Exploring The White Mountains

Part IV

Wyman Canyon And White Mountain Road


A Very Colorful Area Of Westgard Pass


Now this was a long one. I figure around 130 miles round trip from base camp. A lot of it is on paved road to get to the starting point but then it's still about 18 miles of dirt, creeks and rocks just to get to the top.Great trail! We crossed the creek 50 times if we crossed it once, and when you're not crossing the creek, you're driving in it. This canyon trail begins at the site of White Mountain City off of 168 near Deep Springs Lake and travels up a class II trail all the way to the crest where it reaches White Mountain Road in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at 10,400 feet. From there we head back down the well graded White Mountain Road returning us to 168 once again. Once on the crest I would have continued over and down Silver Canyon towards Laws, however the road at the bottom was still closed by the Forest Service for the winter due to snow drifts. Maybe next time.

Along the way there was a lot of vegitation to see along with some interesting rocks and boulders. We also found some cabins, a mine, stone walls and a few rock built reduction furnaces. The canyon was named for Don Wyman who came here looking for gold in 1861 along with Colonel J.S. Broder and the Graves brothers.

Robert's Camp is one of our goals. This was once a camp that supported the Wilkerson Mine up a side canyon to the south. We head up to the mine but again I don't go all the way due to being alone and that road turns Class IV in a hurry. One of the cabins at Robert's Camp is worth going back to just to spend the night. It's completely functional and looks pretty comfy too! I'll be back for sure.



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A reduction furnace at the site of White Mountain City. Someone placed a broken insulator at the base. At the first creek crossing, Tabby decides to go for a dip. Another place where we cross the creek right in the middle of a falls. When we're not crossing the creek, we're driving right up it. Wonder if I need CF numbers like a boat?
We finally reach Robert's Camp and a really nice cabin. Inside, we find that the place is all clean and ready for us to move in. There's even fire wood next to the stove. I think I'll use my own air mattress. The door says Deep Springs but we left that place 18 miles and 5000 feet ago.
Note the corral in the background. This would be a great trip on horseback. Tabby says we can live here. A two holer! A very good find. The cabin as seen from the back. The creek runs in front of it.
A storage hole for the Wilkerson Mine. The road was too bad to go any farther. A look inside the storage hole. A fallen building that I determined to be a mess hall. Foundation for the mill site.
The ruined mess hall. The kitchen sink. My turn-around spot and the storage hole in the background. Another cabin.
Seems to be a graffitii problem here. This chair has seen better days too. Another Reduction Furnace in the back of this cabin. Inside it looks like it didn't get much use.
Another view of the reduction furnace. The front of the cabin. A more distant view of the cabin with a rock retaining wall in the foreground. An old log cabin I found a few miles up the road. We are nearing the crest now.
Inside the log cabin. Front view of the log cabin. We reach the crest at White Mountain Road and begin our run down the hill. We happen across some cabins, tailings and a mine that has caved. There used to be a road to this place but it has been closed.
View from inside one of the dugout log cabins. A caved adit. Another dugout log cabin. A "Grand View" of the Sierra Nevada.
Looking back we get a great view of Deep Springs Lake where this trip first went off road. Back at camp, we find out what 60 to 80 mph wind does to your tent. Seems it did the same thing to the tree. The Bishop Air Show sponsored by the Bishop Chamber Of Commerce. Nice way to end the trip before leaving for home. A nice D-18 Twin Beech. I've jumped out of these before.
A big ol military chopper. The Tower. The local Bishop Ham Radio Club sets up communications. This is Val. KG6FCJ. My call sign is KG6ZFI Setting up a dipole antenna in the trees for HF communications.


Part III

Part II

Part I