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Deserts! Anonymous
For spring break this year, I went down into the Mojave Desert, to the "ghost town" of Ballarat, CA. I'd had the notion that I simply needed to get as far away from a city and my current situation (school was driving me batshit insane) as I possibly could. So one day while playing around with Google maps, I came across Ballarat, a town seemingly in the middle of nowhere. After a bit more searching I discovered that it indeed was in the middle of nowhere: it's located in the southeast of the Panamint Valley, separated from Death Valley by the Panamint Range, and bounded on the west by the Argus Range. In my haste to simply get out there, I missed the fact that it's about seven miles north of Barker Ranch, and perhaps 100 miles south of Manzanar. I would have liked to visit both, but the I was so moved by the scenery and the remoteness that I will definitely be returning there, hopefully before the year is out. Here are some of the better pictures I got. Hope someone enjoys them :D
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>> Anonymous
So you camped out alone or something? What's that hut thing by the way?
>> Anonymous
>>48321
I brought my dog, but that's it. I considered going with someone; a couple people expressed interest in coming along, but I realized I wanted to go because I wanted to get away and be alone with my thoughts for a little while.

The hut is the most complete of the original buildings, built during the cities heyday between (if I remember correctly) 1897 and 1913. The town served miners working in the canyons in the Panamint Range. There are a few more buildings still standing, but they've all been put up since the town was "officially" abandoned.
>> Anonymous
>>48315
Is that a mudkipz I see on your cardoor?
>> Anonymous
Wow, I love 'em. Probably cause I grew up down there. Brings back memories.

My family had a small house about 10 miles south of inyokern/ridgecrest. It was solar powered and didn't have water or anything. It was pretty much in the middle of the desert. It's amazing out there at night. You can see so many stars. Quiet too. You don't realize how loud everything is until you get out of your car and stand there. The silence is almost oppressive.

Glad you liked it down there. =D
>> Anonymous
>>48325
Haha, nah, it's some bright painting my sister put on the car after I gave it to her. That car just died for good last month, after 12 years and 227,000 milles :( RIP, Corsica
>> Anonymous
>>48326
I absolutely loved it. I've become totally enamored by the desert because of that trip.

The silence was one of the most amazing things. I live in San Jose, so I simply don't get to experience that. No highways, no planes overhead... absolutely spectacular.
>> Anonymous
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballarat,_California

lol
>> Anonymous
Any airstrips around there? Paved or dirt.
>> Anonymous
I remember reading Achewood a while ago and there was a line that was like "Jesus Christ do I got to go on that week-long trip to the desert men sometimes need." and I decided everyone needs to go alone to the desert at least once in their life just like you did here, for whatever reason.

TL;DR cool story bro
>> Anonymous
>>48338
Ya know I believe there is, just north of Trona, if not mistaken.

Yup: http://www.airnav.com/airport/L72
>> Anonymous
>>48340


That is my favorite quote, and I plan to do it someday.