December 17, 2019 Panamint Valley, California

We drove to the ghost town of Ballarat. It was cloudy, so not the best light for photos. Low 50's. Mostly a washboard dirt road in.

This is one of the walls left standing. Directional sign and Welcome to Ballarat. The old post office and another Ballarat sign that says: “Cold Drinks Ballarat Info, This is a free zone, take as many photos as you want, camp, party, make movies etc. no harm, nobody cares, feel free, learn nothen settings in your car. The friendly zone, welcome to Ballarat ghost town. Camping 3 dollars. This was the post office 1897 see museum store. Trading post history, old photos, Charlie Manson’s truck. Maps. Fire a gun”. 

Ballarat Trading post.  No Liquer is sold (but they had moonshine 90 proof that he makes in his still out back- need it on a cold night and some beer cans, but at the moment he is using the still for a water heater) Only give thrue a donation for Ballarat.  Nude Dancing Burrows. Last Chance.  Next Show 9 am. Ballarat Jail and Morgue 1898 is still standing, John looking of the window of the jail/morgue. The caretaker, Rocky, an old desert rat lives out there year-round. A real character. After Ballarat we drove up 4 miles of rough dirt road to Surprise Canyon. The canyon has a year round stream. There was a row of cottonwood trees in full fall colors.  This  much water in the desert is rare. They say this is the lushest canyon in Death Valley. 

There were ruins of an old mining operation. Mostly foundations and old mining equipment. We hiked up the canyon.  The fall cottonwoods were beautiful. 

Most of the trail you walk in the stream. John is  photographing the water. Looking back at the  canyon walls and fall colors.  

John skirting some water on the trail.  We turned around at this waterfall. It was getting late and the moss looked really slippery. 

The waterfall was stunning. Heading back down the narrow canyon through water, horse tails and willows.  

John hiking through the fall colors on the way back.  

The sun finally came out and lit up the upper cliffs and the mining building at the end of the trail. 

Beautiful back lit yellow cottonwoods. A cliff on the drive out.  

Another cliff on the way out. Sunset on the way back. 

Cattails, maiden hair fern and horse tails. Orange rocks in the trail/stream, cool rock markings, a wild burrow and the UFO mailbox in the middle of the desert.