After lunch in Baker, I headed for Tecopa Hot Springs, which, to date, is still operating and free to the public. I didn't think to ask any of the locals there about the rumored privatization of the Springs. 11/10/92- Pahrump Point (2.20) DRIVE : The road is 4WD and washed out at about 1.8-1.9 miles in. CLIMB : Except for some deceptive ducks, the route goes fine - although, it was very windy, which made the final summit approach somewhat of a precarious balancing act. After the peak, I drove into Pahrumph for fuel, supplies and also stopped at the Chamber of Commerce to inquire about camping. Just E of the CA/NV State Line, about 0.5 miles, there is/are NW and SE running dirt roads on BLM land. I took the SE option and drove about a mile on excellent dirt out onto the flats of Stewart Valley to a windy camp. On the way out of town, there are $3.00 showers at the Seven Palms RV Park. Turn N on NV SR 372 Just E of milepost 5 (five) - a.k.a. Linda St Go 0.9 miles N, and turn right (E) into the RV park. 11/11/92 - Stewart Point (2.19) DRIVE : The drive in is trivial. CLIMB : My only mistake en route, (other than being perplexed by various ducks in the narrow canyon), was following the wrong ridge, too NNW, out of the canyon to a false summit, just NE of the true summit. Fortunately, it was only 0.3 miles, and 200' of gain (or so) out of the way. 11/12/92 - Smith Mountain (2.16) DRIVE/N&S APPROACH : This was a long, arduous drive in - don't do this one without a reliable spare tire! From the S (CA SR 178) the washboard-like Greenwater Valley road just about rattled my truck (and me) into pieces. Corrections to Guide's mileage's - I verified these coming and going: 1) From the DV sign to the road fork at the head of Gold Valley is 1.8 (one-point-eight), not 1.3, miles. 2) From this fork it is then 3.0, not 3.5 miles, to the sharp SE turn. Camping is VERY poor at the trailhead. I'd recommend camping sites at either the flat spot on the N side of the Gold Valley spur/turnoff road 0.2 miles beyond (W) of the Greenwater Valley Road turnoff, or, at the saddle, 1.2 miles beyond (W) of the DV sign - a great view here. I also noticed the ENTERING DV sign has a NO SHOOTING 'picture', but no NO CAMPFIRES 'picture". What does this mean?? CLIMB : The climb went well (in excellent weather) and I was impressed with the long views for such an easy hike. I hiked over to check out Smith Mtn Az Mk (UTM 292856). It's only a triangulation station, and a bivy sight. However, it is also the beginning of a quick and easy ridge run back down to the alluvial flats. This ridge is mostly soft sand and parallels the canyon route on it's SE side. It took an hour to drive back to Greenwater Road where I backtracked S 0.5 miles to the S end of Deadmans Pass road, a T intersection with Greenwater Road. 11/13/92- Brown Peak (2.18) DRIVE : From the S end of Deadmans Pass road, the drive to Brown's trailhead is peppered with numerous microwash-outs akin to speed bumps, yet is OK for 2WDs. CLIMB : I ascended Route A and descended Route A's variation, which, along with the Guide, I concur, seemingly goes faster. Continuing N on Deadmans Pass road, per the Guide, deep sand near 127 WILL trap 2WDs, as it demands 4WD to plow through this obstacle. Friday evening, I rendezvoused again with Russell and Suzanne, who had driven up, in their typical marathon style, from San Diego. 11/14/92 - Pyramid Peak (2.15): DRIVE : The drive in is trivial. Recommended camping : 0.15 miles E of CA SR 190's milepost 129.00 is an excellent dirt road on 190's S side. (Note that exact-mile mileage posts (e.g. 129.00) are on the S side of 190, and half-mile mileage posts (e.g. 129.50) are on its N.) There are numerous fair and flat camping spots 0.35 miles S on this unnamed road. CLIMB : We ascended Route A, a somewhat grueling slog, and descended Route B, which is more interesting due to impressively deep canyons dropping from its ridge line. Back at the trucks near 3:30, with only a few hours of daylight left, we bolted across Death Valley, and, arriving at dusk, camped at the end of the 5.8 mile fair dirt road into Panamint Butte.

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