Owens Valley History

McGee Creek (The Packer's Song)
Written for the McGee Creek Pack Station while it was under the ownership of the Roeser's by Dave Stampey.
From his album Buckaroo Man

This song is a testament to all of the Sierra Nevada Pack Stations on both the east and west sides of the Sierra Nevada.

Books by the website author - Ray DeLea
(All books are available at Amazon.com)

High Sierra Adventures:
My Summers With Mt. Whitney Pack Trains

This book follows the adventures of a teenager who worked for Mt. Whitney Pack Trains, out of Lone Pine, CA, for six summers between the years of 1965 - 1970. It details his journey from being a "city slicker" knowing nothing about livestock and packing to becoming a seasoned packer / guide for one of the most prestigious pack stations operating on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. Using a combination of photographs and life events he takes the reader progressively through six summers of "learning the ropes" of being a packer as he packed in such groups as the Sierra Club, the Trail Riders of the Wilderness and private parties. This book is full of events that will make you laugh and cry as he describes the pack trips, wrecks, wrangles, livestock and personnel that made each summer a greater adventure than the preceding one.

California Adventures:
On the Trail With Ray & Josh

California Adventures are the real hiking adventures of Ray DeLea and his nephew Josh Green. Over a period of seven years from 2012 to 2019 this hiking duo ventured into the Southern California deserts of Anza Borrego & Joshua Tree in search of desert adventures. When they had had their fill of the blistering heat of the desert, they turned their attention to the mountains of Los Angeles and Riverside Counties pursuing their hiking dreams. Finally, when they had hiked to the summit of most of the mountain peaks in the Los Angeles area, they ventured northward to the Sierra Nevada Mountains flanking Owens Valley and the Panamint Mountains overlooking Death Valley. It was there, from the cattle-worn trails of the Southern Sierra Nevada near Olancha to the mid-Sierra Nevada country west of Tom’s Place that they found true “hiking delight.”

Arrested by The Master

Arrested by The Master is one persons journey to salvation from when he was a young child until God reached down and touched him in October of 1976. It is written to let the reader know that no one's journey to salvation is a boring one. It is filled with the ups and downs of life, seemingly meaningless actions, relationships, work experiences, family relationships, school experiences etc. All which God finds valuable in winning others who are lost, without hope, and on roads leading away from Him. This book will let you know that God places high value in your personal journey to Him saving you, no matter how simple, plain, or without excitement you might think it to be. It is so precious and individualized by the Holy Spirit.. You too should tell people about your journey.

Mt. Whitney and the Eastern Sierra crest as seen from Thunder Mountain.
(Photograph by Mike Porter - 1977)

A 7-shot vertical pano stack of the Sierra Nevada west of Lone Pine as seen under a full moon from the Alabama Hills.
(Photograph by Noah Becker - Thanksgiving 2018)

What's new and what's been updated

Mt. Whitney Pack Trains (MWPT)
History

Owens Valley History

Owens Valley - looking southwest from the Inyo Mountains near Harkless Flat. Tinemaha Reservor in the foreground.

ATTENTION!
Mt. Whitney Pack Trains, Vintage Photo Request

CLICK HERE

05/23

Mt. Whitney Pack Trains tack shed just outside of Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal Road - circa 1940s
(Screen capture from the 1949 movie "The Doolins of Oklahoma")

05/23

Mt. Whitney Pack Trains tack shed just outside of Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal Road - circa 1960s
(Photo courtesy of Ray DeLea)

Mt. Whitney Pack Trains tack shed just outside of Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal Road - circa 1970s
(Photo courtesy of Ray DeLea)

05/23

Mt. Whitney Pack Trains tack shed just outside of Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal Road - circa 2020s

01/24

MWPT Plaque Dedication
(Photo courtesy of Mike Morgan)

01/24

Mike Morgan at the old MWPT Tack Building on Whitney Portal Road
west of Lone Pine
(Photo courtesy of Mike Morgan)

Additional Photos: 1, 2, 3
(Photo #3, L/R: Loren Joseph, Duane Rossi, Tom Noland, Mike Morgan)