Friday, November 12, 1993 found me getting up at the crack of dawn, and finding my way over to Chef Andy's for breakfast.  Somehow, his great breakfast of sausage, potatoes and eggs seemed a lot better than peanut butter sandwiches!  Not to mention the smell of the hot coffee wafted over to my camp, and I just had to get some.

At 0745, we lined up for the driver's meeting for the Jail Canyon run, which was the run that I was scheduled for. Our trail boss went through all the safety stuff, cb channels to use, you know, all of that.  However, he said that we were getting a special treat for those that wanted it; a side-trip to Hall Canyon.  One thing he stressed: Don't drink on the trail!  Save the cold ones for camp.

Right about this time, my former spouse, Karen, showed up.  (She had to work and had to drive 'most of the night to get to PVD.)  So we got in line, and headed north on Indian Ranch road for a few miles, until we came to a halt.

We stopped to lock hubs, air down and shift into four wheel drive.  The trail to Jail Canyon takes off to the east, and almost immediately starts to traverse the alluvial fan. Having prepared ourselves for the trail, away we went.

The trail is actually quite easy, I'd rate it a hard Class 2 or an easy Class 3.  But dude, leave your Bravada home on this trail, as it won't make it.  The first obstacle is a small wash that has to be negotiated; due to a stair-step or two and a small, steep grade, I will rate this a Class 3.  Then, the trail just sort of makes its way up the alluvial fan and in a couple of miles, you  come to the entrance of Jail Canyon.

As you climb up the alluvial fan, you'll notice lots of "junk" that has obviously come from a mining operation. After you enter the mouth of the canyon, soon you will encounter a rock the size of a house that somehow made it's way to where it now sits.  Look around the canyon, where did this thing come from?  There are no apparent rock outcroppings that this thing could have broken off from and just simply rolled to where it now reposes.  It must have been swept down the canyon at some point in time.  Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me!

After another hour or so, we came to Jail Canyon.  There was a mining operation there, that operated through the 1970's.  There are a few dilapidated buildings, and a couple of foundations of more substantial buildings, that have recently been burned.  I am told that the B.L.M. burned down the buildings due to the actions of squatters and vandals.  I looked around the canyon and could see tipples and cables up on the canyon walls. Of course there is a lot of "junk" laying around the place, typical of abandoned mines.

Left:  Corona Mining Camp, near the head of Jail Canyon.  Right:  A rather unique piece of mining equipment powered by an engine from a truck!

We ate an early lunch, and then it was time to take a little hike.  We hiked up the canyon, a few hundred meters, and explored the mine.  I heard that the mine's name is the Burro mine, but whatever the name, it's in great condition and is very interesting to explore. You basically hike up the creek, taking the path of least resistance, fighting brush all of the way.  To get to the mine, you have to cross the creek and claw yourself up a loose slope, grabbing whatever handhold and foothold you can find.  Karen  had a little trouble on the hike and almost slipped into the creek.  But all of us made the hike safely.

Left:  The well-preserved Burro Mine, at the head of Jail Canyon, very worthwhile for a 10-minute walk.  Right:  A close up view of the ore sorting machinery at the Burro Mine.

The group lined up again to leave.  After we got started, our leader announced that he would be leading our group up Hall Canyon; those of us who wanted to proceed directly back to camp could follow a yellow FJ-40, who would lead the group back to camp.  Of course we wanted to tour Hall Canyon; only a few trucks followed the FJ-40 back to camp.

The trail up to Hall Canyon is something else!  Steep and narrow with lots of switchbacks.  Since my Bronco is quite large, I had to make many 3-point turns to get around the switchbacks.  I think some of those would be a 3-pointer even for a Jeep! The drive up Hall Canyon can simply be described as some of the most spectacular four wheeling that you could ever imagine.

Left:  From the Burro mine, I'm looking down the canyon, toward the Corona Mine camp.  Right:  Lunch at Corona Mine camp, in Jail Canyon.  Nobody seems to know how the name "Jail Canyon" originated.

At the top of the canyon, there is an outlook that affords spectacular views on Panamint Valley.  Years ago, you could continue to drive north and down through the canyon and join the county road after passing through the Indian Ranch.  However, those days are gone, and we went as far as we could, to a sort-of parking area that afforded an breathtaking view of Panamint Valley and the Argus range to the west.  We were there for, maybe 10 minutes, when the wind came up and light snow flakes started to fall.  Time to head back to camp!

Left:  Our group is just starting up Hall Canyon, at the point where it joins the trail near the Corona Camp. Right: The entrance to Hall Canyon, only a few hundred yards west of the Corona Mine camp.

Boy, the trip down.  This trail is really steep, narrow and has lots of switchbacks!  I've been told that this is one of the steepest trails in the area, and after driving it, I have no doubt about that. Karen was on the right-hand side on the way down, so she got the excellent views of the canyon.  I especially liked one of the off-camber spots that gave her an excellent view of the canyon!  Hall Canyon is one of the most scenic and awesome trails that I've ever had the pleasure to drive on, not to mention a whole lot of fun.

Left:  The view west from the top of Hall Canyon, across Paminit Valley, with the Argus Range in the background. Right:  Our group descends down the steep switchback of the Hall Canyon trail to rejoin the Jail Canyon trail, just west of Corona Mine.  Sadly, after 1994, if you want to experience Hall Canyon, you'll have to walk or ride a horse, as the trail has been closed to four wheeling, thanks to the Desert Protection Act.  Oh yes, I didn't vote for Clinton, nor did I vote for Feinstein.

Update:  The California Desert Protection Act, passed by Congress in July, 1994, elevated Death Valley to the status of a National Park.  As a result of this act, Hall Canyon was closed to vehicular traffic.  You can walk, or ride a horse up the canyon, but you can't four wheel up the canyon any more.  I am glad that I was able to drive Hall Canyon before it was closed.

After an uneventful drive back to camp, it was not time to relax,  power-down an few serious brewskies and make dinner.  Karen helped me cut up veggies and potatoes for dinner, and also kept me full of the good ol' MJD.  We cooked dinner in the big ol' 12-quart dutch over in the embers of the campfire.  We had chicken, marinated in red-wine vinegar and olive oil, potatoes plus yellow and green squash.  After dinner, it was cigars for both of us, then off to bed.  We slept in the back of her Ford pickup, as it had a camper shell, and afforded better protection from the wind.