2009 Slideshow

The "Last Trek"

Marek Fire, Lopez Canyon, CA
October 13, 2008
Home, Unimog and FWC gone.

At 5:30 AM we were ordered to evacuate immediately. Loudspeakers on police cars were screaming at us to get out. Sirens blaring. People yelling. Emergency lights flashing. Helicopters roaring overhead. Smoke burning our eyes and ash falling like dry snow.

All that survived of the 2002 Four Wheel Camper which was parked on jacks in the RV slot next to our home.

The remains of my 1961 Mercedes Unimog.

Below are a few of my favorite photos of the "Mog" in better days.



photo by Ron Pinkerton

The start of the Dusy Ershim Trail
We spent a enjoyable three days driving this challenging trail.

photo by Ron Pinkerton

My 1961 Mercedes Unimog imported from Germany ten years ago. I used it for off-roading on difficult trails like the Dusy-Ershim and was in the process of designing a mounting system for the FWC in the Unimog's bed. We owned three vehicles and a motorcycle and my wife and I were the only drivers.

If I had it to do over again I would have left my Tacoma and driven my Unimog to safety. A Tacoma would been have easier to replace.

You have to admire my wife because through all the chaos reigning around us she still managed to make the bed.

White Mountains, Inyo National Forest - "a marmot stops by during breakfast"

Barcroft Gate (12,000 feet)
Acclimating before the hike.

A marmot stops by during breakfast

My nephew points to the summit of White Mountain Peak from which he has just returned.

Deep Springs Cow Camp
Named for the students from Deep Springs College who herd cattle, farm and gain a unique education at their facility in Deep Springs Valley to the SE.

A closer look.

My nephew in the Deep Springs Tub. This place has many of the comforts of home.

South of Station Peak

Crossing the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek

Our camp alongside of the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek

Exiting the Cottonwood Creek 4x4 Road, with White Mountain Peak (14,246 feet) in background.

Heading home

Crossing the border near Bodie and Aurora

The sign makes the decision irresistible.

Bridge over Bodie Creek on the Bodie/Aurora road

Crossing the border into CA on the road from Aurora, NV.
The yellow post marks the border.

Stepped on this Mojave Green when exiting my truck to take the photograph above.

East of Bodie

Visiting Walker Lake and driving the Corey Peak road, near Hawthorne, NV

Jan is admiring the view of Walker Lake, NV before we begin to drive up the Corey Peak road.

She did not have any admiration for the large, really large orb weaver spiders that inhabited the brush near the beach. 100,000's of them. Webs everywhere.

We drove a little bit further down the road and there were fewer spiders.

Jan is a lot more relaxed as she again poses next to Walker Lake.

Sign on the way to the Corey Peak road.

Cabin about one mile from the secondary summit that is festooned with antennas.

The actual summit of Corey Peak.

Sweetwater Mountains - Toiyabe NF - "there was a sketchy off-camber section"

Sweetwater Mountains from Sweetwater Pass

Northern edge of Sweetwater Mountains

Ridge above Desert Creek headed for Jackass Flat

This was our Sweetwater Mountains camp next to Desert Creek.

This is the last section of road before reaching the summit of Mount Patterson (11673 ft). I decided to hike instead of driving and soon discovered that there was a sketchy off-camber section (before this shot) that was better to have avoided with the FWC mounted on my truck.

Near Sonora Pass, Sierra Nevada

Sunrise at Leavitt Lake

Relaxing along the shore of Leavitt Lake

A chipmunk relaxing next to Jan at the lake.

I passed this waterfall on my way to the summit of Leavitt Peak.

Koenig Lake from the route to Leavitt Peak

View south from the summit of Leavitt

Leavitt Peak is in background on the far left.

Crossing Leavitt Creek

Along the 395

We stopped by the Mono Lake visitor center on our way north.

Lookout Mountain camp. Knapped a nice blade from some obsidian found near here.

Near Coyote Flats, Inyo National Forest, CA

Crossing Coyote Ridge

High above South Lake west of Coyote Ridge.

The view from the our chairs with Mount Johnson center left. Visited the summit in 2002.

Early morning at Funnel Lake

Looking at the claws on this rodent, it is a good thing that they are only four inches tall rather than four feet. (at Funnel Lake)

Road to Baker Lake Trailhead

Fording Coyote Creek leaving Coyote Flats