I went to Bodie last Spring, right after the road opened. A fascinating place to wander around. None of the buildings were open when I was there - clearly it is an advantage to come later in the season.
I loved the gate at the graveyard - the turnstyle - the endless cycle of life and death....
I didn't look at all the dates on the headstones, but I would not be surprised if some would like to be buried there. Alice Dolan, daughter of the sheriff and now 100, still visits her old house and stays with the rangers.
Thank you very much Alberto for checking out this page on Bodie. I agree with you on visiting places with a history. I can relate to this abandoned town because it happened in the recent past and I used to venture into old abandoned gold mines in California some forty years ago.
Thanks for the great pictures of Bodie. This ghost town struck me as very eerie, due to the fact that its debris is more modern than your average run of the mill western gold town. Seeing old 7UP soda bottles in one cabin during a visit a few tears ago made it seem like an old Twilight Zone episode. Your picture of the athletic club produced similar reactions.
Thank you very much Stu. "Eerie" is the word I should've used in the article, but I was hit by several different emotions at the time. The second time we went there we started from the graveyard, and I looked at the hillside behind it where most of the dead were buried. I couldn't help myself thinking about their faces and the cloths they must have been wearing. I'm sure they were buried with the same cloths on their back. I can easily think of the athletic club full of people doing their thing, chin-ups, drinking beer and getting loud. Well, yes, Twilight Zone, all the way.
BTW, I wonder if one of the rangers, or one of the early visitors left the 7-UP soda bottle there as a joke, or by forgetfulness. Well, it's been removed. I didn't see it.
Thank you very much Eric. Truth be told, I was very hesitant to put this page up since it has nothing to do with mountain climbing. But, since Bodie is located within the hillsides of Mono County at over 8000 feet and was discovered by a "mountain man" I thought it might kind of fit. In any event, I am very happy to know that you liked the page.
Good stuff Marc, looks like a great side trip after some hiking in the Sierra. I need to get there, been by and see the signs but always travel by. My daughter, sister, Mom have been but not me. Does the park stay open based on staffing and time of year or snow and the road isn't plowed?
Thanks much Troy. Agreed, Bodie is a great little side trip for a rest day. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to any of your questions. I think the rangers are there all year round. But, as far as plowing the road in winter I'm not sure. I didn't see any snow removal equipment anywhere. Well, with this drought we're having, I'm sure the road will be open. All I know is that they close down by late afternoon.
I agree. I just went and found it to very interesting. People I guessed lived there all the way up into the 40's even! So 1965 to today i'M SURE THERE WAS A HUGE CONTRAST. ANY PICS Rat?
lisae - Jan 7, 2014 12:43 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice!I went to Bodie last Spring, right after the road opened. A fascinating place to wander around. None of the buildings were open when I was there - clearly it is an advantage to come later in the season.
I loved the gate at the graveyard - the turnstyle - the endless cycle of life and death....
lisae - Jan 7, 2014 2:13 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Nice!I think the fenced graveyard is still being used for burials. There were a few relatively recent graves there.
Marcsoltan - Jan 7, 2014 2:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice!I didn't look at all the dates on the headstones, but I would not be surprised if some would like to be buried there. Alice Dolan, daughter of the sheriff and now 100, still visits her old house and stays with the rangers.
Alberto Rampini - Jan 7, 2014 1:19 pm - Voted 10/10
Very interesting!Thanks for sharing this article and the beautiful pictures, memories of the past...
Alberto
Marcsoltan - Jan 7, 2014 1:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Very interesting!Thank you very much Alberto for checking out this page on Bodie. I agree with you on visiting places with a history. I can relate to this abandoned town because it happened in the recent past and I used to venture into old abandoned gold mines in California some forty years ago.
Stu Brandel - Jan 9, 2014 3:49 pm - Voted 10/10
Eerie BodieThanks for the great pictures of Bodie. This ghost town struck me as very eerie, due to the fact that its debris is more modern than your average run of the mill western gold town. Seeing old 7UP soda bottles in one cabin during a visit a few tears ago made it seem like an old Twilight Zone episode. Your picture of the athletic club produced similar reactions.
Marcsoltan - Jan 9, 2014 6:30 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Eerie BodieThank you very much Stu. "Eerie" is the word I should've used in the article, but I was hit by several different emotions at the time. The second time we went there we started from the graveyard, and I looked at the hillside behind it where most of the dead were buried. I couldn't help myself thinking about their faces and the cloths they must have been wearing. I'm sure they were buried with the same cloths on their back. I can easily think of the athletic club full of people doing their thing, chin-ups, drinking beer and getting loud. Well, yes, Twilight Zone, all the way.
BTW, I wonder if one of the rangers, or one of the early visitors left the 7-UP soda bottle there as a joke, or by forgetfulness. Well, it's been removed. I didn't see it.
Senad Rizvanovic - Jan 15, 2014 4:35 pm - Voted 10/10
...Great stuff!
Senad Rizvanovic - Jan 15, 2014 4:35 pm - Voted 10/10
...Great stuff!
Marcsoltan - Jan 16, 2014 1:16 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ...Thank you very much Sen. Visiting Bodie might be a great diversion for a climbing rest day.
Marcsoltan - Jan 18, 2014 10:16 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A very interesting page!Thank you very much Eric. Truth be told, I was very hesitant to put this page up since it has nothing to do with mountain climbing. But, since Bodie is located within the hillsides of Mono County at over 8000 feet and was discovered by a "mountain man" I thought it might kind of fit. In any event, I am very happy to know that you liked the page.
All the best,
Marc
Marmaduke - Jan 19, 2014 10:54 pm - Voted 10/10
A Hidden GemGood stuff Marc, looks like a great side trip after some hiking in the Sierra. I need to get there, been by and see the signs but always travel by. My daughter, sister, Mom have been but not me. Does the park stay open based on staffing and time of year or snow and the road isn't plowed?
Marcsoltan - Jan 20, 2014 1:25 am - Hasn't voted
Re: A Hidden GemThanks much Troy. Agreed, Bodie is a great little side trip for a rest day. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to any of your questions. I think the rangers are there all year round. But, as far as plowing the road in winter I'm not sure. I didn't see any snow removal equipment anywhere. Well, with this drought we're having, I'm sure the road will be open. All I know is that they close down by late afternoon.
Sierra Ledge Rat - Mar 9, 2014 4:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Pretty coolI went to Bodie for the first time back around 1965
Marcsoltan - Mar 9, 2014 7:03 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Pretty coolI would have liked to see Bodie in 1965. It would be interesting to see how things change in several decades.
Thanks for dropping by.
Marmaduke - Jun 14, 2014 10:42 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Pretty coolI agree. I just went and found it to very interesting. People I guessed lived there all the way up into the 40's even! So 1965 to today i'M SURE THERE WAS A HUGE CONTRAST. ANY PICS Rat?