In early 2026, I visited the Morningstar Cabin on a tour of cabins around Saline Valley. There, I found a 19-year-old register containing a fun history of the folks who had visited in that time, as well as some of the work that had been done to the cabin after it was adopted. I always like to archive this sort of information, as there's no telling when it will be "borrowed" from the cabin or otherwise meet some untimely demise.
If you've been to the Morningstar Cabin, I'd love to hear your story in the comments below.
11-15-07 - ED & DAN STOPPED BY FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO DO SOME CLEANUP AND STABILIZATION. REPLACED SOME WINDOWS, FIXED THE DOOR & REPAIRED THE ROOF. SHOULD HOLD UP FOR AWHILE. CLEANED UP A BIT. WE SET UP A HAM RADIO STATION AND TALKED TO PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. FAIR PROPAGATION.
WWW.BOXCARCABIN.COM
ALLTEL CERRO GORDO & ROGERS PEAK CELLULAR HERE.
4-4/4-5 2008 - THANK YOU DAN & ED FOR THE WONDERFUL ACCOMMODATIONS! "PAR EXCELLANCE" DAN, YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THE SCARCITY OF NATIVE TIMBER FOR FIREWOOD! LEFT A CASE OF "SAWDUST LOGS" - I USUALLY CHOP THEM IN HALF FOR MODERATE HEAT - ALSO LEFT SOME COOKWARE
FUN CARIN USE AND A FEW ODDS & ENDS OF FOOD FOR FUTURE TRAVELERS TO THIS REMOTE SPOT!
CARRY "BIGFOOT" NICKEL
FARMINGTON, NM
CARYNICKEL@PEOPLEPC.com
P.S. FOUND THE "HE MAN" SIZED "COFFEE THIMBLES" IN THE BURN PILE OUT FRONT OF THE CABIN - ESPRESSO CUPS?
4-4 to 4-5 - Hats off to Ed & Dan!! Totally impressed with what You've done!! Got here just before dusk last nite...
Leaving Some "Lumbermans" Firewood, a whisk bream for the dust pan, a tupperware type box w/ paper towels and other odds & ends in it. Also left an "EYE CANDY" Calendar of mine so that us He-Men, don't forget why we do return to "CIVILIZATION" eventually,
Mad Coyote
coyotemaze@qwest.net
P.S. check out the ceiling lite "WIRED IN" HA!
4-7-08 Dan & Ed back for 2 nights. WORKED ON FLOOR BUT RAN OUT OF WOOD,
4-10-10 Cash & Carrie ♡
Bishop, CA.
11 Apr 2010 John & Liye and Chris
Stopped by to make sure everything was fine here. And it is! Great! My first trip to this cabin was with my father in 1984. I'm back this time to spread his ashes Weere having beer in his honor
John
activeenergy@rocketmail.com.
April 16-17/10 - Brian + Deb Small
Came by to check the place out. Took a bunch of pictures for Dan because he always likes to see how the places he works on are holding out. And believe me Dan works on many cabins. The backcountry crowd has much to be thankful to/for DAN. The weather was clear + warm. Evenings around
45°F (smokefire@webshot & panamint.com) 4/17/2010
PS. Although I don't know Ed, I want to acknowledge and thank him for all the work he has done on this cabin and I am sure others as well.
5-15-2010 - CAME BY TO SEE THE CABIN. GOOD JOB AS ALWAYS DAN + ED THX
-MICAH@MICAHHOME.NET
5-15-10 - Awesome job Dan! This place was full of trash 10 years ago. You couldn't even hardly walk in the door. Nice! Plenty of flowers today.
Guy guy @ starbuck.org
5-17-10 - CAME BACK TO DO A LITTLE CLEANUP. LOOKS LIKE IT DOESN'T NEED MUCH.
DAN & ED www.boxcarcabin.com
7/11/10 - Found the place by accident. Two great cabins in one day... (at last)! LOVE THE VIEW.
Deb BERMBERCH38 @YAHOO.COM
8-20-10 - Nice day to be out of the valley. Came up for a backcountry/wilderness survey Ranger Charlie Callagan D.V.N.P. Wilderness Coordinator. Volunteer Nort Phillip.
A heads up to those who might work to clean this cabin. Wear a mask, gloves and use bleach as Hanta Virus has been confirmed in the park.
8-20-2010 - PS If you are curious about the old road beyond the cabin it dead ends in a short distance with no decent turn around. It's a good opportunity to allow the desert to reclaim the land. Enjoy the cabin.
Ranger Charlie
9/3/2010 - THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS CABIN CLEAN, CAME UP FROM PALM SP ON A SOLO BIKE RIDE.
MITCH C
GEOLOGIST - WASHOE VALLEY, NV
12-12-10 - UP FOR THE AFTERNOON GREAT SUNNY WEATHER
JOHN & MAUREEN
BIG PINE
2/11/10 - Looking for a descent cabin to stay in. The mice are showing themselves, I'm positive in not staying here. They are either too curious or they don't want us here. Either way if there is confirmed hantavirus here, no way I'm staying!
AMY & RYAN
BISHOP
6-12-11 - Just stopping by.
-Guy
guy@starbuck.org
6-12-11 - LOOKING FOR SOME FLOWERS - NOT TO MANY. WE'RE A LITTLE LATE.
-MICAH@9250X.com.
6/14/11 - Beautiful day & views 86° + breezy. The cabin is well worth talking care of. Bill Bishop, CA
3/8/2 - JOE DAVE & JIM WERE HERE. NICE DAY DIDINT STAY LONG WERE CAMPED AT WARM SPRINGS. FROM LONE PINE & INDEPENDENCE, BAKERSFIELD.
April 7. 2012 - Neal Nurmi Birgitta Jansen
Death Valley National Park Volunteers
Delightful cabin, fabulous location!
JULY 6-2012 - FINALLY FOUND IT - WHAT A TREAT "RED THE GREY" ECU GRUB GULTCH CHAPTER 4149
JIM SAVAGE 1852 XNGH x 2
06-JUL 12 - Great to see MORE of Boxcar Dan's handiwork, after Boxcar cabin & others across Inyo Co. Haven't seen you Dan since FOMC, when wos it? Thanks much and keep up the good work. This is 10,000 times better than the last time I was here.
Jeny K.
Madera CA
CSU Classmate of Mitch C.
21 OCT 12 - HIKED FROM SALINE VALLEY RD OVER THE HILL. CABIN IS IN FINE SHAPE, LOOKING FOR OTHER CABINS TO SOUTH BUT NO LUCK SO FAR. LISTENING TO DEB TELLING ABOUT HER FRIEND SEDUCING A MIDGET IN A N.O. MENS ROOM. IN OTHER WORDS, A PERFECT DAY
PAT, DEBRA
Sept 22, 2013 - Tom & Charmains.
WAS Here. Surprised to. See cabin, Great weather
JOSHUA TREE Cal
12-27-13 - Walked from Big Pine. On to Saline Pk. & Steel Pass Rd. Then we'll see. Left? Right? Straight ahead?
Chris Tribby - Mammoth Lakes
4-14-14 - Last week of my internship and I brought beers to celebrate. The boss man was pleased. Hasta Luega Death Valley!
Brendan Sullivan
Wilderness Intern
Worcester, MA
4-14-14 - 2nd visit, nice day. Globe mallow is blooming in profusion. Looking forward to the total eclipse of the moon, Brendan thanks for the beer! Cabins in fine shape
Charlie Callagan
D.V.N. Pork Wilderness Coordinator
8/31/14 - SILVER BOB & MICHELLE
WHAT A TRIP! THANKS
BILL + BARB
9/25/14 2:30PM - Big Bear Valley Jeep Club, 11 Jeeps! 70°, windy.
10/28/14 - Credit card denied - can't stay. Bummer -
Tim, Donna, Aaron & Trina
22 MAY 2015 - 5 people, 3 Jeeps
Great trip. Cold wind, previous rain.
Underground Explorers
13 November, 2015 - Friday
Backpacking in tomorrow toward Eureka Peak and will climb the peak on Saturday, It will be the last of my list of 110 named, bench mark, or other significant D.V. National Park peaks.
Charlie Callagan
Death Valley NP Wilderness Coordinator
4-14-17 - PRETTY NOVEL TO WRITE IN THE LOGBOOK WITH A PEN MY HUBBY LEFT HERE 9 YEARS AGO!!! THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I MUST ADMIT THE CARIN WAS IN BETTER SHAPE BUT IT IS STILL STANDING AND THAT IS THE GOOD PART.
THERE 1S STILL ONE FIRELOG LEFT FROM THE CASE I LEFT IN 2008. PERHAPS THIS WILL BE A WORK PROTECT FOR US NEXT YEAR?
CARY "BIGFOOT" NICKEL
FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO
CARYNICKEL@COMCAST.NET
4-14-17 - I am amazed as well. That a pen I left here 9 years ago still works!!! Amazing. Had lunch and headed back to IOWA Tomorrow morn.
HAPPY TRAILS ALL!
Mad Yote
5/27/17 - Underground Explorers stopped by. Roof still looks gGood but porch cover has blown down. would love to know when.
12-26-17 - Rob, Pat, Chris One night
Dec 29, 2017 - Little bit of a drive in. Please don't tell Fox Rent A Car
Just visited for a few minutes
John from Toronto
2/23/18 - Drove out here while exploring Flats, very cold & windy.
16° last night 28° at 1pm
Jim - Paso Robles
3-31-18 - Came our exploring (looking ror cabin) Found it !!
SKIP
DARBY MONTANA
3-31-18 - Came out to find cabin & Explore
DAVID HALE
Tujunga, CA K6DIH
WWW.SCOTA.ORG
5/19/18 - MARC, JD, JUAN, BRIAN, BOLA, CONNAY, SEAN,
7/26/18 - Jeremy Stoltzfrs, NPS
9-3-18 - Stuart Gibson Trinidad, California
First general exploration of area.
19/22/18 - Randy (O.C.), Jim from Paso & Ken from Cameron Park.
3/25/19 - Jerry & Kathy
8-25-19 - Major Tom Saline Vally Chronicles www.timenspace.net
3/4/19 - Come by on my way home from Saline - CHRIS
5/25/19 - Underground Explorers stopped by. The poop station is extreme.
8/26/19 - Rossi Bobcat
D.V. Junction
June 6, 2020 - We rode our mountain bikes with our two dogs from Easy Pickin's cabin, not too far away. Nice views but this poor cabin has seen better days! Nice day trip, easy riding, cool and sunny for June in D.V.!
Jenn & Romy, Daisy & Duke
Fish Lake Valley, Nevada
5-14-20 - MIKE Reynolds, Furnace Creek, CA
Climbed Eureka Pk & Crest BM yesterday
Plus Zinc BM today. Headed back to Valley now, What a sweet cabin!
8/13/2020 - RANGER M. GALLEGOS, NPS
8-14-20 - Stayed at a nearby cabin + taking a tour of Jackass Flats today. Beautiful area + two fighter jets seen in the canyon right after the climb out. Three more heard while writing.
Ben Burmet Bishop, CA
12/22/2020 - WOW! 4 MO BETWEEN LOG POSTS!
CAME UP TO LOOK AROUND WITH DINO DOG. BEAUTIFUL SPOT AND NICE TO SEE THE NEW ROOF. THE BATTLE WITH THE MICE MAY BE LOST
-CHAZZ HACKING SANTA CRUZ CA
3/22/21 NEAT CABIN BUT LOOKING PRETTY SHABBY. AT LEAST THE MICE HAD A NICE PLACE TO STAY OVER THE WINTER.
rider914
aanichols (ADV)
6/23/21 - Rossi Bobcat
10/09/21 - super remote!!
BP - CP
3/3/22 - Great CABIN, GLAD to see the mice are well sheltered here.
Don Shannon Reno, NV
Charles Perry aka SKIP a Calif 49er
03-11-2022
Oct 21/2022 - Kevin Cook, Santa Clara, CA
Awesome isolated spot, hope the cabin survives, it's not doing so well!
First time here, wondering if those holes in the walls were always there...
Love the old thermometer!
1/23/24 - SP Parker - Montgomery Pass NV
Marty Hornick - Wilkerson, Bishop
Squeezed in past the boulder in the Jeep! If Trump wins in 2024 we are moving in
3 MAR 24 - AND YET ANOTHER W HUSSY ?????!!
THIS PLACE MUST HAVE BEEN GREAT I ED & DANS DAY, BUT SADLY I THINK ITS TOO FAR GONE
DuGeFresh
04/15/2025 - IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE SO MANY COMMENTS TALKING ABOUT THE CABIN IN GOOD CONDITION YEARS AGO. I HELD MY BREATH TO GRAB THIS REGISTER. THERE'S A RABBIT FOOT ON THE ROOF OF THE CABIN - PROBABLY LEFT BY A HAWK GUESS THAT'S GOOD LUCK? IT'S ANOTHER GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVEN THOUGH I STILL NEED TO DO MY TAXES
MICHEUE CLARK
ELYSCIA LETHERMAN
MATT LAMAR
-COW CREEK CA
1-25-26 - Book has gotten wet & moldy. Leaving it in the sun to dry. Hopefully someone comes along soon and can air dry it!
D - AdventureTaco
