Desert Long Horn Sheep
Wow, has it really been six months since I did an update? Time flies when you're out in the desert exploring and this summer just seemed to slip by.
Lot's of adventures to recount, but we'll start with something cool we found while picking our why up through Berdue canyon in the jeep.
Berdue canyon leads up from the Coachela valley in California to the back of Joshua Tree National Park. It's a rough boulder-strewn trail that takes about 4 hours to complete at low 4wd speed. We had just started up into the canyon from the Palm Springs side when we happened across a rotting corpse of a desert long horn sheep...
We actually smelled him before we saw him, because in the July sun he was pretty ripe! It looked like the coyotes had been feeding on the corpse and it was pretty ripped up. There was no way to determine what the sheep had died of, but it was interesting that the body was down in the canyon and not up in the hills. I surmise that he was looking for water and had come down into the canyon looking for a drink. The temp was hovering around 110 degrees when we were there and only the hardy can survive in that heat for long.
I had heard there was about 300 or so desert long horn sheep in the mountains surrounding Joshua Tree and Palm Springs, but in 14 years of being out here, I've never even seen one - till now!
Just another cool thing to discover in the desert!
DB
Posted: Sunday 7th December 2008, 10:46 PM
Desert Misty Mountain Top
Here's a nice moody picture from a few days ago. A rainstorm had blown in over the desert mountains, so I took a quick drive up to the top of one of the mesa's to enjoy the cool mist blowing through the desert rocks and cactus. The wind was blowing pretty good and I soon got chilled, but the "aura" of the area during this storm was marvelous.
This was right about at the 5,000 foot level, so the clouds were actually swirling across the mesa top, making a low whispering rumble that was magical. Of course, with so little rain out here, the plants, shrubs and animals just soak this type of god-send up right away. If you came back a day later the place would be burning under a full desert sun.
I smoked a cigar, enjoyed the view and motored off down the trails looking for a place to camp that was a little dryer.
Always beautiful in the desert!
DB
Posted: Wednesday 21st May 2008, 3:39 PM
Model T Desert Wreck
I found this old wreck out in the desert near Joshua Tree, California a few weeks ago. It appears to be an old Model T Ford (or maybe a Model A, I'm not sure) that has been slowly moldering into the ground for the past 75 years or so.
It's been pretty well stripped by various explorers over the years and now is just a rust bucket returning to the soil. I love the color that the metal has turned sitting there in the sun for so long. It blends into the desert floor so perfectly.
I found it near the remains of an old cabin that once belonged to an desert prospector. The place had collapsed into a heap of rotting timbers, but his outside kitchen was still visible. Here's a picture of his old stove and smelter. It still had chunks of charcoal in it, but those might of been from other people using it over the years.
The place still even had chunks of raw gold ore laying about. The gold is in very fine strands that run through the Quartz.
You'd have to mine and pummel tons of this ore to extract enough gold to make it pay. Many times it would take 2-4 tons of ore to give up even a few dollars worth of gold. And this back when gold was like $20 an ounce! Now of course you would make a lot more because of the price increase. That's why many old gold mines and tailing piles (the loose stuff mined out of the tunnels) are being reclaimed and reworked.
Got to be careful out there too, as many a gun fight has settled a gold claim in the desert!
DB
Posted: Thursday 3rd April 2008, 5:11 PM
Black Eagle Mine
Recently we decided to do some exploring along the border of Joshua Tree National Park, by following the old Black Eagle road that leads out of the park's eastern side.
The road is a rough 4x4 trail that meanders over the sandy desert floor for about 14 miles. The first 8 are within the park, then you head onto BLM private land.
There are many old mines and claims in the area, including the Rainbow's End, Black Eagle and Hidden Gold diggings. You can spot them easy enough from the trail by looking for the light colored "tailings" that suddenly appear beneath the small mine openings carved deep into the rocky outcroppings of the mountains.
We were cruising up to the Black Eagle when we came across this old shack hidden down in a ravine.
It was open and we went inside (after checking for snakes!) It was still funrnished and even had lots of food and water left inside by visiting desert explorers such as ourselves. We signed the guest book that sat on the kitchen table, had our lunch outside in the shade of the jeep and continued on.
The people that own the shack left a written invitation for people to make themselves at home and enjoy the house, but I'm not going to give the directions to it, because too many idiots out there like to deface and destroy treasures like this....
BUT...if you do stumble across it out there, please do no harm...and leave something for others!
A good desert rule to live by;)
DB
Posted: Wednesday 5th September 2007, 3:48 PM
Desert Scorpion
Here's a pic of a little "monster" I recently came across out in the desert...
He's about 4 inches long and is a variety of the desert scorpions we have up in the high desert around Joshua Tree, Ca.
The funny thing is, I always go out looking for them at night with a black light (they GLOW green in the dark!) and always seem to just find small ones about an inch or two long.
So the other day I'm moving some old cardboard that was next to my house and there he was... a giant!
I caught him in a pickle jar and took him out in the desert a ways to release unharmed. I took a quick pic and then left him alone to find a burrow.
Many people fear these scorpions, but they are quite harmless and docile - just shake out your boots and bag in the morning or you might just meet the wrong end of one. I've never been stung, but I hear it's like getting punctured by a white hot rivet!
Pretty cool, huh?
DB
Posted: Wednesday 15th August 2007, 12:00 AM
Kelso Dunes
We had a chance to do some camping up at the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve (Southern California) a couple months ago and it was great. Snow-white dunes and a very peaceful primitive campground.
We got there later in the afternoon, so we really didn't get to explore too much, just get our fire going, cook our Cornish hens (over flames, YUM!;) and have a few cocktails as night settled in. Sleeping in the hollow of a sand bed was great. No damn rocks or roots poking through in the small of your back around the time of dawn.
Locals said there are LOTS of sidewinder rattlesnakes there during the summer months, so be careful after dark if you're out walking around barefoot in the sand. We didn't see any, so don't panic about it, just keep an eye out. I'd also recommend camping there during the week as weekends draw a lot of drunken teens and lowbrows to play on the massive dunes that tower over the camping area.
And bring wood if you want a fire, there's just scrub around (and the animals need it for shade during 115+ summer days).
Check it out!
DB
Posted: Thursday 17th May 2007, 2:00 PM
After The Fires
Last year we had some hellacious wildfires up here in the high deserts of California. Over 100,000 acres were burnt and we're just now getting some new growth.
Here's a pic of a lucky Creosote bush that survived the burn -
We didn''t get nearly the rainfall this winter that we need to spur a spring bloom. Looks like it might be another draught/hot summer. I bet fire season (which starts next month) is going to be a doozy.
Still, there is lot's of great exploring and camping to be had in the desert, just watch those camp fires!
DB
Posted: Saturday 12th May 2007, 12:07 PM
Freak Desert Snowstorm
We had a bit of freak weather up here in the high desert of California a few weeks ago. One day is was in the 80's, and then the next - SNOW!
I jumped in the jeep and headed up to one of my favorite spots in Joshua Tree National park - Covington Flats. The air was nice and crisp and the lack of tracks told me I was the first one to explore the snow. I headed out in the middle of a blizzard, but it had pretty much quit snowing by the time I got there a 1/2 hour later. The weather service said we had received about 2 inches in 90 minutes.
A nice little desert snowstorm.
The snow started to melt off by the late afternoon and within a couple of days was even gone from the mountain tops. But it WAS beautiful while it lasted!
DB
Posted: Wednesday 31st January 2007, 12:20 AM
Rattlesnake Hills
I was out in a cool (read: deserted) part of the desert near Joshua Tree, Ca, that I call the "rattlesnake hills".
It's a place I often like to hike and in the summer one has to be extremely careful of rattle snakes. This area of the desert is home to at least seven different varieties, with a couple being infamous for having the most lethal neuro-toxic venom. While it's not like you're going to see one behind every rock, you do have to be alert to their presence and act accordingly.
I have taken to hiking with a staff or long stick which I put in front of my feet when ever I'm about to step down or around a large rock that I can't see what's on the other side....and the other day, I was glad I do so, because....
I had just stepped between two boulders when I heard a loud angry BUZZZZZZZZ (contrary to belief, rattlesnakes "buzz", they don't "rattle") and turned my head to see this big fellow letting me know he wasn't happy with my being there. I froze, reached down and grabbed my camera and got a couple shots.
He was a good size, in fact he probably was the biggest rattlesnake I've ever seen out in the desert. I thought he was awesome! A real thrill to see such a cool misunderstood animal. He wasn't interested in attacking, just letting me know he didn't want me coming any closer. So I took my pics, bid adieu and went on my way. I wasn't scared, but the sound of that rattle DID get my blood pumping for a few moments and I thought how lucky I was to see one in it's natural state (as opposed to seeing them squished on the road).
I had thought most rattlers were "denned up" by this time of year (Oct.) but this guy was obviously interested in getting some delicious golden desert sun before he headed off to hibernate for the winter.
A nice bit of desert adventure on a day's hike!
DB
Posted: Monday 30th October 2006, 7:20 PM
Another Old Desert Dump
Well the fires are out and life is starting to get back to normal up here in the high desert of Southern California. Lots of burnt out areas and many of the animals are still out on the roads at night seeking food as their natural habitat has been destroyed.
I've been out doing what I love the most - exploring and looking for old mines, wrecks and dumps. Here's a good one I found just above Joshua Tree, CA.
It looks to be from the early thirties to about the late seventies of the last centruy judging from the wrecked cars and various old fridges and ice-boxes....lot's of outdoor grills and hot water heaters too...It's also a favorite place for the locals to do some shooting because everything and I mean EVERYTHING has bullet holes in it....and I must say more than a few were put there by ME!
(Bullet holes, not junk!;)
I've got some pics of the fire burn areas coming up next so stay tuned...
DB
Posted: Tuesday 15th August 2006, 7:00 PM
Yucca Valley Fire Pics
Here's some snaps I just took from my yard as the yucca valley fire continues it's rampage. The heat waves make taking a sharp pic a pain:
Flaming debris rains down - more fires starting-
The smoke has blocked out the light from the sun completely making an eerie night-time effect. Almost like being at Mount St.Helens I imagine...
So far over 64,000 acres have gone up, everyone around has been evacuated - sometimes just seconds in front of the flames, leaving livestock and their houses to the mercy of the flames.
When the wind kicks up, there are tendrils of flame 60-70 feet tall racing along at up to 50 MPH! It creates it's own micro-climate - a mini fire tornado that can suck you right into it if you're slow on the getaway.
So far it's been 5 days of this and everything smells and tastes of smoke and embers. Everyone is keeping their vehicles stocked with gas and water jugs incase they have to bug out.
So far, where I live is untouched, and other than the weird "midnight" effect of the huge smoke pall (which can be seen and smelt as far away as Las Vegas and Utah) and a burning sensation in the eyes and chest, all's well!
Just another adventure in the high desert!!
GB
Posted: Friday 14th July 2006, 11:52 PM
Coyote Skull
I was up in the rocks near Moonlight Mesa near one of my favorite desert spots hiking, when I stopped to smoke a cigar and kick back in the shade. I found an enclave in the boulders and flopped my pack down (after first checking for rattle snakes;) and happened to spot an old coyote den under one of the larger boulders.
When I got closer I saw this old bleached skull near the opening -
I propped it up on this rock for a picture (it also had the bottom jaws attached, but when I picked it up they crumbled).
I can't tell how long it had been out there, but as you can see, the hot desert sun pretty much bleached it a perfect white. It's really light and dried-out. Pretty cool.
I brought it home and placed it in the rock wall in my backyard where I stick all cool little momentos from my desert adventures. I'm getting quite the collection too - old cans, skulls, ore and rock samples...also lots of colored cactus.
I'm on the hunt for some old mine ore carts, I've heard from locals there are still a few in the old abandoned mines that dot the area, but you have to be VERY careful about going down in them to retrieve anything - the timber shoring is old and rotten...still, I heard collectors are paying $1200 for a good ore cart. Many people use them as yard decor out here in the desert.
I'd still like to find a human skull, hehe....
DB
Posted: Wednesday 31st May 2006, 7:23 PM
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Desert Blogger Archives
Desert Long Horn Sheep
Desert Misty Mountain Top
Model T Desert Wreck
Black Eagle Mine
Desert Scorpion
Kelso Dunes
After The Fires
Freak Desert Snowstorm
Rattlesnake Hills
Another Old Desert Dump
Yucca Valley Fire Pics
Coyote Skull
Essex To Painted Rock
Journey To Essex California
Desert Doorway
Dale Mining District Part2
Dale Mining District
Another Desert Tortoise
Desert Snow Storm
Head In The Desert
Desert Target Shooting
Old Desert Fire Ring
Desert Winter
Red Sandstone Cliffs
The Gold Hills
Box Canyon
Robber's Rocks
Thanksgiving In The Desert
A Desert Mystery Solved?
Desert "Warsh"
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