So Cal Deserts 01

Desert / Ghost Town Trek #23a

Southern California Desert Hotels, June 2010.
So Cal Deserts 01

So Cal Deserts 01

06 Jun 2010 107
We just finished moving and didn't feel like busting out the camping stuff so we took an all hotels tour of Southern Cal. On the way we actually stayed at the nearly abandoned California Valley Lodge.
So Cal Deserts 02

So Cal Deserts 02

06 Jun 2010 90
The store that had briefly re-opened during my 2007 visit has re-closed, along with the old restaurant and gas station from the 1960's.
So Cal Deserts 03

So Cal Deserts 03

06 Jun 2010 97
Apparently the housing bust even re-busted this place.
So Cal Deserts 04

So Cal Deserts 04

06 Jun 2010 75
There are cheap plots of land out there, now even cheaper, I suppose.
So Cal Deserts 05

So Cal Deserts 05

06 Jun 2010 122
We knew someone still ran the hotel, so I called up and he said, "Are you sure you want to stay here?" I assured him we knew what California Valley was all about.
So Cal Deserts 06

So Cal Deserts 06

06 Jun 2010 93
There were some blemishes and an odd feeling of being the only residents, but it wasn't so bad.
So Cal Deserts 07

So Cal Deserts 07

06 Jun 2010 102
So Cal Deserts 08

So Cal Deserts 08

06 Jun 2010 112
So Cal Deserts 09

So Cal Deserts 09

06 Jun 2010 92
The pool filled up over the winter and was siphoned to water the lawn in summer, so it's really a pond/cistern. A toad swam around while we hung out.
So Cal Deserts 10

So Cal Deserts 10

06 Jun 2010 83
Not for the squeamish or fussy, but if you like an adventure, the valley is peaceful and beautiful.
So Cal Deserts 11

So Cal Deserts 11

07 Jun 2010 86
Headed south into Carizzo Plain past Soda Lake.
So Cal Deserts 12

So Cal Deserts 12

07 Jun 2010 89
Finally spotted a Pronghorn this time.
So Cal Deserts 13

So Cal Deserts 13

07 Jun 2010 100
Farther south down Soda Lake Road, past KCL camp, to parts of the plain new to us. It looks like a western painting.
So Cal Deserts 14

So Cal Deserts 14

07 Jun 2010 78
Traver Ranch information area.
So Cal Deserts 15

So Cal Deserts 15

07 Jun 2010 103
So Cal Deserts 16

So Cal Deserts 16

07 Jun 2010 107
So Cal Deserts 17

So Cal Deserts 17

07 Jun 2010 111
Took some dirt roads towards the Caliente Range. I think our next stealth camp hideouts will be back here.
So Cal Deserts 18

So Cal Deserts 18

07 Jun 2010 92
Deep washes cut the south end of the plain.
97 items in total