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From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
I wasn’t going to be able to make it to the lakes on the North Fork Trail, so instead I decided to use the Lon Chaney Cabin as my lunch and turn-back point for my hike:
“Before there were any of the superstars that grace magazines, social media postings, and every aspect of modern day life, there were a smaller series of stars of early Hollywood that first America, and then the world knew. Out of this group, by far, the most infamous was Lon Chaney. While Lon Chaney has somewhat disappears into the mists of history, in his heyday, he was well-known as “The Manof a Thousand Faces”, and turned in iconic performances as the Phantom of the Opera, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, among many others. Although there are many interesting facts about Lon Chaney, one of the more little-known facts about him is that he had a 1,288 square foot cabin built in the Inyo National Forest. While Lon Chaney is long gone the cabin remains to this day, and is a great halfway point for a day-hike through some of the more pristine wilderness in the Eastern Sierra.”
“After passing through a good section of the forest, the cabin will appear through the trees on the left (South) side of the trail. While it is marked as the “Big Pine Creek Wilderness Ranger Hut”, it is indeed the Lon Chaney Cabin. Designed by Paul Revere Williams, a famous Los Angeles architect, it was built for only $12,000 in 1929. Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to access the interior of the cabin as it is Forest Service property; however, hikers and backpackers can utilize the porch and exterior areas of the cabin to rest, relax, and take in the bucolic views of Big Pine Creek which passes right in front of the cabin, before turning around and heading back down the trail. From the parking area to the cabin, it is 3.5 miles with 1,700 feet of elevation gain; for a roundtrip distance of 7 miles.”
Here is the view of the cabin from the creek.
The creek water here was fresh and cold. There was even a small snowbank right near the cabin. I ate my sandwich and some chips and chugged a Gatorade before heading back down to camp.
There’s even a small pool of water I could’ve swam in if I had wanted to. But I didn’t feel like having to dry off before hiking back and I was getting short on time.
Here is the historical marker/info on the door of the cabin.
On the way back to camp, the light was much better so I snapped one last great picture of the Palisade Glacier and the E. Sierra.
While driving around earlier in the day, we knew we probably weren’t going to want to deal with cooking dinner so we stopped at Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine and got some ribs and brisket. It was SUPERB!! And a perfect trip for our final night of vacation.
OzarkHillbilly
Yum. Thanx UncleE.
raven
Cool, the cabin reminds me of the Margaret Hamiltion (Wicked Witch) Cabin in Maine!
Manyakitty
That’s cool, and the views are great!
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
I’ve passed by Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine many times, never stopped. Then again, when I go out to shoot, I usually don’t eat.
eclare
That looks like a perfect day. Great photos.
Dmbeaster
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: If you like BBQ, I highly recommend it.
West of the Rockies
@raven:
Wow. “Cabin” is kind of an understatement.
West of the Rockies
I’m jealous, Uncle Eb. I would love to take that hike. Being in Chico, it’s even pretty doable.
Mike Mundy
Last time I hiked up there was in 2018.
BigJimSlade
Very nice, and yummy!
EighthCousin
Late comment from the “left coast”…
Saw that cabin while hiking with my dad about 1975-ish. Looking at your photos, I can almost smell the forest. It was the same kind of sunny day too–a great memory!
Thanks for sharing…
Elkheart
Longtime lurker chiming in just to say this (and the stretch beyond to the lakes) is my favorite hike ever, except maybe for a couple in Yosemite. I call it walking over the knuckles of God. The cabin is at the top of where the stream becomes a waterfall as it drops into the valley, and provides the first good resting place. Then you kill yourself the rest of the way and get as high up as you can. Splendid.
UncleEbeneezer
@EighthCousin: Wow that is so cool. Glad you enjoyed them!
UncleEbeneezer
@🐾BillinGlendaleCA: It’s very good. Highly recommend it.