in the US. Trona, borax, and potash are all mined in the same vicinity.

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

Grumpy Old Guy

(3,120 posts)
8. The town was very active from 1897-1905.
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 05:06 PM
Oct 2022

People moved away when the largest nearby mine ceased operations in 1905. Years later the water dried up. There was one longtime resident, "Seldom Seen Slim," who is buried in the cemetery there.

The town is thirty miles from Trona, Ca., and the Searles Dry Lake Bed. Sealers Lake is one of the world's largest deposit of Borax and other chemicals, and was the original home of Twenty Mule Team Borax.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballarat,_California

Callalily

(14,885 posts)
5. I too seemed to miss this area during
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 07:53 AM
Oct 2022

my last trip to Death Valley. Will definitely keep it in mind for the next trip.

There's a Dark Sky Park up north and when we were there a couple weeks ago, we planned on viewing the sky, but unfortunately the sky were cloudy. But we head up there from time to time, and I'm sure that we'll catch a good night one of these times.

And thanks for the tip about the festival. There's one "somewhat" in my area in December.

I have been extremely fortunately to have seen the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) on many occasions. The sky looks like it's alive, pulsating and moving! An amazing site to see.

Oh, before I forget, your photos are great! I like the antique look of them.

Grumpy Old Guy

(3,120 posts)
9. Thank you!
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 05:10 PM
Oct 2022

I'm jealous, I would love to see the Northern Lights someday.

This Festival was put on by the Eastern Sierra Observatory near Bishop, Ca. I really enjoyed it. The skies were mostly clear, however we were hit with a horrendous sandstorm on the third day, and about eighty percent of the attendees, (mostly tent campers), left early. All the RVers stayed because it was far too windy to drive. The storm ended by about 7:00 P.M.

Ziggysmom

(3,374 posts)
15. The photos are superlative! My husband's disability prevents us from traveling to remote
Wed Oct 26, 2022, 05:32 PM
Oct 2022

places now, so he really enjoys what he calls "Internet Travel" by looking at photos. Your pics made him feel like he was there seeing those sights firsthand. We both think the B&W photography added to the mysterious feeling and brought the subject matter into clearer focus. Sometimes I think color can be a distraction in a photo; B&W allows us to see the soul of the subject matter much more clearly. Thanks for sharing the pics and allowing us to "Travel".

Grumpy Old Guy

(3,120 posts)
17. Thank you very much for the kind words.
Thu Oct 27, 2022, 03:16 AM
Oct 2022

I might be able to post a few more pics from this day. I'll let you know if I do.

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