Friends of the SALINE VALLEY SALT TRAM
www.SaltTram.blogspot.com SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com
Salt Tram history is rapidly disappearing, and we are striving to rediscover the efforts of our forefathers in order to give proper recognition to their hopes, dreams and abundant sweat from an era that is rapidly fading from our memories. We are actively seeking out information about the mining of Salt in Saline Valley between 1903 and the 1940's, including: documents, photos, articles, stories, artifacts, etc. If you can help us out, please email us at the address above - Thank-you! --Tim and Brian Waag, the Waag brothers (aka E. Clampus Waagus).
Caution (PLEASE READ): Climbing around on the tramway is dangerous because its really old and defnitely unsafe, so don't even think about it. Shoot, just getting to it requires some perilous hiking, and if you don't believe me, just take a look at the Zig Zag Access Trail (or what's left of it). Plus, climbing on it weakens it and endangers your life. Also, the Saline Valley Salt Tram is on the National Register of Historic Places and should be treated with the respect that it deserves. What little remains is of great historic value, and should not be disturbed in any way. Heck, its probably against the law to move parts of the tram around, and certainly a crime to take home some of the few bits of it that remain (though you'd have to ask your friendly local BLM agent for details). So please treat it with the respect it deserves, so that future generations can enjoy whats left, without you messing it up. Really. Please. You can see its listing on the National Register of Historic Places at these web links:Salt Tram history is rapidly disappearing, and we are striving to rediscover the efforts of our forefathers in order to give proper recognition to their hopes, dreams and abundant sweat from an era that is rapidly fading from our memories. We are actively seeking out information about the mining of Salt in Saline Valley between 1903 and the 1940's, including: documents, photos, articles, stories, artifacts, etc. If you can help us out, please email us at the address above - Thank-you! --Tim and Brian Waag, the Waag brothers (aka E. Clampus Waagus).
National Register of Historic Places 1 National Register of Historic Places 2
*****************************************************************************************
We did our first epic Salt Tram trip in October of 2006, when Brian, Tom, and I hiked from Swansea, up the west side of the Inyos along the tramway route, to the Inyo summit (and the Salt Tram summit station), then down the steeper eastern slope of the Inyos, and on down to Saline Valley over a 3 day period. Our good buddy Alan ran support for us on that trip, shuttling our pickup vehicle out to Saline Valley, setting a fixed rope at the Zig Zag Trail (so that we could get up it), and it is appreciated. He joined us for part of the hike on the west side, where a bucket still hangs on the line, giving us this amazing video by Alan of how this unique tramway carrier bucket was dumped. Take it away, Alan!
More recently (September 2010), Alan was back up at the Salt Tram, and thought we should post this picture of him on this blogsite, so here it is - hope you are happy Alan! I believe it is the same tram bucket that is in the video above? (click to enlarge):
Hey,doesn't anybody want to commet on Alan's fine performance as a Salt Tram Bucket Dump operator? Please?
ReplyDelete