The Castle is located up in Sourdough Canyon. Portions were reputedly built in the 1870s, 1930s and 1970s. Some leaded-glass windows, the brick floor 'in two rooms, rafters, and other construction details, make the three room stone masonry and wood structure extraordinary. Actually, there is a fourth room with a toilet and stall shower; both inoperative (there is an outhouse). Love, thought and time obviously went into the place. Unfortunately, the tiny middle room and kitchen receive too little sunlight. The only bright room has twin beds with mattresses and blankets; the middle room has a single bed, and a wood stove for heating and cooking. In the kitchen is a faucet with spring water. There was organic matter in it; probably from standing in the pipe too long. Also were a disconnected propane stove; dining table and bench, dinner plates, and some staples on the shelves. Outdoors on the brick patio, are two disconnected refrigerators (food was inside them), another faucet, and a cast iron bathtub set up so that a fire can be lit underneath to heat bath water.
The place is rundown and littered outdoors. There is quite a pile of trash at the edge of the porch. In the trash is a childs toy pedal car; a vivid reminder this had once been home to a family. They no-doubt fled in 1984. Valuable mining equipment was around that appeared to be in near-running order. The evidence we saw (books, sceptre), substantiates a report that hippies also, once lived in The Castle. (When we left Sunday morning, it was cleaner than found.)
Three kinds of pasta were the dinner feature. Four of us later slept indoors.
Steve Durkee and John Thomassen backpacked in Saturday night to meet us. John was able to drive his Cherokee about one half mile beyond the trailhead. They left about 8:00pm, and arrived in the City about midnight. Steve somehow managed to find our secluded campsite in the morning. The two of them brought the size of our group to twelve. (During the trip we saw only eight other people.)
Sentinel Peak (el 9636') looms above Panamint City. With solid white slopes, it appeared as if we would have a snow climb; except for patches it was not.
Departing about 8:30am on Sunday, we took the ridge located between Magazine and Marvel Canyons, to the summit. From the crest of the ridge to the west, the terrain was almost snow-free. To the east, much of the terrain was blanketed with snow. Based on what we crossed, it would have offered fine skiing.
The sky was clear and weather mild, so 45 minutes were spent on top absorbing magnificant views of Death Valley, nearby Telescope and Porter Peaks, and the Sierra Nevada Range. John Thomassen's cellular telephone was a hit. It was, used by many of us to call home and surprise people, who were least expected a call from distant and remote Sentinel Peak.
Most of us were quite tired by the time we got back to our cars about 7:15pm. The trip was enjoyable and interesting. It was the first DPS trip for Marlen Mertz, Alan Takahashi, and Steve Norman. Hope they will join us again......Ed