Scene from the El Paso Mountains....

My old Jeep Cherokee takes me to the most enchanting places.  This photograph was taken on Feb. 17, 2014, by Scott Schwartz.

Burro Schmidt Tunnel

After Toni Evelyn Seger died in 2004, her caretaker, David Ayers, left the site. 

Since then, there has been no one to guard against vandals, and the Bureau of Land Management has not pursued finding a replacement.

These photographs clearly illustrate the toll that neglect and vandalism have taken on the buildings.

Burro Schmidt Tunnel, today...

This is the entrance to the tunnel, today.  I took this photograph nearly two weeks ago. 

Photograph by Scott Schwartz.

Burro Schmidt Tunnel-cabins.

Burro Schmidt Tunnel...

Here is a scanned copy of the article that I wrote in 2001, for the Mojave Desert News.

El Paso Mountains...

In the heart of the El Paso Mountains  back-country, is an area that I call "The Plateau." 

We had to drive over some very rocky terrain to get to this particular spot. 

Once parked, I launched my Parrot drone.  The little aircraft was tossed around by the 20 mph wind, but I hope that the footage gives you a feel for where we were.  Click on the link  below.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgfykkbvppxb6w0/video_20140217_140515.mp4

Parrot AR Drone over Bickel Camp...

For information about Bickel Camp, copy this link:  https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=39&cad=rja&ved=0CGYQFjAIOB4&url=http%3A%2F%2Felpasomountains.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F01%2Ffour-wheeling-into-history-californias.html&ei=jSYMU5y5NsryoASijoLAAQ&usg=AFQjCNEwZK6u0a_W4fytGFtD9RW7AOiBpw&sig2=In8vnetw-j49khHlmgBkcg&bvm=bv.61725948,d.cGU

To see the footage that was shot from the drone, see this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tvct7jz3ybr71yo/video_20140217_132502.mp4