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
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