The truth is that I should have spent the day with my stored photos. But, I yearned to feel the warm desert air on my skin, so I resolved to work through the morning and leave the house at two o'clock. The photographs would always be there.
Not wanting to travel too far, I referred to my dog-eared copy of Roger and Loris Mitchell's Southern California SUV Trails-Volume I. I was looking for something near Barstow, which is only about an hour from my house. Their write-up about the Gold Belt Mine caught my eye, because the site is only twenty five miles from Barstow, and it seemed as though I could explore the site a bit and still be home for dinner with my wife.
So, with my trusty Jeep Cherokee loaded with six gallons of water, a cooler with ice and a couple of soft-drinks, some basic tools, and, of course, my camera bag, I left my home at roughly two-fifteen.
An hour and twenty minutes later (I'd come across some traffic on the 15 freeway) I was exiting the 15 at Barstow Rd. Also known at Route 246, I headed South. The stores and businesses that I passed soon gave way to open land on both sides of the two lane road. I shut the air conditioning off and opened all four windows completely. The warm desert air whipped around the inside of my Jeep as I cruised along at the posted fifty-five mile per hour speed limit. I was in no hurry.
Shortly after driving through Goat Mountain Pass, a dirt road branched off the highway to the left. It seemed to match the description and location described in the Mitchell's book, so I slowed down and exited here.
Placing my Jeep in four wheel drive (High-Range), I drove along the rocky, graded dirt road for nearly a mile (there were a few sandy spots), and then turned left at the fork that is described in the book. The trail curved around, and large shaft entrance on my left told me that I was approaching the site. I was also able to see an old concrete foundation sitting alongside the hill that was ahead of me.
Gold was found in this area during the 1920's, according to the Mitchells. They go on to say that The Great Depression was just around the corner, and the government had set gold prices at a mere twenty dollars per ounce! Nevertheless, the mine owners were able to obtain financing and begin operations in 1930. Two years later, operations ceased.
Now, only concrete foundations and the old mine shaft entrances remain.
As I had no interest in actually entering the mine shafts (a very dangerous thing to do), I proceeded a few hundred feet further to the base of the hill. Here, I put my Cherokee in Low Range, and I climbed the rocky hill, stopping at a large concrete foundation.
(Self-portrait in my Cherokee-this is the hill on which the old building foundations are located.)
Photo by Scott Schwartz
One of the old foundations.) Photo by Scott Schwartz
I actually preferred to focus on the panoramic view of the surrounding Ord Mountains, and of Lucerne Valley in the distance. Looking at the ground at my feet depressed me, as there is broken glass and empty shell casings scattered nearly everywhere. I've been known to plink at targets on occasion, and I always clean up after myself. I don't understand why others can't do the same. Leaving trash like this only reinforces the perception among environmentalists that all visitors to the desert are ruining it.
distance just beyond the shadowed hills.) Photo by
Scott Schwartz
At any rate; after taken in the view and shooting some photos, I got back into my Jeep, turned around and made the descent to the bottom of the hill. I kept my Jeep in Low Range, using engine-braking, and occasional brake-tapping to keep my speed down.
As it was getting close to five o'clock, it was time to head home for dinner.
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