My first trip to Panamint City was in 1971. My buddy, Lyle, drove his Toyota Hilux most of the way up at night. We slept in the bed of the truck before hiking the rest of the way to Panamint City in the morning. I still remember that cold, hard, steel truck bed, and the sight of the tall red brick chimney when we rounded the last bend of Surprise Canyon. Lyle sure was proud of that little truck. Me, I was partial to Datsuns.
In the late 1960's I roamed the area with my buddy, Bob, in his International Travelall. Boy did shivers run down our spines when we heard about the Manson Family arrest at Barker Ranch. Bob's dad loved government surplus auctions. A lot of friends could fit in that old Travelall.
Earlier trips were with my Dad in his work "truck," a 1959 Ford station wagon. Dad could get that station wagon anywhere. My job was to watch out for "pan getters," rocks that could take out the engine oil pan.