Abstract pattern: El Paso Mountains...

This image was created with my DJI Phantom drone, while it was flying over Mesquite Canyon.  The creasote plants seem to be poking through the gound.

Merry Christmas to all of my readers!  

Lost Lake: Hidden wash...

It amazes me that these isolated areas are located right near major thoroughfares, like the 15 Freeway.

Here, my drone traces part of a trail, near the rock formations.  This spot is located about a half-mile from Lost Lake.  The 15 Freeway lies just beyond the hills in the background.

Lost Lake- Hidden Oasis..

Stunning scenery, that I captured with my drone.

Cajon Pass Juxtaposition: Drone Image...

Again, I caught something interesting with my drone's camera, last weekend:

I thought that the combination of the power lines, traffic, mountains, and clouds just make for an interesting photo!  

Cajon Pass: Sign of an overgrown trail?

So, I was using my drone as a surrogate explorer- not far from Cleghorn Rd., last weekend.  I noticed this post standing out in the middle of an overgrown area.  Was this an old mining claim?  An overgrown trail? 

Joshua Tree/Twentynine Palms: The Dale Mining District...

The area that makes up Joshua Tree National Park was was first referred to in an 1853 railroad survey, that was conducted by a Lt. R.S. Williamson.

In his journal, Williamson wrote: "A mountain range extends from the San Bernardino Mountains in a southeasterly direction nearly, if not quite, to the Colorado (River.)  Between these mountains and the mountains of the Mohave nothing is known of the country.  I have never heard of a white man who had penetrated it."

However, mining activity did not begin in the Twentynine Palms area until 1873.  Several mines sprung up in the area, with names such as the "Blue Jay," the "Cora," and the "Frying Pan."

Over time, prospectors searched for gold in the rocky hills to the east, over looking Pinto Basin.  Because water was found nearby, the town of Virginia Dale was founded in this area.

So, why was the town called "Virginia Dale?"  The reason is lost to the mists of time, but Virgina Dale may have been the first child born in the camp which eventually became the town.

The mine that was known as the "Virginia Dale" was actually three mines, the first of which was developed in 1885 by two men:  T.B. Lyon and ...."Chuckwalla" Wilson.

As the miners worked further south east, the town moved with them.

The population of one of the Dale camps is supposed to have peaked at three thousand people.  However, only eight people remained in Dale township as of 1920.

Today, only the rusting cyanide tanks and some tailings remain.

                                          Looking up, toward the mine.  Photo by Scott Schwartz. 
                                                             All rights reserved.

The ruined cyanide tanks at the Virginia Dale Mine.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.

Cyanide tank: interior.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.

The Pinto Basin can be seen, in this view from the mine.  The mountains in the distance are the Pinto Mountains.                         Photo by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved. 

                                       

Joshua Tree National Park: More Gneiss Rocks...

Eons ago, this formation ("Jumbo Rocks") was submerged as part of a continental shelf.  

Joshua Tree National Park: The Australian Connection...

The gneiss that is found in Joshua Tree National Park is nearly the same as that found in Australia and in Antarctica.  These two continents, along with North America, were once connected to each other, forming a super-continent that is known as Rodinia.  The Joshua Tree gneiss was likely part of the Rodinian Mountain chain that spanned across Rodinia, until Rodinia broke up, roughly 800 million years ago.

After the break-up of Rodinia, the Joshua Tree rocks lay submerged for another 250 million years.

Both of these photographs were taken at "Jumbo Rocks."

Joshua Tree National Park...

....covers over eight hundred thousand acres, and covers parts of two deserts:  the Colorado and the Mojave.

Where to start exploring?  My standard operating procedure is to just pick one or two areas per trip.

"Jumbo Rocks."

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Joshua Tree National Park...

Hello everyone,

I spent the last weekend camping in Joshua Tree National Park.  So, my next series of posts will be related to park; stay tuned!

One of the interesting things about Joshua Tree National Park, is, well, the Joshua Trees!  This was taken at Jumbo Rocks.

The territory near the Alvord Mine...San Bernardino Mountains...

This photo shows the ruggedness and remoteness of this country.  What must it have been like to live and work here?  Especially during the summer months.  

I'm not sure where the trail, which heads off to the upper left of this image, leads, but I suspect that it may dead-end at the border of the Fort Irwin military reservation.

Looking at this photo, I am reminded of how important it is to carry plenty of water and food.  One never knows when a mechanical breakdown will occur, despite the best preventative maintenance. 

Mesquite Canyon: Chocolate Swirls...

Perhaps the approach of Halloween has me thinking of candy.  But the cuts in the terrain, on the right-hand side of the image remind me of the icing swirls on a chocolate cake.  This may have something to do with the three bags of Halloween candy that I am storing in my office!

The image shown in this post was taken in Mesquite Canyon.  Mesquite Canyon is located in the El Paso Mountains, and was extensively mined during the 19th century.  Unsavory characters made life difficult for miners and for travelers - right through the 1960's!

On this day, my wife and I had decided to venture into the El Paso Mountains, after taking in the Old West Days fair in Randsburg.  It was early evening, and the sun was casting its shadows on the folds of the rocks.  The Mountains in the distance are the Rand Mountains.

The Cajon Pass Toll Road: Remnants....

Mountain man/pioneer/merchant John Brown made improvements to an old pack trail in 1861.  He then started charging a toll for use of the road.  The improvements were sorely needed, because travel through the Cajon Pass-with its rocky terrain and hostile Indians-was treacherous indeed. 

The existence of the toll road itself was "rocky."  Allegations of poor maintenance and legal challenges regarding his right to charge tolls at all, plagued John Brown until he sold the rights to run the toll road in 1878. 

However, the toll road charter that was granted by the County expired in October, 1882.  With the expiration of the charter, the road became a public thoroughfare. 

Much of the old road became Route 66.  However, some sections of the original toll road remain.  Freight-wagon traffic has long since given way to off-road recreational traffic. 

Here are some photographs that I took, during a visit to the old toll road, last weekend. 

Looking southward, toward Crowder Canyon.

The author's Jeep Cherokee on the old road-the camera is pointed north east.

The trail entrance is near the site of the old Summit Inn.

This image was taken about 1 year ago, and it illustrates how 

the road could have made the steep descent into Crowder 

                                   Canyon much easier.  

February, 2017, after recent rains.  Notice the condition of the road.  Although it was still easily negotiated with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, imagine how it must have been with a horse or mule-driven wagon.  Given the accusations of poor maintenance that were leveled against John Brown, the road was likely in much worse shape during the toll-road days.

Here's what travelers through the Cajon Pass faced, with no road.  I was standing alongside the old toll road, when I took this photograph.

The 15 Freeway, as seen from the old toll road.

Mesquite Canyon Trail-more from the El Paso Mountains...

Once the domain of prospectors and the claim-jumpers who preyed upon them, off-roaders and desert explorers, like your author, now meander along Mesquite Canyon Road in search of interesting scenery and old mining ruins.

This footage was filmed with my DJI Phantom 4 drone, which was flying southward toward Garlock Road.

Mesquite Canyon at dusk ...

I probably waited until the sun was a little too low in the sky, to film this. But, notice the sunlight hitting the top of the mountain in the distance.  Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

See my previous post regarding the history of this area, and imagine entering this canyon during the 1800's when danger lurked here!

This still image was shot a little earlier in the evening.  Slightly abstract, I know!

Mesquite Canyon ...El Paso Mountains...has a dark history...

Today, a nice plastic marker identifies the road ("EP100," also known as Mesquite Canyon Rd.) into Mesquite Canyon.  The area is now the domain of off-roaders, and part-time prospectors.  The trail into Mesqute Canyon is a relatively easy four-wheel drive trail, and the only real dangers facing the modern traveler are the usual and very real hazards associated with entering a remote area unprepared,

This has not always been the case.

This trail was originally a Native American foot-path, that, by the early 19th century, was being followed by prospectors in search of gold.  During the 1850's, the trail was being used as a burro/pack route, with the animals hauling gold out of the mines and returning with supplies for the miners.

The area wasn't quite as barren as it is today.  A clump of mesquite trees once grew at the entrance to the canyon, and spring water once supported these trees, as well as grass.

This sounds somewhat idyllic.  But, during the mid 1800's all sorts of renegades and outlaws preyed on the miners.  There was no law enforcement, so the miners had to protect themselves-if they could.  Sadly, most of what happened in Mesquite Canyon, "stayed" in Mesquite Canyon, with very little news of the goings-on reaching the outside world.

Once in a while, though, a freighter would carry news of a tragedy to a nearby town.  One of these tragedies was the murder, in 1864, of the owner of the Yarbrough Gold and Silver Company.  The man was killed at Mesquite Springs, while he waited for a shipment of gold to be picked up.

Indeed, many travelers-some just passing through, found themselves looking down the barrel of a gun, merely for being in the canyon.  These types of confrontations, along with "high grading" (sneaking on to another miner's claim and stealing the "highest grade" gold) were occurring through the middle of the 20th century.

Now, though, the Canyon is quiet, save for the grumble of an occasional vehicle.

EP100 is a relatively easy trail.  Although sandy in spots, it is mostly a dirt road.  Recently, my wife and I took our Subaru CrossTrek on this trail, and we encountered no difficulty whatsoever.  We had no need to use low-range, which is good, because the CrossTrek doesn't have low-range.  However, we did encounter some sand, which necessitated the use of the Subaru's "X-Drive" button-which locks the transfer case in order to provide equal power to all four wheels.

EP100, looking south toward Randsburg-Red Rock/Garlock Road.

EP100, looking north, toward Mesquite Springs (which were dry during our visit.)

Old West Days: Randsburg, CA...

We took a drive up to Randsburg on Saturday, September 15, in order to check this annual event out.

As expected, the main street was lined with vendors selling their wares, from the kitchy (a coat rack made from horseshoes was one item), to the  merely somewhat kitchy (a 3-foot high steel windmill, which we purchased.)  And then, there was just some plain-old junk for sale, such as old VHS tapes.  Lots of them. 

The highlights of the day were the classic car show, and the staged gunfight, which featured two groups of geriatric "gunslingers" firing blanks at each other.  None of these guys appeared to be younger than seventy years old, and the same could be said of the "saloon girls" who were wandering around. Still, it was fun to watch.

Randsburg's staple businesses are its antique shops, the Randsburg General Store, and its famous watering hole:  The Joint.  Most of these establishments were open on this day, as were some newer businesses which include art galleries, a hot-rod shop, and a "motorcycle and surf" shop.  As I'm intrigued by a "surf" shop located in the middle of the Mojave Desert,  I'll have to look into that last business further, during my next visit.

Frankly, Randsburg has enough attractions - the Rand Desert Museum is one of them- definitely worth spending some time there-to make the trip worthwhile on any given weekend.  Well, almost any weekend-I'd avoid holiday weekends, as the town is mobbed, and it is virtually impossible to get into the eating establishments.

As for the Old West Days event; if I hadn't already planned to do some poking around in the nearby El Paso Mountains at the end of the day, I might have been a little disappointed.

Tiburcio Vasquez' Campsite: Close to the rocks...

This rock formation is at "Robber's Roost."  Robber's Roost is, according to lore, supposed to have been where infamous outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez camped with his men, while he prepared to rob the nearby Freeman stage stop in 1874.  

In looking at this photo, I was faced with a dilemma.  Look at the upper left corner of the photo, and you will see that the drone's camera caught one of the prop/rotor blades in the frame.  This happens if I don't tilt the camera-gimbal down slightly during forward flight.  

Cropping the image would have eliminated the blade, and would perhaps, have made for a "cleaner" image.  Leaving the blade in the frame, on the other hand, could add to the drama.  

What do you think?

Calico: Mule Canyon...

This is a drone image of Mule Canyon Rd. (a section of it, anyway.)  The area is a major off-road/shooting recreation area.  However, Borax was discovered here in 1883.  This ravine become known as "Mule Canyon," because twenty-mule wagon teams would haul Borax from here to the depot at Daggett.

Mojave Desert Secret: El Paso Mountains...

Photo by Scott Schwartz.  DJI Phantom 4 image.

This spot shown in this image is approximately one mile east of Hwy. 14, and about two miles north of the Red Rock Canyon State Park boundary.

At one time, wild mountain sheep and goats were hunted here.  Now, the El Paso Mountains are the domain of off-road drivers and part-time prospectors.  

Situated between Hwy. 14 to the west,  and Rte. 395 to the east, scores of trails are open to the explorer.  Some of the trails require four-wheel drive.  Others can be accessed with passenger cars (if driven with caution.)

I refer to the area as "secret," because I come across so many people- many of them recreational off-roaders-who have never heard of the El Paso Mountains.

A two-to-three hour drive from Los Angeles, the El Paso Mountains are worth the trip.  They have everything an outdoors person could want: beautiful scenery, interesting trails, mining ruins, and a fascinating history.

Alvord Mine- Canyon video

Here's a short video of the canyon area, near the Alvord Mine.

The Alvord Mine...

The Alvord Mine has its origins in the 1885 discovery of gold in the surrounding Alvord Mountains.  Within a few years of the discovery, an outfit called the Carter Mining Company was operating here.  The company ceased operations in 1891, after $50,000 in gold was extracted from the mine.

The Alvord mine was re-activated on several different occasions during the early twentieth century, with the last operations ceasing in 1952.

Sadly, vandals have taken their toll, over the years.  Graffiti can clearly be seen, as the drone orbits the old building. 

I can't really be sure what this building once housed .  Was it the office, perhaps?  Someone's residence? 

This is a lonely spot; I've rarely seen anyone else out here.  

The stil photo was taken with my drone, as well.   Although I'm never without my Nikon SLR, the drone has greatly enhanced my ability to explore.  Naturally, there are rules governing drone operation, which must be obeyed.  

I will gladly summarize those rules, if anyone is interested.  Let me know, via comments.

Secret Cajon Pass...

I love exploring areas that are hidden to those who whiz by on the freeway; maybe it's the part of me that likes to be "different."  I took both of these photos along a trail that runs approximately one mile north of Lost Lake.  Most of the trail is a graded dirt-road, but there are a couple of very large mounds in the road which require higher ground clearance than that provided by a standard automobile, and there is a sandy spot toward the end of the trail (which dead-ends at a ridge which overlooks Lone Pine Canyon) which requires four-wheel drive.  

The photo at the top of the page was taken with a Nikon D7200, using a Nikkor 28-70 millimeter telephoto lens.  Settings:  200th/sec. at f.14.  ISO 250.  This rock formation is at the aforementioned ridge, which I hiked to.  It's a relatively short, uphill hike, and I didn't want to negotiate it with my Jeep, since I wasn't sure if there would be room for me to turn the vehicle around.  Plus, the exercise wouldn't hurt!

The bottom photo was taken on the same day, at a point along a flat portion of this trail.  

Equipment:  Nikon D7200, Nikkor 28-70 millimeter lens, 1/160th sec. at f.14.  ISO 250.

Traces of past travelers?

Look at these two photos:

I took these photos today, on the east side of the Mormon Rocks in the Cajon Pass.  The ruts in the top photo appear to have been made by wagon wheels.  Using a tape measure, I determined that the ruts are approximately 55" edge-to-edge. 

The ruts look really old, and they don't appear to have been made by the tires of a motorized vehicle.

A close look at the second photo reveals another set of ruts, that climb the lower rock formation.

Thoughts anyone? 

Calico Mountains...

It is believed that a man named Lee discovered silver here, in 1875.  Unfortunately, Lee was killed by Indians.  That was the rumor, anyway.

Calico's mining history evolved slowly, in the following years.

In 1880, a Barstow mill operator by the name of Porter found some previously-lost silver claims in the Calico Mountains.

More silver was discovered here in 1881, by a gentleman whose last name was, coincidentally, Silver.  Later that year, several others moved to the area, and these men founded the Silver King Mine.

Our own Grand Canyon...

All rights reserved.  Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon Of The Mojave," Afton Canyon was carved by the Mojave River, which flowed from Lake Mannix.  This process started 15,000 yeas ago.

8,000 year-old tools and pottery have been found in the area; recorded history starts with missionaries, traders, and scouts, who passed through here during the late 18th century.

The photograph above was taken from a portion of the Mojave Road which takes one along the  Mojave River bed, south east of Afton Canyon.  The mountains shown are the Cady Mountains.

Rails Through The Cajon Pass...

Traffic through the Cajon Pass began to increase steadily, after the Mormon pioneers started traversing the Pass in 1848.  The Cajon Pass became a regular route for freight wagons and merchant caravans.  It didn't take much imagination to see that a means of handling the increasing volume was needed.  

As early as 1857, a Lieutenant R.S. Williamson conducted a survey in preparation for a railroad through the Cajon Pass.  His surveey included the construction of a tunnel through the pass. 

July, 2018.  Photo by Scott Schwartz, taken near the Mormon Rocks.

But, the railroad idea didn't gain any real traction until 1875, when a mining boom in Panamint City occurred.  At this point, construction of the railroad was started, along with the digging of the tunnel.

However, the mining boom in Panamint fizzled, and work on the railroad stopped.  That is, until 1879, when some engineers concluded that the railroad could be routed through the Pass in a manner that avoided the construction of the expensive tunnel.  

So, work on the railroad started once again, and trains were chugging through the Cajon Pass by 1885.

Desert Legends...El Paso Mounains

This is the former home of Evelyn "Tonie" Seger, who moved here with her husband in 1963.  She and her husband left their residence in Huntington Park, so that her sick husband could recover with the aid of the dry desert air.

Seger's husband died within a year of her arrival.  During an interview that I conducted with her during the late 1990's, Seger told me that her husband had been trying to locate a water source for their settlement, and that his wish, as he lay dying, was that Evelyn continue her search for water. 

According to Seger, she later found the water source with the aid of a divining rod.

For forty years, Evelyn Seger was the guardian of Burro Schmidt Tunnel, lecturing visitors on the tunnel's history, and on desert lore. 

Seger died in 2003.  Sadly, her home has decayed, due to neglect, and to vandalism.

However, the tunnel is still accessible, and it still attracts scores of visitors.

Campsite Of Pioneers: Mormon Rocks, also known as Rock Candy Mountains.

Sometimes referred to as "the father of San Bernardino County."  Jefferson Hunt was an officer in the Mormon Battalion, which had been formed in order to help the U.S. fight the Mexican-American War.  After the war, he, and a detachment of soldiers were stationed in the Cajon Pass in order to guard settlers against marauding Indians.

After being discharged from the Army, Hunt led caravans of wagons between Utah and San Bernardino, and, at the urging of his church, formed a Mormon colony in San Bernardino.

This spot is where a group of Mormons were supposed to have camped, while en route to San Bernardino in 1851.

Mormon Rocks, at sunset.

Photo taken on 7/29/18.

The road on the left is Hwy. 138.

Goler Gulch...

According to legend, Death Valley pioneer John Goler found signs of gold in the El Paso Mountains, while he was making his way back to Los Angeles.  He was never able to find his "lost" gold, but others followed in pursuit of the gold. 

The area shown in this photo (which I took in May, 2018) is known as "Goler Gulch", in the El Paso Mountains.  By 1893, there was a mining settlement here, but, as with most such settlements, only a few crumbling foundations and some rusty pipes remain.

Cajon Wash: Escaping a petty world...

Here's more in connection with my weeks-long "study" of the Mormon Rocks area.

Despite the blistering heat which baked the Inland Empire, this weekend, I had to feel the warm wind on my face.  I had to remind myself that there's more to life than working in an office during the week.

On the right, of course, are the Mormon Rocks.  The footage was filmed as my DJI Phantom 4 drone blasted through Cajon Wash at an insect-smashing speed of 15 miles per hour. Immediately behind me (as in my person, not necessarily the drone), was this:

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

I'm just curious...

How many of you would be interested in an online basic photography course, taught by me?

The Other Side Of Mormon Rocks...

After driving across Cajon Wash, I found myself on the East side of the Mormon Rocks.  The Union Pacific tracks were behind me, as I filmed this video. 

To get here, I simply took a dirt trail from Hwy. 138, which crosses Cajon Wash, and which then closely parallels the railroad tracks. 

I'm going to try to get out here again, this weekend.

El Paso Mountains...

Here's a photo that I took in October, 2016.  It was, I believe, my first trip to the El Paso Mountains with my DJI Phantom 4 drone.  I can't believe that I've had that drone for nearly two years already!  Naturally, the Phantom 4 has been superseded by newer models since then.

Koehn Lake can be seen in the upper right corner of this image.  The current hot temperatures give the desert "character," and I have been known to make excursions during the summer.  But, the softer lighting that occurs during the fall/winter months is what really inspires the artist inside me.

The Hidden World in the Cajon Pass: Mormon Rocks...

The Mormon Rocks formation seems to be spread out pretty far, with Hwy. 138 passing right through them.

On Sunday (7/22/18), I decided to look at the area on the north east side of Rte. 138, near Cajon Wash.  This is an interesting area, because the trail winds around the rocks, and takes one alongside the freight train tracks.  This is illustrated in the photo below:

Once again; due to interference, the video feed to my device was "scrambled" while I was flying, so it's almost like the days when you had to get your film developed in order to see how your photos came out!

Thank you all for viewing my post.

More About Mormon Rocks: A Preview...

I was out exploring again, today.  Here is a preview of posts to come.

Have a great Sunday evening, everyone!

Rock Candy Mountains...

...now known as the Mormon Rocks.

Looking at the ribbon of black top that winds through the area, it is easy to forget how difficult it must have been for pioneers, who traversed this area via wagon.

The area is still fraught with danger to the unwary- extreme heat during the summer months, and rattlesnakes.  A reader recently emphasized the latter by pointing out that a fatality occurred, as the result of a snakebite, despite the party having been evacuated from the area via helicopter.

I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend- and I may explore Mormon Rocks a little further, this weekend.

Peek at Mormon Rocks...

More from my 7/15/18 trip...

Mormon Pioneers were supposed to have camped here, when they were passing through the area in 1851.  Although, I am not sure if the spot at which I had stopped is part of the "official" Mormon Rocks formation.  Toward the end of the video, you can see the same type of formations on the other side of Hwy. 138.

In the past, these rocks have been known as the "Rock Candy Mountains" and as the "Chanting Rocks."  The latter designation was more of an unofficial designation, based on the sound that is made when the wind passes through the many large holes in the rocks.

Again, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to produce an acceptable video here, as electrical interference with the video feed from my drone to my device made it impossible for me to see what I was filming.

I hope that you all have a great day!  And, thank you for viewing my post!

Mormon Rocks: A Peek...

From my 7/15/18 wanderings.

As mentioned previously, Lone Pine Canyon Road dumped me out near Mormon Rocks, where Mormon pioneers were supposed to have camped.  I intend to look into this topic, further.

Filming this was difficult, because electrical interference was distorting the video feed to my device, rendering it nearly impossible to see what I was shooting.

I simply activated the drone's camera and hoped for the best.

Thanks for viewing my posts, everyone!

Beyond Lost Lake...

Driving along Lone Pine Canyon Road, I passed an area that is called "Sheep Spring."  I don't know what the concrete slab is for, but it could simply be an old trough.  I didn't approach the spot, because I didn't see any trail that would bring me closer, and there are some houses in the area.  I didn't want risk trespassing.

I followed Lone Pine Canyon Rd. to its end, which put me near the area that is known as "Mormon Rocks."  Here, I decided to launch my drone and shoot some video footage.  

There will be more on this in tomorrow's post.  Have a great day, everyone!

Beyond Lost Lake, North bound. Explorations on July 15, 2018.

You all remember this rock formation, which I saw as I headed North from Lost Lake.

The trail continues, and after a dip into a sandy wash (4WD recommended), it climbs, as shown above.  What was at the top?  

The trail turned out to be a dead-end.  However, it provided this view of the canyon below.  Well, sort of; I used my drone to provide a little more elevation.

I turned around and headed back out, cutting across one of the power line access roads toward Lone Pine Canyon.  More about that, later.

Lost Lake Juxtaposition...

So, this image illustrates the so near (to the man-made world), and yet, so far location of the Lost Lake area.

The 15 Freeway can be seen in the upper left, the dirt road on the right, and one can see how this area is nestled in a spot that gives the illusion of being away from it all.

The dirt road continues on to the rock formations that I posted about, previously, and goes further still.  I plan to take the road a little further in my upcoming exploration.

The Cactus Illusion...

I don't know about anyone else, but I sometimes have trouble determining whether a cactus is dead or alive.  Often, the cacti that I come across look as though they're rotting, or they look as though they're really dried out.  But, all of that could just be an illusion.

The cacti in this photograph (which I took in April, 2018 at Joshua Tree National Park) don't look very healthy to me, but behold:  a flower!

Still Photo- near Lost Lake...

So, here's a photo of that rock formation that has featured so prominently in my videos, this week.

I plan to explore the area further, this weekend.

Drone video: close encounter with the rocks at Lost Lake...

Another perspective near Lost Lake in the Cajon Pass.

June 30, 2018.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

In the near future, I plan to take the trail a little further north, in order to see what lies beyond the ridge in the background.

Secret Canyon- Cajon Pass...more drone video footage...

So near, and yet so far from civilization; this area feels so remote, but it is actually not far from the 15 freeway.

Here is more footage of that rock formation, albeit from a different perspective.  Note the boulder that seems to be perched on the ridge.  This is most noticeable toward the end of the video.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4 drone.

Secret Canyon near Lost Lake- Cajon Pass...

I was poking around near Lake, and I happened  across this rock formation, that is surrounded by the grasses and other plants that are fed with underground water.  This was about a 1/2 mile north of the actual lake.

I call it a "secret canyon", because this area doesn't appear to be visible from the nearby 15 Freeway.  It's like a hidden world- "Lost Lake" is aptly named.

Filmed with a DJI Phantom 4 drone, on 6/30/2018.

Cajon Pass: Lost Lake...

That small body of water toward the top-left of the frame is the actual lake.  I did not walk over to the lake itself, as I was more curious to see where the trail (pictured on the right side of the frame) would take me. 

Naturally, legend has it that the lake is bottomless.  In truth, the lake is fed by underground springs, and it does, indeed, have a bottom.

Photo taken using DJI Phantom 4 drone.  June 30, 2018.

Lost Lake- Cajon Pass- drone video...

I'm back, after taking some time off.  I hope that you all had a great July 4th!

This footage was filmed on June 30th, 2018.  I didn't have a plan, other than to explore the West side of the Cajon Pass, and I found myself near Lost Lake.

The trail that took me to the drone launching-point was my second choice.  The first choice would have taken me (it seemed) further to the North West, but that trail was blocked by an old Lincoln Town Car, whose driver tried to wave me around his vehicle.
"Hmm."  I thought.  Car blocking trail.  Remote area.  It seemed more prudent to simply turn around, which I did.

Flying Over The Shadows In The El Paso Mountains...

Here's more footage of my beloved El Paso Mountains.  The drone's launching point wasn't far from Burro Schmidt's Tunnel, and its flight path took it south east.

Garlock Road and the Rand Mountains can be seen in the distance.

This will be my last post until July 5, 2018, as I am going out to explore the Cajon Pass area this evening, and I am taking some time off to relax.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe July 4th, and I will talk to you all on July 5th!

Trail into the El Paso Mountains...

This is one of the many trails that take one in and out of the El Paso Mountains.  

The drone was facing north west, when this photo was taken, with Red Rock-Randsburg Road at the drone's "back."  

I have been exploring the El Paso Mountains since 1999, which was when I bought my first four-wheel drive vehicle.  The amazing thing, is that I discover new spots nearly every time I come here.