Death-Valley.net

Trip Reports :: Junction Ranch, Etcharren Valley, Millspaugh, Coso

janders1957 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:44:22 GMT

Author: janders1957
Subject: Junction Ranch, Etcharren Valley, Millspaugh, Coso
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:44 pm (GMT -7)

Good day folks, I just found this site a couple days ago and joined up.
I posted an intro in General Discussion (New Member Intro) where I mentioned my recent trip to China Lake. In response to a reply, I went into some detail about what all I got to see. Browsing the forums in more depth, I see I should have posted those details here. Not wanting to duplicate the post, thought I'd point folks to it.

To summarize, my grandfather, John Carricart, was a resident of some note in the general area between Ballarat and Johannesburg, and became the first NOTS caretaker at Junction Ranch in 1943. A chance crossing of paths thanks to the internet, while researching John's history early last year, led to a visit to NAWS China Lake, and a grand tour of a number of historical sites.
I'll leave further details to the referenced posts.

Jon

Ah, here's a direct link... http://www.death-valley.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21793

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

bikerjosh — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:36:18 GMT

Author: bikerjosh
Subject: race track
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:36 pm (GMT -7)

Yep as others have said take it slow, watch for oncoming dust clouds. Only been on race track on a motorcycle, usually traveling pretty fast. Pulled over at one point (on my first trip) for a rest off the road, heard a motor reving in the distance (with a MC helmet on) around the corner came a modded blazer at about 65 mph. Lots of travel and skilled (it seemed) driver at the helm.
Be safe-Josh

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

D.A. Wright — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:38:56 GMT

Author: D.A. Wright
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:38 pm (GMT -7)

Yes, I whole-heartedly agree. I stated the above from personal experience ... on more than one occasion ...
_________________
D.A. Wright

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Paleontology Tours in DV

MojaveGeek — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:13:02 GMT

Author: MojaveGeek
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:13 pm (GMT -7)

I'm envious of you guys. Tried to get on the Feb tour. Called 1 minute after 8 - problem is someone else called first so I got transferred to voice mail. Kept at that for 10 minutes and a human finally answered and said all slots gone. It's not a very good system. I can think how to do better next time.
_________________
My Death Valley panoramas:
http://www.media.mit.edu/~geek/dv_panos.html

General Discussion :: RE: New member intro

janders1957 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:01:02 GMT

Author: janders1957
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:01 am (GMT -7)

Well, at Millspaugh, there remains only the boiler, mortared into it's foundation as described by Elizabeth Mecham. There is a flat up above the road that looks like the location of a tunnel, but we didn't walk up to it.

At Junction Ranch, the original building burned in 1948 while Pop Lofinck was using it. The Navy built a rather non-descript aluminum building on the same foundation. In Lofinck's book 'Mojave Desert Ramblings' is a picture of the original as well as the replacement building. Out in front of the building about 150 yards or so is an arastra in pretty good condition, considering. Don't think John built it, but certainly used it as he was working a mine somewhere within about 6 miles of Junction. There's fence posts from old corrals but don't know how far back they date.

Oh, folks into the history, researched and recreated mileage markers along the old roads, that was neat to see!

Didn't get to Big Petroglyph Canyon. Did spend a bit of time at the smaller canyon. I have a picture of my grandfather taken there in 1944, along with two Naval officers and some woman. We couldn't find the exact spot, but posed a shot of me recreating the pose as best we could. My host told me John is generally credited with discovering Little Petroglyph, but haven't found that in writing anywhere yet.

In the book Westerners Brand Book 12, the article from Coso to Carricart, there are pictures of the El Conejo mine. There are two buildings still standing as does the head frame. Oh, btw, yes I got pictures, but cannot share them yet. I've submitted them and await clearance. In that picture on page 118, there's a Joshua tree across the road. I shot a pictures of that tree in infrared. Didn't get the book until after getting back, and realized I'd shot the same tree shown in the book!

We didn't make it to Coso Hot Springs, but I have pictures of my grandparents, father, and aunt there around the late 1930's.

Somewhere up along the way to Coso Village, there's a cast iron camp stove about 100 feet off the side of the road. My host thinks it might have been used by John and/or Domingo while out sheep ranching.

At Coso Village, it's amazing what all is still there. Debris everywhere, flattened tin cans, odd bits of metal, etc. The wood buildings are all gone. Plywood walls have been erected to try and hold up the walls of the stone buildings that remain. On page 113 of Coso to Carricart, there's a wood structure built on the side and top of a large rock at Coso Village, described as a loading bin. It's still there, but has collapsed against the rock. I couldn't tell what the heck it was, so was neat to see it in the book.

Some ways past this, was a small non-descript little shack. It had originally been located at Millspaugh, dismantled and moved to Junction, then later again taken apart and hauled clear up past Coso Village to be put back together. Seems little went to waste back then!

I dreamed of visiting Junction Ranch since the early 70's. Mom always said "It's a Navy bombing range, they'll never let you out there".
So it was quite the thrill to finally achieve my dream trip, and more.
For so many years I resented the Navy's having appropriated the land so I couldn't just go visit the site.

After seeing what all is still there, NOTS/NAWS is the best thing that could have happened to the many historical sites there. There are more than a few folks on base that are very into the history, they and the Navy are doing what they reasonably can to preserve or at least arrest decay, of these sites. For sure, if the public had open access, little would remain today.

Ah, as for your last question, I forget the pass we used to access Junction. but it was south of Wild Horse Mesa, which we crossed coming back to the petroglyphs. And not quite sure of the canyon going up to Millspaugh. Outside of those and Etcharren Valley, I wasn't told exactly what the names of the valleys and such were. Not for secrecy far as I know, just that we were talking more about the history than geography.

I just got a real nice DSLR early last year, and added an infra red converted digital as well. Took both with me, and while I'm far from a photographer yet, I got some awesome shots. My hosts also took pictures. Once everything has been cleared, I'll get copies of their pictures too, and can put together a site about my visit. Well, that's IF they get cleared. I always asked before taking a shot, and they are all cleared for range photography, so should be ok, I just have to be patient...

General Discussion :: RE: New member intro

Aedwards27 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:30:15 GMT

Author: Aedwards27
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:30 pm (GMT -7)

Wow. I would love to hear more about the condition of the areas you were able to visit. Any chance you can elaborate more on any remaining structures around Junction Ranch/Millspaugh? Were you allowed to take any photos?

I would suggest picking up a copy of "Beyond This Place There Be Dragons" by George Koenig, in fact, I will scan in the map tomorrow, which shows the 49ers path across the China Lake area, for you.

Did you make it into any of the other canyons such as Sheep or Big Petroglyph?

General Discussion :: New member intro

janders1957 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:22:51 GMT

Author: janders1957
Subject: New member intro
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:22 pm (GMT -7)

Just came across this board, and wanted to introduce myself.
I've long known my grandfather John Carricart, was a citizen of some note in the area between Ballarat and Johannesburg. He was in the area from 1890 to his death in 1945. Carricart Lake is named for him (though it's misspelled Carricut).

A chance connection early last year, led to a visit to China Lake the last week of December, where I was able to visit Millspaugh, Junction Ranch where John lived and worked as a caretaker for the Navy 1943-1945, Little Petroglyph Canyon, and Coso village. It was a wonderful trip, and a special moment to be the first Carricart to put boots on the ground at Junction in 65 years.

Grew up in the SF bay area, lived in Grass Valley last 31 years. This was my first trip and exposure to the area and real desert. I know now why my grandfather loved the area so much. Sure wish I could spend a month or two exploring, knowing that would still, barely scratch the surface of what there is to see.

Would love to hear from anyone that might have any information on John Carricart, Domingo Etcharren, Junction Flat, and Millspaugh. Also looking for a suggested reading list for historical information and stories covering these locations, as well as the general regions from Darwin, Panamint City, out to Johannesburg and Randsburg. I've been building a library, but always looking for good reads. Also quite interested in sources for online newspapers from the 1890's to 1945, to search for articles of interest.

I hope to make another trip down later this year, have stops at museums in Independence, Ridgecrest, and Randsburg, where there are varying amounts of info on John.

Regards,

Jon Carricart Anderson

Trip Reports :: RE: Search for Death Valley Cave System: Giants in Those Days?

thecountmc — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:53:06 GMT

Author: thecountmc
Subject: death valley underground fiction or fact or a little of both
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:53 pm (GMT -7)

its not just one there are actually several related accounts to an ancient " non native american civiliation lost in death valley. while I cant honestly say I expect to find bourke lee account 100% true, the more you dig the more interesting it gets

1. the Anazsi Indians have a legend about having to travel from Arizona across the Mohave desert, north into the "black mountains " to climb sttep cliffs to sneak into a cave where fierce warriors guarded the entrance to there city to steal a herb that only they had to cure their medicine man.

2. The Paihute legend speaks of the havamsu and ancient people that sailed into the valley when it was a lake decribing people that in some cases resemble the phonesians

3. there is a "death valley queen" that was recorded from indian legends Queen of Death Valley by Charles M. Skinner ... By Charles M. Skinner in 1896 that told of a queen that built a city of stone and wood to rival the stone cities to the south "aztecs? mayans?" that was so cruel she worked her daught the princess to death

4. most are familar the Brouke Lees recount as well the the Tom Wilison panimint grandfather indian legend in the same book, buried in another chapter Death valley Scotty claims to know about it, while common history today supports Scotty as a con man, other evidence and even Johnsons banrupt insurance company turn around and investigated customs dock company in chicago that funded his millions seem fishy

5. In Scotty's castle in the second floor there is a riddle carved into the ceiling beams in spainish, unless you speak spainish you need to find the original 40's scotty castle tour guide written by johnsons wife.. im goign from memory but it loosely says something like under the heat of the sun and in the silence of the night hidden underneath the great mountain lives a treasure so vast its beyond imagination waiting for those who would look long and hard enough for it.

6. Devils hole all be it under water now is a actually maze of caverns divers cant find the end to and have lost there lives trying to find

7. some of the pureset gold and silver where found in death valley

8.Doors lost underground river of gold shares the same fault lines and water table as death valley and the underground armagosa river.. you can see it for yourself un usgs fault and water maps done for the proposed nevada nuclear dump site, Doors river of gold if true and the cave was true before it dynamited closed would have acted like a giant slush box for gold over the millenium

9. cavern systems often follow fault lines

10. death valley was a lake and a forested paradise between 2,000-5,00 years ago, in fact it most likely connected by rivers to both baja califonia/mexico and san franciso when the water table was higher, possible even the gulf of mexico as well

11. death valley with its lowest elevation would have been the meeting point of countless water ways ie an idea hub of ancoent transportation as well as having a wealth of minerals

12. the Aztecs tried to ransom back their king from cortez from a room filed to the ceiling with gold and silver that they traveled north form months to get that Legend implies the Aztec returned to the place of seven caves taken their ceremonial and religious artifacts and treasures with them. the gold and cortez were real, the seven caves have been placed all over mexica, arizona etc and even the missippi but never found

13. less than 4% of death valley has be explored by archelogists, many parts have never been surveyed by foot, only by air, there are at least 2 giant rock figures a "snake and something else " that can only be seen by air similar the the naztaca line in peru, while I dont know the locations I'm seen pictures of the snake in a 60's archelogical report, hard to get and location was intentional left off to protect it.

a few years back I spent a couple summers tracking down the "giants of lovelock" arounding to their indian legends, and was able to find the last remaining skull in a little museum, the Hobbits were also a indian legend National geogrpahic also proved to be true, at work we got a fema guy now dilegneting studing west coast indian legends becuase they are accurately describing ancient tsunamis pretty much excatly when adn where they occurred, while the modern stuff may be trumped up BS for attenion or scam, that many differnent ancient indian legends confirming geological facts 1,000s of years old at least 50 years before moderne science could prove seems to suggest when ther is smoke there is fire... even if it is nothing more than a cave with some conquistor armor or old phoniciaen mine ... of course finding it seems to be the real trick, its got to be hidden and near inaccessible or the 1,00s of mineers out there would have found it and exposed it long ago.

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Paleontology Tours in DV

shane — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:47:49 GMT

Author: shane
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:47 pm (GMT -7)

Cool TrailHound, I'm really excited for the tour. Hadn't looked into where to camp yet, thanks for the info.

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

TrailHound — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:46 GMT

Author: TrailHound
Subject: Racetrack Road
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:01 pm (GMT -7)

D.A. Wright wrote:

a few curves that might hide opposing traffic going far too fast in the opposite direction.

Those sections are a little nerve racking. Blind, one lane curves where you are hemmed in on both sides. I drive very slow and sound the horn frequently. This is the last place you want to have a head on collision.

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Paleontology Tours in DV

TrailHound — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:57:42 GMT

Author: TrailHound
Subject: Paleontology Tour
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:57 am (GMT -7)

shane wrote:

My wife and I were lucky enough to be chosen in the lottery for the March 3 tour. Thanks for the heads up Steve

shane - We got lucky, too. See you at the tour. Is something happening that weekend in the park? Neither Stovepipe nor Furance Creek Ranch have any availability. We are staying at the Atomic Inn in Beatty.

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Paleontology Tours in DV

shane — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:06:08 GMT

Author: shane
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:06 am (GMT -7)

My wife and I were lucky enough to be chosen in the lottery for the March 3 tour. Thanks for the heads up Steve

Trip Reports :: RE: Daisy / Craig Canyons April 2010

sheepranch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:03:04 GMT

Author: sheepranch
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:03 pm (GMT -7)

Hey Robbie , yeah that polished dryfall with the anchors has an excellent fracture perfect for gear. It does vary , but I would recommend a few pieces in the 1.5 inch range , maybe a #8 hex throw, and a single 2.5 camalot placement. It's kinda a funky offwidth / and part chimney in sections. Like I said before there is a 2 bolt station on top. ( Though I never post pictures of fixed protection in National Parks. )

I stopped climbing some years ago because I needed life insurance , and bought a house , settled down and so on . However my term policy is coming to a close, and I am actually no longer insurable due to my line of work. So I just might be available for a belay sometime!!
_________________
it is only when you stop searching, do you become lost

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

D.A. Wright — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:47:18 GMT

Author: D.A. Wright
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:47 pm (GMT -7)

And if it doesn't have a full size spare, maybe a few cans of Fix-A-Flat and a small, 12v air compressor.

I've seen BMW's at the Racetrack, 3-Series and 5-Series (this was back in the later 1990s, before there was the X-Series of SUVs available in this country).

That being said, I wouldn't recommend a standard automobile, unless the person driving it is back road savy (and that being said, such an individual is likely to have his/her own personal 4x4 anyway, but just sayin' ... ). Any standard 4WD or AWD SUV should have no clearance issues. Just don't give into the desire to wick up the speeds, as this road is often quite washboarded, has some sand in places, bug dust in others, and a few curves that might hide opposing traffic going far too fast in the opposite direction.
_________________
D.A. Wright

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

Older Fossil — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:19:59 GMT

Author: Older Fossil
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:19 pm (GMT -7)

It not so much the Jeep, it's the tires. The Farabee's rental Jeep will have tires well suited to the DV back roads. Any other rental is very likely to have P rated tires which don't hold up to rocks nearly as well. If you do take a typical rental, drive the 26 miles of dirt road SLOWLY. And as stated, make sure you have a good, full sized spare, and all needed tire changing tools.

Art

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

gedstrom — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:22:47 GMT

Author: gedstrom
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:22 pm (GMT -7)

I have been in to the Racetrack in my 2WD 1999 Ford Windstar without any problems. Just be sure you have a REAL spare tire along, not just one of those donut spares.

Death Valley Talk :: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?

hug0 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:05:55 GMT

Author: hug0
Subject: Racetrack: Jeep or 4WD rental car?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:05 pm (GMT -7)

Hi,
I am going to visit the DV in two weeks. Although we will have a 4WD rental car, I am thinking about renting a jeep in the valley because I read too many posts about flat tires...
The racetrack shouldn't be a problem with the jeeps, right?
Any recommendations?
Thanks for any advice, hugo

Trip Reports :: RE: Red Wall Canyon 25 Foot Fall Work Around Report

robbiemize — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:43:54 GMT

Author: robbiemize
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:43 pm (GMT -7)

damn you put a bit of time into that report. very nice work! super clear
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Trip Reports :: RE: Red Wall Canyon 25 Foot Fall Work Around Report

MojaveGeek — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:18:00 GMT

Author: MojaveGeek
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:18 pm (GMT -7)

Nice one, thanks!
_________________
My Death Valley panoramas:
http://www.media.mit.edu/~geek/dv_panos.html

Trip Reports :: RE: Red Wall Canyon 25 Foot Fall Work Around Report

SteveH — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:47:42 GMT

Author: SteveH
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:47 pm (GMT -7)

That was a positively incredible report. So the mythical bypass is indeed a reality. Nice job proving that one and pretty much forever changing visitation to the canyon... once word gets out.

Your route seems so easy relatively speaking that it's quite a surprise that nobody has ever found it before.

I saved a copy of your report to take with me on my next hike out to Red Wall.
_________________
Steve's Death Valley Adventures-
www.panamintcity.com

Death Valley Talk :: RE: Current South Pass conditions

ETAV8R — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:50:15 GMT

Author: ETAV8R
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:50 am (GMT -7)

Just got back and South Pass has even less snow than in the pics.
North Pass as reported by a guy who came in via motorcycle had enough snow to cause him a hairy ride in but he made it. Said he will leave via the south though.

Trip Reports :: Red Wall Canyon 25 Foot Fall Work Around Report

Talus Jack — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:41:23 GMT

Author: Talus Jack
Subject: Red Wall Canyon 25 Foot Fall Work Around Report
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:41 am (GMT -7)

http://jacklumbermanenterprises.com/RedWallWorkAround.pdf

Death Valley Backcountry :: RE: Hiking between Hungry Bills and Panamint City?

hwstock — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:34:16 GMT

Author: hwstock
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:34 pm (GMT -7)

The "Panamint 9634T" on that map refers to a benchmark named "Panamint."

Photography Forum :: RE: Kodak Files for Bankruptcty

D.A. Wright — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:56:05 GMT

Author: D.A. Wright
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:56 am (GMT -7)

I've tried a roll or two of Fuji film back in the 1970s, though I don't recall the name Velvia. Though I shot mostly Kodak films in those days, it was also a matter of price or availibility. Every small desert town with a Thrifty Drug store carried film when and where I was growing up, so whatever was cheapest, on sale or available at the moment I walked in was also an influence in my purchase.

That mentioned, I don't recall any issues I had with Fuji film. As mentioned, Kodachrome had a certain "feel" about it. Some films had a "cool" to "cold" feel to it (likely an over all blue coloration emphasis), which I didn't like.

However, I never actually worked with my films, in that I never learned to develop them. I simply took them back to my local Thrifty Drug store, other places that developed them (when I lived in the Eastern Sierra) or by mail order. So I never got intimate with the inherant qualities of films.
_________________
D.A. Wright

Photography Forum :: RE: Kodak Files for Bankruptcty

gedstrom — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:43:18 GMT

Author: gedstrom
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:43 am (GMT -7)

robbiemize wrote:

you guys know how kodachrome compares with fuji velvia?

velvia is the only film i have any experience with. used to shoot with it for landscapes when using my dad's old canon AE-1. always loved the intense colors of it.

i am wondering if those vivid colors were an attribute of the velvia (as opposed to kodachrome) or the film (as opposed to digital).

any thoughts from you all that seem to know quite a bit about film?

Thanks.

I am not familar with Fuji Velvia. However, every film has its own unique characteristics. Kodachrome was known for its rich colors, especially the reds. High end photo editing programs like Lightroom which I use have filter presets that try to simulate the look of Kodachrome, if that is what you are after. However, I have gotten very rich colors in my digital images without any manipulation. As I said earlier, I became a convert to digital almost 11 years ago and have never shot a frame of film since. Even the 4MP camera I was using back in 2001 took better pictures than my film camera. Of course, I was not able to enlarge them as much...an 8x10 print was about the limit of a 4MP camera. Now, with a 15MP camera, I can go to 16x20 or better.

Gary