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Onewhowalksonrocks
Mountain climber
In the middle of the ocean
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 11, 2013 - 01:15pm PT
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Just wondering if any one beside me and five friends have spent the night in his cabin. Located on North Fork of Big Pine creek. Does anyone know the whole story behind him and his wife living and working in this canyon? I know a little, are at least I think I do.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Nov 11, 2013 - 02:49pm PT
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The map says "Cienega Mirth."
Once, in a storm, my two climbing buddies and I hunkered against billowing gales in the rocks in that canyon. As night fell, we staggered onward, wind beaten and wet. We stumbled onto the cabin like something out of a fantasy novel. We dried out and spent a night in comfort under the eaves of that magical stead. The door was locked, so the front porch it was. Would love to see a photo of the inside.
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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Nov 11, 2013 - 04:23pm PT
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Believe Norman Clyde, the quintessential Sierra mountaineer, spent many of his winters in Lon Chaney's cabin as a "caretaker". Wonder how he got that position? We need more caretaker and night watchman jobs for aging climbers, right now!
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middle joe
Trad climber
OC
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Nov 11, 2013 - 05:41pm PT
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I always wondered why the cabin had a address??
Here's a couple shots of the interior I took through an un-shuttered window.
I camped there one night with a partner who was too wimpy to finish the approach to Gayley camp. Mostly we just hung out on the deck and watched the world go by. I really enjoyed it.
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go-B
climber
Hebrews 1:3
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Nov 11, 2013 - 06:00pm PT
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Becareful at the Full-Moon!
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Onewhowalksonrocks
Mountain climber
In the middle of the ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 12, 2013 - 12:31am PT
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I asked the question because I was thinking of a trip I was on during the winter of 1981. Five of my friends and I spent 10 days in this canyon. It snowed 8 feet in 8 days. We made it to the Palisade Glacier only to be turned around by the weather. On the 9th day of our trip we made it to this cabin. Having survived this far, our tents and sleeping bags were soaked. Not wanting to spend one more night in this blizzard. We spent one hour breaking into the cabin. Were we spent the night. After we got to Lone Pine the head lines on the LA Times said worse blizzard in 25 years.
Now as far as the history of the Chaney's in North fork of Big Pine Creek. The following is what I have been told through the years. This may not be true. But, it makes for a good story. Lon Chaney's wife had several cabins located in the canyon around 1st,2nd & 3rd Lakes. She also had a Mine located on the south side of 2nd Lake. Some of a road is still visible on that side of the lake. Once the NFS took over they wanted to turn the cabins over to the Sierra Club. She didn't want this to happen so she blow up all the cabins and the mine. Leaving Lon's cabin alone.
If you know the true story please add to this or if this is the right story please let me know.
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GHHCPA
Social climber
BOZEMAN, MT
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Dec 27, 2013 - 02:45am PT
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Your question about the Railway at 2nd lake. During WWI Tungsten was needed for military use. They mined it up the Canyon. Beleive it or not there is a complete narrow gage rail engine buried in that talus slope that you see from the trail side. We explored it extensively found an old carbide lamp complete and rail spikes. That was in the late 60's and early 70's.
GHHCPA
BOZEMAN, MT.
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JerryA
Mountain climber
Sacramento,CA
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Nov 25, 2014 - 07:52am PT
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In his grand Palisades article in ALPINIST 48 ,Doug Robinson muses about Norman Clyde dropping by the Cabin for conversations with Chaney in front of the " baronial fireplace " . Are there any more pictures of the interior online anywhere ?
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crankster
Trad climber
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Nov 25, 2014 - 08:20am PT
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Outside only.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Nov 25, 2014 - 09:42am PT
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I love the setting of that cabin, and the name of the location: Cienega Mirth. For someone who loved the mountains and to read as much as Clyde did, what a dream gig.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Nov 25, 2014 - 09:59am PT
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The place is haunted......
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rebecca tranbarger
climber
red bluff
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Jan 12, 2015 - 03:27pm PT
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I know about the cabin from 1955 to 1982. My family owned it, and I spent every summer of my childhood there. It was a magical place. After we lost it to the Wilderness...can't have private property there... we continued to camp at the upper lakes for many years. Big Pine Canyon is beautiful.
We have lots of memories of that cabin. My grandpa bought it in a closed bid auction. It came fully equipped with wood stove, pump, beds, lanterns and various deer heads and snow shoes. Over the years we lost many of the moveable items to theft, but the place remained a marvelous place to be.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jan 12, 2015 - 05:16pm PT
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^^^
Wow, what a terrific history. What a gift to have that cabin in the family.
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Trad
Trad climber
northern CA
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Jan 12, 2015 - 06:32pm PT
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Interesting coincidence to see these 2 threads on the same page at the same time.
I never knew who Lon Chaney was until my first (so far only) trip up to Temple Crag and someone told us the history as we hiked past the cabin. We climbed Venusian Blind, hiked back to the car, turned on the radio for the drive out and what should be playing on the radio but "Werewolves of London"!!
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John M
climber
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Jan 12, 2015 - 06:37pm PT
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Thanks for posting Rebecca..
Man.. that must have been magical. I have friends whose family built some of the early cabins in southern Yosemite. I love listening to their stories.
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Jan 12, 2015 - 06:39pm PT
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Wow,
Hearing from a previous owner is really cool. Thanks for the mirth.
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zBrown
Ice climber
Brujò de la Playa
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Jan 12, 2015 - 08:23pm PT
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I have not. However, I did enjoy a beer with Vincent Price on his deck in Imperial Beach (about two houses down from the North Jetty).
I cannot remember what brand it was.
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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Jan 12, 2015 - 08:29pm PT
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Conincidence indeed! after a rained out trip to Sun Ribbon we stopped by the cabin on the way out and I came across something about Lon Cheney owning the cabin (is this in the supertopo?) I didn't know who that was and had only heard the name in the Warren Zevon song. Had to look it up.
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rebecca tranbarger
climber
red bluff
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Jan 12, 2015 - 10:47pm PT
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I have years worth of photos. Some day I will get them together and post them so all can enjoy what used to be. When we lost the place, we removed all that was not nailed down. WE have so many family photos on those stone steps and even one of my dad fishing the stream before breakfast in his red pj's!
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rebecca tranbarger
climber
red bluff
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Jan 12, 2015 - 11:08pm PT
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Check out paintings by the late Bob Cluney. He painted lots of views of Big Pine lakes.
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Let us know!