198007 Desert Magazine 1980 July

8/14/2019 198007 Desert Magazine 1980 July

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O L D M Y S T E R YS O L V E DH E R E T O

S E E T H ED E S E R T articles skipping and b ou nc ing acro ssthe floor of Cadiz Valley and the surface of the dry lake.Th e gra ins of sand wer e t rapped and p i led up whens topped by s ton es , vegeta t ion or the low-ly ing fron t of the

K ilbeck Hillsoff the e ast sh oreof the lake. Typical ly,sand piles up gradua l ly,s loping windwa rd withs teepe r dropoffs to th e l ee . Addi tionals and m oves up t he l ong s l ope andtum bles ove r the c res t o n to th e s l ip face. Whenthe ang le exceeds wha t t h e rou nde d gra in s cansuppor t , an ava lanche en l a rges and advances t he du nes .Cadiz exhib i ts the m ajor types of dun es . You 'l l f indtrans ve rse, high, long, s t raight-l ine d un es at r ight an glesto the wind and wi th l i tt l e or n o vegeta t ion; parabo l ic ,U-shaped d unes wit h a rou nde d nose po in t ing d ownwindand po in t s ancho red by vege ta t ion ; ba rchan ,c re s cen t -shaped dune s wit h a h igh ce n t e r anch o red andho rns poin t ing do wnwind; and final ly , c l imb ing, i r regulardun es fo rmed by s and b l own pas t o t he r dun es and s l owedby land forms.Th rough t h e ce n tu r i e s ve ry few tou r i s t s have ogl ed t heCad iz Dunes . The anc i en t Chem ehauv i v i s i tedoccas ional ly . Prospectors looked over the area l a te in the1800s. Th en the ra i lway sh or tc u t th rou gh R ice and Parkerwas bu i lt ea r ly i n t h i s cen t u ry and a few m en cam e t os e t t le when m in ing fo r chem ica ls g rew and p ro spe red .And, certa inly, veter an s of Gen. Pat ton 's tank a rm ies fromIron M ounta in passed the dun es often dur ing thei r WorldWar II train ing.A geologis t has sa id the Cadiz du ne area " lacks th escen ic qual i ti es and h igh sand peaks of o th er du ne fie lds ."And perhaps the y do no t "s ing" as do the sh ift ing sands ofK elso bu t wh ere e l se , thanks to the sp lend id i so la t ion, canone s e t foo t on s and wit h som e ce r t a i n t y t ha t an o the r ' sfoo t has no t gone before h im?D E S E R T 2 5


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O u rB l oom i n 'D e s e r tA Pho t o E s sa yb y D O UG E M E R S ON

Everyone ha s heard unkind, even caustic remarksabout the desolate, seemingly barren, desert areas ofour southw estern states. True, the desert is a region ofscant and uncertain rainfall. However, it is ar frombeing a lifeless wasteland as envisioned by so manyunknowing persons.See or yourself. This is a record, in words andpictures of what I found within a weekend's drivefrom L os Angeles, or it could have been from L asVagas, Phoenix, San F rancisco or San Diego. Theyear was 1973, an exceptional one when almost theentire Southwest blossomed into a carpet of riotouscolor. Some years are not as good, but none can becalled barren.T * HE LOVELY WILDFLOWERS th at I saw,c a l le d d r o u g h t e s c a p is t s , m u s t h a v e ac e r t a i n am ou n t o f r a in fa l l a t t h e p r o pe rt i m e , c o u p l e d w it h d e s i r a b l e t e m p e r a t u r e s , t o b u r s ti n t o l ife . If t h e s e c o nd i t i on s a r e n o t m e t exa c tl y the i r s e e d s w i ll r em a i n do rm an t , fo r y e a r s ifn e c e s s a r y . R a re ly d o t h e y e r r i n t h e i r j u d g e m e n t .E n z y m e s w i t h i n t h e s e e d s , g r o w th i n h i b i t o r s a n dg r o w t h s t im u l a t o r s , d e t e r m i n e w h e n t h e t i m e is ri gh tfo r a s e e d t o b eg i n l ife a b ov e g r ou n d s o i ts c y c le mayc o n t i n u e t o a s u c c e s sfu l c o n c l u s i o n .O d d l y e n o u g h , o n e y e a r m a y p r o d u c e a s u p e ra m o u n t o f w h i te b l o o m s , t h e n e x t y e a r an a b u n d a n c eo f y e l l o w s, w h i l e s o m e y e a r s m a y y ie l d t r e m e n d o u sn u m b e r s o f r e d t o p u r p l e b l o o m s . O t h e r y e a rs w ehav e s e e n a ll c o l o r s o f t h e r a i nb ow o n d i spl a y . It isqu i t e e x c i t ing t o v i ew a s m any a s 20 d iffe r e n t sp e c i e sfr om a s i ng l e spo t .I n 19 73 w e w e r e f o r t un a t e t o v i ew o n e o f t h e fi n e s tw i ldflower d i sp lays in 25 yea r s in D ea th Va l ley . Itc o u l d b e a n o t h e r 2 5 y e a r s b e f o r e a s h o w i n g o f s u c hm a g n i t u d e o c c u r s a g a in . O n e n e v e r k n o w s fo r s u r eu n t i l t h e w o n d r o u s e v e n t t ak e s pl a c e .

D u r i n g t h at m e m o r a b l e m o n t h o f M a rc h m i ll io n so f d e s e r t g o l d b l o o m s wa v e d i n t h e b r e e z e fr o mabo ve S t ovep ip e Wel ls , do w n t h r ou gh t h e fl oo r o f t h eVal ley , and on to Jub i l e e Pass.O the r sp e c i e s s u c h a s s a nd v e r b e na , pha c e l i a , fa ls em a l l ow o r fi v e -spo t , pu r p l e m a t , a n d d e s e r tg o l d p o p p y , a d d t h e i r h u e s t o t h e s p e c t a c l e .T h r o u g h o u t t h e M o n u m e n t , o v e r 100 s pe c i e s m a y b es e e n . In t h e J ub i l e e Pas s , D ay l igh t Pa s s , a nd U be he beC r a t e r a r e a s w e h a v e m a r v e l l e d a t t h e d i s pl a y s , e v e na s l a t e a s m id-M ay!In t h e h igh c o un t r y , t h e r a r e Panam in t d a i s y wi t h it sh u g e fo u r t o fiv e -in c h b l o s s o m s d e m a n d s i m m e d i a t ea t t e n t i on . T he d i r e c t i v e t h a t no p l a n t s h a l l b e p i c k e dw it h in th e M o n u m e n t s h o u l d b e c u s t o m i n o t h e ra r e a s a s w e ll s o th a t m o r e p e r s o n s c a n e n jo y t h efr agi le b e a u t y , t a k e t h e i r pho t og r a ph s , a nd l e a v e t h es p e c ta c l e u n s p o i l e d fo r o t h e r s .

Anza-Bor r ego D ese r t , C a l i fo rn ia ' s l a rge s t s t a t e pa rk ,a n d T u h a D e s e r t t o t h e s o u t h , p ro v i d e b r e a t h t ak i n gv i e ws o f t h o u s a n d s o f a c r e s o f s a n d v e r b e n a , s a n dl i l i e s , p r im r o s e s , m a r i go l d s , a n d m a n y o t h e r s m a l le rv a r i e t i e s . . . am id s t t h e i r t a l le r n e ighb o r s . G i a n ts i nt h e v i c i n it y a r e t h e a ga v e a n d o c o t i ll o , b o t h w h i c hm ay r e a c h a h e igh t o f 15 fe e t o r m o r e .In c o n t r a s t t o t h e l a r g e go l d e n f l ow e r s a t t h e t i p s o ft h e a g a v e , t h e m u c h s m a l l e r sc a r l et c l u s t e r s o n t h eo c o t i l l o w a n d p r o v i d e a n e x c e l l e n t b a c k d r o p fo rp ic t u r e s . W e w e r e f o r tu n a t e i n d e e d t o d i s c o v e r o n ep la n t th a t s p o r t e d y e l l o w b l o s s o m s r a t h e r t h a n t h et r a d i ti o n a l r e d .Luc e r n e V a lle y b e tw ee n V i c to r v i l le a nd Y uc caVal ley , Ca l i fo rn ia i s a r io t of co lo r wh en co nd i t ion sa r e c o n d u c i v e t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r fl o w e rs t h a t a r e n a t i v et o t h e a r e a . We ha ve o ft e n s e e n w ave s o f go l d t h a ts e e m e d e n d l e s s as t h e b r e e z e s pl a y e d h i d e a n d s e e ka m o n g t h e c o r e o p s i s , d e s e r t d a n d e l i o n s , a n ds c a l e b u d s . L in i n g t h e m a n y r o a d s , m a l l o w s ,b r i t t l e b u sh , p r i n c e s p l u m e , d e s e r t f iv e spo t, wi l dc a n t e r b u r y b e l l s , c h i a , p r i m r o s e s , s u n c u p s , c r e a mc u p s , s c a r le t m i m u l u s , a n d w il d b u c k w h e a t n e v e rc e a s e t o am aze t h e fi r s t-t ime r .A l i tt l e fa r the r away, the C a r r izo P la ins a nd a lon gh ighway-58 n ea r San ta Ma rga ri t a offe rThe iery-red blooms of the ocotillo (opposite)stand in bold contrast to the somber sands nearBorrego Springs headquarters ofAnza-BorregoDesert State Park.

26 JULY, 198 0


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Desert gold linesJubilee Pass inDeath ValleyNationalMonument, asight nevermentioned inthe logs of the49'ers.

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d i sp l a y s t o s t agge r t h e im ag in a t i o n . Beau t i e s s u c h a s y e l l ow ti d yt ip s , o w l c l o v e r , l u p in e , b a b y b l u e e y e s , p o p p i e s , c o r e o p s i s , d e s e r td a n d e l i o n s , go ld f ie l d s , t h i s t l e s age , a n d a d o zen o t h e r s v i e f o ry o u r a t t e n t i o n .A TRIP T O NEVADA can add spec ta cu la r r ed rockf o r m a t i o n s i n a d d i t i o n t o m a n y n e w f lo w e r s fo r y o u ren joym en t . On e of ou r favo r i te a rea s i s Val ley of Fi res t a t e pa r k , a b ou t 60 m i l e s n o r t h e a s t o f La s Vegas . Th e r a r e d e s e r tb e a r p o p p y w i t h it s c r e p e p a p e r - li k e y e l l o w b l o o m s a n d u n i q u eb a s a l l e a v e s i s t h e m o s t u n u su a l . Th e gi a n t s u n r a y i s qu i t e ac on t r a s t t o t h e t in y wh i t e d e s e r t s t a r s . Many o t h e r " b e l l y f l owe r s "s o -c a l le d b e c a u s e y o u m u s t g e t d o w n t h a t lo w t o v i e w th e m ,a b o u n d i n th i s n o r m a l l y b a r r e n l a n d o f l it tl e w a te r .O n c e i n t h e V all ey o f F i r e , h u g e d e s e r t p r i m r o s e s g r o w i n g o u to f t h e p i n k s a n d d o m i n a t e t h e v i ci n it y . T h e i r g o r g e o u s w h i t eb l o o m s a nd y e l l ow c en t e r s g r ow i n s u c h p ro fu s i o n t h a t i t i sim po s s i b l e t o wa lk in m any a r e a s f o r fe a r o f s t epp ing o n t h em .

Nea rby , ph a c e l i a , ma l l ows , s u n cups , d e s e r t m a r igo ld s , a n d e v ent h e l o v e l y b e a v e r t a i l c a c t u s wi t h i ts m agen t a f l owe r s qu i c k e n t h eh e a r t b e a t o f a ll w h o v i e w t h e m .C lose r to th e Los Ange le s a rea , vas t fie ld s o f Ca l i fo rn ia po ppie s ,d e s e r t d a n d e l i o n s , pi n c u s h i o n s , p h a c e l i a , o w l c l o v e r , f i d d le n e c k ,and go ldf ie ld s , to n am e a few, awai t d i scove ry . An te lope Va lley,n o r t h o f t e em ing Lo s Ange l e s a n d r e a c h ed b y C-138 b e twee nGo rm an o n I n t e r s t a t e 5 a nd P a lmda l e o n C-14, i s n o t e d f o rd i sp la y s t h at a r e s e c o n d t o n o n e . T h e A r v i n /E d i s o n / C a l i e n t e /M t .B r e c k e n r i d g e a r e a s a r e a l s o c l o s e e n o u g h f o r a o n e - d a y o u t i n g .Ev en i f y ou f o rge t y o u r l u n ch , don't f o rge t t o t a k e p l e n t y o ffi lm , a t l e a s t tw i c e a s m uch a s y ou t h i n k y ou may n e ed . On ly t h e n ,w i th d o zen s o f b e a u ti fu l p i c t u r e s t o p ro v e i t , c a n y ou c on v in c ec i ty - b re d d o u b t e r s t h a t o u r " b a r r e n " d e s e r t c a n p r o d u c e a s h o wu n m a t c h e d b y a n y T o u r n a m e n t o f th e R o s es . fj \

(Above) Desertprimrose heralds most springtimes atNevada's Valley of Fire State Park.3 0 JULY, 198 0


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TH E N O S I ES T N EW S P A P ER IN THE WEST -fr E D I T E D BY MARY E. TWYMANS H O S H O N E S W A R O N M I S S I L EWashington, D.C. Theproposed MX missile system,

already having some troublesin Congress, is under attack Iby Shoshone Indians who sayit would violate their nearly117-year-old treaty with theUnited States.Lawyers for the westernbands of the Shoshone ar-gued in congressional staffbriefings recently that gov-ernment plans to put the$33.8 billion MX system ineastern Nevada would violatethe Treaty of Ruby Valley.That treaty was signed Oc-tober 1, 1863 by two govern-ment agents and 12 "chiefsand principal men and war-riors" of the ShoshoneNation.The agreement was nego-tiated on order of PresidentAbraham Lincoln to guaran-tee the safety of white settlerspassing over land held by thewestern bands of theShoshone.But in contrast to most In-

dian treaties of the time,which established reser-vations and extinguished In-dian land claims, the U.S.government recognized for-mal boundaries of Shoshoneland holdings in the RubyValley pact.Within those boundariesare millions of acres of Ne-vada desert that the UnitedStates now considers to bethe best site for its new mis-sile system, comprising 200mobile missiles that would beshuttled among some 4,600reinforced shelters.The United States claimsthe area now is "public land."

The government says theRuby Valley treaty was nul-lified by an 1872 decision toestablish the Duck Valley res-ervation for the westernShoshone, and the IndianClaims Commission hasapproved a $26.1 millionpayment to compensate theIndians for the 1872 seizure.But the Indians' lawyerssay the Shoshone never actu-ally took the Duck Valley land,that only a handful of peopleever moved there. The rest

stayed on the Ruby Valleyland that had been theirhome for centuries, and some4,000 still live there.The Shoshone say they'reconvinced the Ruby Valleytreaty is still valid. They saythey want Congress to keepthe compensation money andlet them keep their land.The government hasrefused."The government is very de-liberately stealing the WestShoshone land," said Tim

Coulter, an attorney for theIndian Law Resource Centein Washington.The Shoshone land claim isa snarl of legal disputes thahas twice gone to the Supreme Court. In the most recent Supreme Court actionthe court refused to review aU. S. Court of Claims decision that the Shoshonwaited too long to challengthe Indian Claims Commission decision. Desert News Service

L . A . - H A V A S U C A N A L P R O P O S E DYermo, Calif. R o b e r t J."Sarge" Hall, a mine operatorat White Ranch Mines whoretired from the U.S. AirForce in 1971, seeks nomina-tion for the position ofCounty Supervisor, First Dis-trict, at the June 3rd elec-tion. He lives near Yermo atParadise Valley. He is marriedand he and his wife have twosons.Hall has a dream. He envi-sions the inner desert areagaining access to the Port ofLos Angeles by a series ofcanals and locks connectedwith Lake Meade, Lake Mo-have, and Lake Havasu. Thisman-made waterway woulddevelop the desert into basinscontaining large populationscenters, he said.He calls his dream the"Colorado-Pacific Canal Sys-tem" and part of it would befilling of a dry hole known asSoda Lake, east of Baker.He feels such a giganticundertaking could be com-

pleted in the year 2025.Barges would be poweredalong the Los Angeles Basinand a series of locks wouldelevate them onto the highdesert and then to the threelakes mentioned.The canals, he said, wouldbe lined with plastic materi-als to prevent seepage. They

would be covered to eliminatevaporation and on the covethere could be solar collectorwhich would produce suffcient power; in fact, morthan needed to operate thsystem and the excess coulbe sold.Hall talked about the tech

R o c k h o u n d s ch i p on g r e e n - c o l o r e d b l o w o ua t H e dg e s . S t o r y on page 34.D E S E R T 31


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(Elaritm

ECO RD S PROVE IN FAMOUS N EWA S S "IN DIAN WAR"New Pass, Nev. It wasChristmas night, Dec. 25,1863 when a frenzied mes-

senger panted Into Austinbringing the report that thestage station at New Pass wasbeing attacked by Indiansand would be wiped out ifhelp did not come. Two menoutside the station had al-ready been killed, it was re-ported, and the rest werebarricaded inside.As word spread from houseto house, men began to getdown their hunting rifles,load their revolvers, and sad-

dle up their horses. Farewellswere said to wives and chil-dren and about 20 men as-sembled on the main streetabout 8 p.m. where they werejoined with an equal numberfrom Jacobsville.A number of miners whodid not own horses alsoturned out and were desig-nated as infantrymen, butthey were disinclined to walkthe 20 or so miles out to NewPass, so a local butcher wasprevailed upon to contribute

his delivery wagon, a vehiclewhich had formerly beenused as a hearse by a localundertaker. Although crowd-ed, the vehicle served thepurpose and the makeshiftarmy set off for the scene ofthe trouble, the "cavalry"under the command of J. D-Woodworth taking the lead.Some three hours later, themen reached the stage sta-tion near Mt. Airy, woke theproprietor, and informed him

of their mission. Althoughthat worthy had heard noth-ing of the supposed siege atNew Pass, he rustled up somesupper for the men and al-lowed them to bivuoac on thefloor with their saddles andblankets for an hour or so.Most of the men hadbrought along a bottle or twoof "Christmas cheer" to wardoff the cold and a few of themwere warmed up to the pointthat they could hardly un-saddle their mounts by thetime they arrived at Mt. Airy.Following their meal, theypassed the bottle once again32 JULY 1980

before retiring, but Wood-worth soon sounded reveil-le wit h the bugle he hadbrought along. Cold, hung-over, and bleary-eyed, theysaddled up again and weresoon moving out into theinky blackness towards NewPass.

Fully expecting to be am-bushed by marauding In-dians, they split up and tookto the ridges rather than tak-ing the easier route throughthe canyons. But they sawnary a savage the whole way.Arriving at New Pass an hourbefore dawn, they awoke thesleeping operator of the sta-tion, informed him of theirmission, and set about form-ing a defensive perimeter.

Hung over from the holidayfestivities of the night beforeand somewhat confused as towhat was going on, the oper-ator told Woodworth that hehad not seen any Indians,had heard nothing of anyonebeing killed, and was not inthe l east' alar med. Wood-worth insisted that the sta-tion needed protection, how-ever, and his commissary of-ficers ordered that his menbe fed so they could at leasthave the satisfaction of going

to their deaths on a fullstomach.After much threateningand coaxing, the operator ofthe station served up a mealof greasy eggs, fat back, andblack coffee. Woodworth thengot up a reconnaissanceparty to search the nearbyhills. They saw only one In-dian some distance away butlost him in the forest of scruband juniper and pine.As the search party was re-turning, Woodworth orderedthe infantrymen from theirmeat wagon and arranged fora formal ceremony in thehorse corral to disband theentire army. The foot soldiersformed ranks, snapped to at-tention as best they could,and presented arms as theriders came in.Woodworth then spokebriefly, complimenting hismen on their soldierlyappearance and informingthem that their services wereno longer needed. Some ofthe men were disappointed innot having had a brush withthe Indians, but among thosewho were delighted to see the"war" come to an end was thestation operator who wastired of feeding the men and

furnishing them whiskeyfrom his private stock.Following roll call on the"battlefield" in the horse cor-ra l , the men set off for theirhomes, trying as best theycould to forget the whole far-cical foray into the wilds ofcentral Nevada.J. R. Jacobs, the Indianagent for the area, later madea thorough investigation ofthe Indian scare and foundthat two Indian bands hadmet up near New Pass andhad shared a few drinks tomake the white man's holi-day. While enjoying theirshort repose, a couple ofthem had apparently noticeda pair of white men of whomthey were not fond and hadfired a few shots their way tofrighten them.The whites lit out, told athird man of the incident,and somehow the storyspread that the station wasthreatened and several menhad been killed. The Indianbands had separated andgone their own ways, know-Ing nothing of the stir theyhad created. Such was thestory of the New Pass IndianWar of 1863.N evada Historical Soc iety

WATER SHORTAGE PREDICTED FORBOOMIN G N YE COUN TY MIN E TOWNRound Mountain, Nev. -The lure of gold once again,

as it has in the past, is at-tracting people to this NyeCounty community and thegrowing population is put-ting the pressure on some ofthe town services like water.For nearly 80 years thesage-scented breezes thatwaft across the quiet stretch-es of Big Smoky valley in cen-tral Nevada have been kick-ing up wisps of dust inRound Mountain. At timesthere have been as many as400 persons working here forthe mining businesses.Mostly, though, there havebeen fewer, sometimes only

20 or so families."Presently there are around300 persons in Round Moun-tain with the populationgrowing by a fifth in the lastsix months," said Dr. JohnKnechel, "and before 1980 isover there could be 500 ormore." Dr. Knechel is a re-source development spe-cialist at the University ofNevada in Reno. During thepast few months he hasworked with Round Moun-tain officials on expansion ofthe town's water supply tomeet the new growth.What is bringing people tothe isolated little Nye countysettlement located on the east

side of Smoky valley in theshadow of Mt. Jefferson,highest peak in the Toquimarange? Rising prices for goldand silver and new innova-tions in the technology of re-covering gold from ores havequickened the pulse ofRound Mountain.The Shoshone Water Com-pany has supplied water fromShoshone springs to thepeople of Round Mountainsince 1906. But, the systemis just not in shape to takecare of the increasing de-mands. Moreover, the pre-sent owner realizes from thecompany "a net income toocont. onpage 38


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nnsmOO; - ~ ' " ' nical aspects of the system,using such terms as butterflyvalves which would changewater levels and equalizeinner pressures. He saidmany ships today are nuclearpowered and that he saw nodanger in using nuclear en-ergy topower barges.The candidate said financ-ing of such a large projectcould be raised by taxation.The feasibility study, hesaid,would require a county tax ofone-fourth ofone percent.Hetalked about flood waterrun-offs being used to fillthecanal system.

Hall estimates the channelsshould be 25-ft. deep, andsalt water from the oceancould also be utilized to fillthe lower canals once the.project leaves Cajon Pass.Water movement along thesystem also could be har-nessed to produce hydropower and any excess couldbe sold, headded.On a rough map, Hall's sys-tem shows long extendersreaching into the three lakeswith a connection made atSoda Lake. He said waterwould not be changed, oncethe system filled.- N eedle s DESERT STAR

N U M B E R F O R N A M E F IL L SM A N 'S L IF E W I T HV E X E S A N D M I X U P S

SMOKEY BEAR BAN S ALLLADIES OFTH E N IGH TA N D SLO TS INFO R ESTSZephyr Cove. Nev. S e v e r a lyears ago the U.S. ForestService took exception to anArizona mining claimantoperating what they de-scribed as a "house of pros-titution" on a claim in aNational Forest. Now it turnsout that Smokey Bear hasbeen operating a gamblingden inNevada.Hoping to clean up its im- |age, theForest Service is get-ting out of the gambling

business at Zephyr Cove,Nevada.The Chuckling GreenGiant earlier bought a 410-acre resort at Zephyr Cove,complete with a number ofslot machines operated by aconcessionaire. Now the fed-eral agency has decided theslots are "notappropriate tothe National Forest Service'sfamily-type recreation."- WESTERN PROSPECTOR& MINER

Cedar City, Utah -"What's in a name?" Well, itcan be a good conversationpiece and cause some prob-lems, if it happens to beTwenty.Twenty Taylor Orton willhave been Twenty for 86-years as ofMay 21, 1980.His father, Samuel Orton,married two Johnson sisters.The first sister died after hav-ing borne 12 children, andMr. Orton then married heryounger sister, Esther, whoalso bore him 12 children.Before the eighth child ofthissecond marriage was born, itwas decided that it wouldbenamed Twenty (whether itwas a boy or girl), and so onMay 21, 1894, Twenty TaylorOrton came into being.During the last 86 years,Mr. Orton has related thestory many times. Whileserving in the Army, thecommanding officer wasdisgusted when he heard aresounding "Twenty" in an-swer to roll call. "I askedyouyour name, not your num-ber" was his surly response.

CLIMBIN G FAMILY R EACHES MOONNeedles, Calif. Maw anpaw Hipokets was onstknowd as the most famusmountin climers in the holeworld. Thear legs was solongthat thear hip pokets cameup gist under the sholder-blades, thear hadklim everymountin wat was worthkli-min.

I met emone dyatop mldelGrand Teton Mountin inWyomin, whilst I was hipinout sum garnet's outa thegarnet. It waswils.t this visitthat Junear was born. Hewas so shrimpish thatmawHipokets kuldent fetch himup bythe heals whilst spank-ing him a lick sos he'd get hisfurst breth.Korse they was most dis-gustid. Them beiri mountainklimbers like they was. Butold paw wasnt todum. He satthe infent atop themountainpeak. Fasend a hevy wateoneach thekids legs an sethimstradling said mountain

peak. One leg on the Wyominside. Tother on the Nevadaside. Then mawgave him asucklin, at then headed downto the valley.Gosh. Al hemlock. Tharewe three wasvisitin amonxtthe bull 'ankow muses grazinon the botom of a lake. Wilstahuge bull was sograzin. Gisthis antlers stikin out the wa-ter. I ups an kliped off themantlers for a survenear totake along wen I was fixin togo bak home.Next day the three of us.Maw, paw, 'an me. Bisy asuseel. Wen paw less out aloud ouch.Lookin around. Isawa longleg with a rock tied to it anrealized wat it was. Soon aswe kuld. We all hikes up totop mountin ware the kidwas sitin. Mawnipeled himagain. The kid raised up 'anspred his long legs apart thengot up and stepd back tonorth Teton Peak sum thirty

miles away. Then he stud upon said peak andstepd ontothe midle mountain. Thenanuther step onto the suth-ern mountin peak.Looking this youngfenomanin over, I discoveredthat hislegs was solong thathis hip pokets wasplum upto his sholdertops. He waslater knowd as the worldmost famus mountim walkerover kaws he simply giststeped over any mountainpeak that he ever kame ak-rost. I haint seen theHipokets folks forlong time.Ispose that they mita made amistake. Ansteped offen theearth and are nowalkinandlimin from one satelite totother. But tother nite.Lookin at the moon. Tharethay was. Danglin over saidnitelighter,-- grinin likepuppies.Ed Lang N eedles DESERT STAR

'That is my name!" repliedOrton.There have also been somedifficulties in cashingchecks. People think he'smade a mistake and put theamount where the signaturehouldbe.Never losing his sense ofhumor, heoften replies whenasked how much hewants toeat, "You know I have to feedTwenty, sogive me plenty." Iron County RECORDR A R E B L U EA G A T E G R A C E SC R O W N O FN E E D L E SF E S T I V A L

Needles, Calif. - Gemswith the intense blue of de-sert sky and the ColoradoRiver adorn theMiss NeedlesCrown that since 1961 hasbeen worn by the reigningqueens of this city's annualbeauty pageant.The crown wascreated inthat year by local lapidaryartist and master jewelrycraftsman William B. Givens,who dedicated it as a perpet-ual crown to beworn byeachsucceeding queen in herturn.The official Needles crownis handmade of fine sterlingsilver, with some parts cast,others soldered, and is setwith large stones of NeedlesBlue Agate, cut cabochonstyle, andpolished until theyglisten.The center stone is 30 x 40mm insize. The four oneachside and one above the cen-tral stone are 18 x 25 mm.These are unusually largestones, as anyone who hasdone the"hard rock" miningto obtain the "blue" canverify.In 1968, the late MayorHerbert Martin proclaimedNeedles Blue Agate as the of-ficial gemstone of the cityofNeedles.The stone is quite rare, itsexact type and color beingfound in only one location inctmt. on page38

DESERT 3*


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_ _ C l a n m t

' In its l i fet ime Hedges gave up $ 11 mi l l i on inlow-grade, $8-$10 per to n or e.

HEDGES.b.l880-d.l909Hedges, Calif. If ghosts couldtalk, there'd be a lot of chatter going

on these moonlit nights up in theCargo Muchacho Mountains ofsoutheastern California. Some wouldspin yarns of ever-present hopes ofthe prospector, while others wouldwhisper about battle, murder, andsudden death at the end of ahangman's rope, six-gun or knife. Buttalk about everyday events In a goldmining camp would dominate most ofthe ghostly conversations.Trouble is, neither ghosts or ghosttowns can give voice to the past, so aquarter of a century ago a writer

interviewed C. S. Walker, father toRobert W. Walker, then owner of thelong-dead gold camp of Hedges-Tumco, for background on the then34 JULY. 1980

by Wayne Win t e r scrumbling city situated at the base ofrugged and barren mountains in Im-perial County.According to Walker, the ore bodieswere discovered in 1880 and the townthat soon sprang up was namedHedges. Later the name was changedto Tumco (The United Mining Com-pany). Strictly a gold camp. Hedgesflourished until 1909, at which timethe mines shut down.

Boasting 3,000 inhabitants at Itsheight, there were two cemeteries,stores, cantinas, and all the othercommercial establishments so vital tocommunity life.The ore, strictly gold, was of lowgrade, running about eight to ten dol-lars to the ton. However, there was ahuge amount of it. In its lifetime *11

million was recovered, according tomint reports. The main mines, all ofthem owned by one concern, were theGolden Cross, the Golden Queen, andthe Golden Crown.While there is no actual record ofviolence, the two cemeteries containmany graves. No life was ever lost inthe camp due to a mining accident,but legend has it that many of thegraves are filled with the remains ofmen who died with their boots on.Instead of the wild, rootin'-tootin'life of the usual mining camp,Hedges-Tumco reputedly containedconsiderable culture. Saturday nightdances were fancy affairs, with thewomen In formals and even theroughest mucker from the mines alldolled up in a tux.


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(Uhe Clcirtnn

Pachuca tanks are all that remain of 100-stamp milling operationsthat ceased at Hedges around 1909.The first 100-stamp mill in theworld crushed Hedges-Tumco ore. Itstarted with 20 stamps, increased to40, then another 60 were added.Themill was designed and built on thewest coast, then disassembled and

moved to its site in the center of themining property. Eventually it wassold as scrap to a Chinese firm andwas shipped to China to drop on oresin that country.The death knell of the camp wassounded when Eastern capitalistsbegan using it as a plaything. Theywould arrive in chartered Pullmanc a r s , which sdtting on the siding atOgilby would serve as fancy campingquarters forweeks at a time whilethecompany big-shots soaked up thedesert's winter sun and the firm'sprofits. The mines were literallyplayed out, not from lack ofore butbyplayboys andtheir "soiled-dove" com-panions, eating up the profits untilthere was no longer sufficient work-ing capital.The property eventually came intothe hands of R. W. Walker and re-mains a potential producer. C. S.Walker successfully cyanided dumpmaterial and mill tailings over a pe-riod of seven years, recoveringcon-siderable gold.Today almost all of the remnantsofthe camp are gone, duesomewhat tothe ravages ofweather butmore so towanton destruction by vandals. Thelast remaining frame building, the oldunion hall, was torched byvisitors a

quarter of a century ago. Even thegraves of the dead have not beenhonored, with a number of thembeing opened and the bones of theiroccupants scattered about. Onegroup of ghouls victimizing graveswas apprehended and punished.Numerous articles about Hedges-

OPEN MINEjfc SHAFTS4 NOTICE W

BLM sign says Hedges is"fragile and irreplaceable."

Tumco have appeared over the lasthalf century. Most of them are liber-ally tainted with hogwash. A Califor-nia daily paper once published an ar-ticle to theeffect that 140 Chinamenwere trapped in one ofthe mines by acave-in and that their bodies werenever recovered. This is pure fictionfor but one Chinaman ever lived inthe camp, and he later removed toYuma. There are no dead occupantsin the shafts, drifts, and stopes ofHedges-Tumco.

The area now abounds with camp-ers in trailers andpickups, as wellasa liberal sprinkling of tents, for thewinter weather is about the most mildof any place in theUnited States. Thepossibility remains that the mineswill once again come to life now thatthe price brought by theprecious yel-low metal is staying over *500 perounce. The old workings, however,are in a serious state ofdisrepairandmining operations are notlikely to beresumed until a great deal of addi-tional exploration has been com-pleted.

But Hedges-Tumco is a great placefor the prospector, miner or rock-hound to visit andenjoy. It's an his-toric oldcamp. And who knows,onemight even come face-to-face with agenuine ghost-town spook. But hewon't be wearing a queue, 'causethere aren't any dead Chinese any-where around. '- WESTERN PROSPECTOR &M I N E R

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by J am es R . M i tch e llCollecting Sites Update: Th e BigMack Mine , l o c a t e d In t he no r the r n

pa r t o f S an D iego Coun ty , ha s p ro -duced n i c e gem s tone s i n pa s t ye a r s .Col lec t ing is a l lowed on the c la im a tthe ra te of $2.00 per pe rson , pe r day,a nd t h e r o c kho und c a n wo rk e i t h e r o fthe two exposed ve ins . Blue , p ink,and g r e en tou rm a l ine c an be found inadd i t i on t o be r y l , t opaz , a nd sma l lga rne t s . The be r y l i s p ink , opaqueb l u e , a n d c l e a r . T h e c o l l e c t o r , o fcou r s e , ha s t o be ve r y l ucky to f i ndgem-qua l i t y spec imens o f a ny s iz e ,bu t many sma l l p i e c e s c an be foundwith a day ' s work. A la rge n um ber ofInd i an a r t if a c ts have a l so be en loc at e don the proper ty and Mrs . Ha l l , theowner , has an amazing co l lec t ion ofsub t r op ic a l p l an t s , c a c tu s , a nd suc cu-l e n t s . I r e com m end a v i s it t o t he B igMa c k M in e . F o r mo r e i n f o r ma t i o n ,con tac t M rs . L. Hall , S ta r R oute , Box190, Valley C en ter, CA 92082.O u t s t a n d i n g i l m e n i t e s p e c i m e n scan be obta ined jus t wes t of Quar tz-s i te , Arizona . To get to th is co l lec tingloc a t ion , t a ke t he o ld paved r oad , ju s tso ut h of In te r s ta te 10, for wha t on myodome t e r wa s f o u r a n d s i x - t e n t h sm i le s wes t . Tu rn on the d i r t road an dc on t i n u e s o u t h b e h i n d t h e h i l l s f o rseven-tenths of a mile. Here you wills e e a n umbe r o f m i n e d ump s o n t h em o u n t a i n s i d e s . T h e s e d u m p s , a n dthe valley below, are where the i lme-n i t e i s found . Be su r e t o c he ck theowne r s h ip s t a t u s o f a n y m i n e y oucho ose to explore , or r e s t r ic t y our co l-lec t ing to the rav ines and va l leys be-low. The me ta l l ic i lmeni te occurs inwh i te qua r tz and c on t r a s t s b e au t ifu l -ly. Much of i t displays well-formedc ry s t a l s a nd wou ld be a p roud add i -t ion to any mine ra l co l lec t ion. Andwhi le in the v ic in i ty , be sure to a lsokeep your eyes open for sma l l p ieceso f j a spe r , c he r t , a nd o the r c u t t i ngma t e r i a l s .Co l l e c t i ng o f be au t i fu l wu l fen i t espec im ens i s no longer al lowed a t theworld -famous Red C loud M ine no r thof Yuma , Ar izona . I t h a s be en r e -opened and the owne r s , unde r s t a nd-ably , do not want people in te r fe r ingwi th t he i r ope r a t i on .Nic e cu t t i ng m a te r i a ls c an be foundin t he washe s ne a r t he gho s t t own ofS tan ton , Arizona . I t i s poss ib le to p ickup s pec im ens of aga te , ja sper , andeven b lack tourma l ine , e spec ia l ly inthe l a rge wash a sh o r t d i s t a nc e wes t

o f t he o ld s e t t l emen t . S t a n ton wasor igina l ly ca l led Ante lope S ta t ion bu tdue t o t h e aggr e ss ive n a tu r e o f one ofi t s ea r ly re s idents , Char le s P. S tan-ton , t h e t own 's nam e was changed inh is "honor ." Gold was the pr imaryr e a son fo r found ing the t own, a ndthe re a re s t i l l many ac t ive c la ims inthe vic inity. In fact, a few years ago, Iwas ab le to dry-wash som e color s fromone of the a rea ' s c reek be ds . To ge t toS t a n t o n , t a k e t h e d i r t r o a d h e a d i ngeas t f rom A-89 abou t two m i le s n or thof Congress . The b ig wash i s foundafte r t r ave l ing abou t four and one-ha lfm i l e s , a n d S t a n t o n i s a n o t h e r o n eand one -ha lf m i le s down the r o ad .New Equipment: Mohave Indus -t r ie s , Inc . , 2365 Nor the rn Avenue ,K lngman , AZ, 86401, ha s r e c en t ly de -ve loped a n ew dop s t ick a l ignm ent j igto be used with m a te r ia l be ing doppedwith wax. It em ploys optics to exactlyc e n t e r t h e s t o n e s a n d t h u s r e d u c e sg r ind ing t ime and was t ed ma te r i a lon Mohave ' s a u toma t i c c abb ing ma-ch in e s . Th i s new dop s t i c k ha s a c a -pac it y o f two s ton e s a t a t ime .F a c e t e r ' s Guild: Jack Will iams ofthe Ar l ing ton Gem and Mine ra l Clubhas recent ly formed the Texas Face-te r ' s Gui ld to bui ld na t iona l r ecogni-t i o n fo r i n d e p e n d e n t c u t t e r st h r oughou t t he c oun t r y who wou ldl i k e t o s h a r e i n f o r m a t i o n o nt e chn ique s a nd equ ipmen t . If you a r ein te re s ted , contac t Mr . Wil l iams a t6510 Ca m p Bowie Blvd., Fo rt Worth,TX 76116.Special Programs: The Ar izona-Sonora Dese r t Museum offe r s a con-t i nu in g s e r i e s of p rog ram s , i nc lud ingm any o f i n t e r e s t t o r ockh punds . Oneof the bes t i s given eve ry Tu esday a t10:30 a .m. on t h e M useum g rou nd s .It i s en t i t led "Oddi t ie s of the M ine ra lWor ld" and I h ighly recommend a t-t e nd ing . In add i t ion , t h e i r Ea r th S c i-ence s Cen te r offe rs to ur s to in te re s tedg r o u p s i f a r r a n g e m e n t s a r e m a d eahead o f t im e . Fo r mor e i n fo rm a t ionon p rog ram s an d a c t i v it ie s , wri te t h eMuseum a t Route 9, Box 900, Tuc-so n, AZ 85704.Helpful Hints: One of the biggestp ro b l em s m a ny l a pi d a ry e n t h u s i a s t se n c oun t e r whe n m a k i ng c a bo c hon s i sr e m o v i n g a ll t h e - p i t s a n d s m a l lc racks . Afte r each appl ica t ion to thewhee l , i t i s necessa ry to comple te lydry the s tone and ca refu l ly inspec t i tun de r s t r o ng l igh t t o de t e rmine i f t h e

c av i ti e s have be en r emoved . The r e ' s agood su gges t ion for h e lp ing to rem ovepi ts an d sm a l l frac tures in th e Oil Bel tR o c k h o u n d s ' p u b l i c a t i o n , T h ePipeline. I t r e c o m m e n d s t h a t t h er ough-fo rmed c abochon be sp r ayedwi th b r igh t r e d ename l pa in t be fo r ef ina l gr ind ing. The pa in t pe rmea testhe p i t s a nd c au se s t hem to e as il y beseen, whe the r wet or dry . I t r ied thet e chn ique on som e j a spe r t ha t c on-t a ined sma l l c av i t i e s a nd found i tworked very well;An a r t ic l e i n t he Wlckenbu rg Gem &Minera l Soc ie ty Newsletter sugges tsu s i n g empty 30-06 ca r t r idges a s d ops t i c k s . Regu la r dop wax i s u sed on thec losed end of the she l l an d, beca use i ti s bra ss , i t won 't ru s t and le ss wax isne eded . In add i t i on t he s t one s s e l -dom come loose , s i nc e t hey a r e a i r -cooled from the ins id e . I hav en ' t hadan oppor tun i t y t o t r y i t , bu t t ho sewho h a v e u s e d t h i s me t h od r e p o r tgood r e su l t s .Fee Collecting Sites Booklet: Avery usefu l publ ica t ion i s ava i lab lewhich l i s t s hu nd red s of fee co llec tings i t e s a l l ove r t he Un i t e d S t a t e s . Thebook le t de sc r i be s wha t c an be foundand gives a dd r e s s e s t o wr it e fo r m or ede t a i l e d i n fo rma t ion . The l oc a t i on sa re l i s ted by s ta te . If in te re s ted , send$3.95 to Carol E. Kindler, P.O. Box12328, Phil ad elph ia, PA 19119.Gem Identification: In te re s ted inl e a r n i n g h o w t o i d e n t i f y v a r i o u sr ocks , c r y s t a l s a nd gems tone s foundon y our t r ips? If so , I sugges t co ns id-e r i ng the co lo r ed s ton e an d gem iden-t i fi c a t i o n c o u r s e s o ffe re d b y t h eGemologica l Ins t i tu te of Amer ica . Ihave ju s t c om ple te d bo th and foundt h e m t o b e a m ong t h e m o s t i n t e re s t -i ng I have eve r t a ken . They do r equ i r esom e t im e and work , bu t t h e s choo l 'sc o r r e s p o n d e n c e c o u r s e i n s t r u c t o r sa re ve ry he lpful and the ma te r ia l i swell p r e sen t ed . Sho u ld you choose t ot a ke t he gem iden t i f i c a t i on cou r s e ,y o u m u s t h a v e a c c e s s t o c e r t a i npieces of equ ipm en t. However, if youa r e l i k e me and wou ld wan t t o pu r -cha se t h i s ne eded ba s i c equ ipmen t ,supp li e r s c an be l oca t ed by examin inga dv e r t i sme n t s i n Desert Magazinea nd r o c khound j o u r n a l s , o r t h e In s t i-t u t e c an supp ly i t t h r ou gh the i r sub-s i d i a r y , Ge m In s t r ume n t s Co r p o r a -t ion. For a ca ta log of courses , wr i tethe Ins t i tu te a t 1660 S tewar t S t ree t ,Sa nta M onica , CA 90404.

3 6 JULY, 1980


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L isting for C alendar must be receivedat least three months prior to the event.There is no charg e for this service.May 22-Sept. 7: E x h i b i t i o n . H o p iK a c h i n a : S p i r i t o f L ife . C a l i f o r n i aA c a d e m y o f S c i e n c e s . S a n F r a n c i s c o ,Calif. M a y 2 2 t h r o u g h S e p t e m b e r 7 ,1 9 8 0 .July 4-6: D e m ing , New M e x ic o . An -n u a l B u t t e r f i e l d T r a i l D a y s . P a r a d e ,f id d l e r s ' c o n t e s t , d a n c e s , t r a d i n gp o s t , a n d b a r b e c u e , h o s t e d b y c o s -t u m e d v i ll a ge r s .Through July 27: M u s e u m o f M a n ,1 3 50 E l P r a d o , B a l b o a P a r k , S a nD iego . Open da i ly 10 a .m .-4:30 p .m .W e d n e s d a y s f r e e . F o r m o r e i n f o r m a -t i o n , c a l l 239 -2001 . Te t o n -S i o ux I n -d i a n s , f rom b i r th t o o ld age , wi l l bet h e s u b j e c t o f a M u s e u m o f M a n ex-h i b i t t h r o u g h J u l y 2 7 .July 10-13: Sa n t a F e , Ne w Me x i c o .3 1 s t A n n u a l R o d e o d e S a n t a F e .July 17-20: S a n t a F e & T a o s : D . H .L a w r e n c e F e s t i v a l , m a r k i n g t h e 5 0 t ha n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e d e a t h o f t h e E n -g l is h a u t h o r / p o e t w h o l iv e d in T a o s i n1922-25 . C o n f e r e n c e w i t h a u t h o r sR o b e r t D u n c a n , J a m e s H e r l i h y ,R i c h a r d H o g g a r t , H e n r y M i ll e r. N .S c o t t M o m a d a y , J o h n N i c h o l s , P h i l i pRo t h , a n d o t h e r s ; $150 .00 , La wre n c er e c i ta l w i t h a c t o r s / a c t r e s s e s ( Ju l y1 7 - 1 9 , S a n t a F e ) D a m e Pe g gyAshc r o f t , A l a n Ba t e s , Anne Ba x t e r ,C l a ir B lo o m , G re e r G a r s o n , J u l i e H a r-r i s , Dus t i n Ho f fma n , T r e vo r Howa rd ,J a c k L e m m o n , D i a n a R i g g a n do t h e r s .July 21-25: A p h o t o g r a ph y w o r k s h o pi n t h e S a n G o r g o n l o W i l d e r n e s s a r e a .B a c k p a c k i n g i n t o p r i m i t i v e a r e a . F o rn a t u r e l o v e r s , flo w er & w il d e r n e s sp h o t o g r a p h e r s . D i s c u s s i o n s , d e m o n -s t r a t i o n s , a n d w o r k i n g f i e l d s e s s i o n s .B a c k p a c k i n g e x p e r i e n c e a n d g o o dp h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n h e l p f u l . P a r t i c i -p a n t s m u s t f u r n i s h o w n e q u i p m e n t ,f o o d , c a m e r a , f i l m , a n d t r a n s p o r t a -t i o n t o w o r k s h o p lo c a t i o n . ( F ee$85.00) Fo r f u r t h e r i n f o rm a t i o n a n dd e t a i l s , c o n t a c t F l o y L. J a r z a b e k ,3 6 3 0 G e a r y P l a c e , R i v e r s i d e , C A9 2 5 0 1 . (714)6 83-436 6 .A u g u s t 1-9: E i g h t h A n n u a l F e s t i v a l o ft h e Ame r i c a n We s t , U t a h S t a t e Un i -v e r s i t y , Loga n , U t a h . Th e F e s t i v a l i s ar e c r e a t i o n o f f r o n t i e r l i f e a s i t a p -pe a r e d i n t h e 19 t h c e n t u r y . Fo r f u r -t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , w r i t e o r c a l l : U t a hS ta t e Un ive r s i t y , UMC 14 R-107, Lo-gan, UT 84322. (801) 750-1144 or1 1 4 5 .

Monthly Photo Contest RulesLf ach month wh en entries warrant, Desert Magazine will award $25*-' for the best black and wh ite photograph submitted. Subject must bedese rt-related. In the opinion of our judges, none of the entries rece ivedby the deadline for our June conte st qualified for an award so no prizewill be awarded this month . Prize mone y will be added to next month 'swinnings, a total of $75for the lucky winner.Here Are T h e Rules

Prints must be B&W, 8x10, glossy.Contest is open t o amateurp r o f e s s i o n a l . Desert requirespublication r ight s .

3a n dfirst

Each photograph must b e labeled ( t i m e ,p l ace , shutter speed, f i lm , and camera) .4. Judges a r e from Deserfs staff.5. Prints will b e returned if self-addressed

stamped envelope is enclosed.Address all entries to Ph oto Editor, DESERT Magazine,

P . O . Box 1318, Palm De sert, C A 92261.

GORDON'S .IPOIII & Mineral5555 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. California 90805Phone (213) 428-6496

Open Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m . to 5:30 p.m .Sunday 10 to 4:30 Closed MondayHEADQUARTERS FOR:L apidary Supplies Jewelry Making Rockhound SuppliesSilver & Gold Casting Machines Cut Stones Rough RockWrite tor FREE ALL NEW GEM SHOPPER

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Articles an d news items aboutpro spec t i ng , mines a n d m i n in g , bothlarge an d small opera t i on s . P i c -tures , h in t s , t ips , advertisements formachinery, mines a n d c l a i m s .Published monthly. $5.00 pe r year.Send for sample copy .W e s te r n P R O S P E C T O R & M I N E R

B ox UK, T om bs t o n e , AZS5f i: t8

STUDYDESERT ECOLOGYOn L ake Powell in Southern UtahFour sessions during July an d August.

I n c l u d e s : Geology, Archaeology, His tory, andth e flora an d fauna of the region. In 12 daystravel over 400 miles by houseboat. Take dailyhikes through th e surrounding canyons an ddesert m es a s . Visit Indian r u i n s , naturalbridges and a r ches . Identify plants and an i -mals . 4 units of university credit op t i ona l .Contact: Professor Andrew KarolyHumbolt State UniversityArcata, C A 95521(707)826-3754

M o u n ta in & D e s e r t ,In cJ U S T F O B Y O U !

E x pe d i ti on s f r om S ie r r a s to N e v ad a ,D e a t h Va l le y t o M t . W h i t n e y Bo nded Gu ides Fi sh ing 4W Ds . P h o t o g r a p h y C am p i n g G e o l og y Hiking Wildflowers

Yo u name i t , W e ' l l do t h e r e s t .DEPT. DP.O. BOX 2005 Ridgec res t, Calif. 93555

[7141375-1004

LIFETIME OF MEMORIESPACK THE GRAND CANYONSOUTH RIM NORTH RIMSUPAI W ATER FALLS

WE TELL YOU HOW TO MAK E TH EARRANGEMENTS TO SEE IT ALL.WE SEND MAPS, PH OTOS, TIPS.WH AT TO, AND WH AT NOT TO TAKE.PLUS INFO ON BEST TIMES TO GO.FOR 8X 11 BOOKLET SEND...$2.95

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DESERT 37


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cant, from page 92low to justify additional capi-tal investment in physicalimprovements." So, RoundMountain, still something ofa frontier mining settlement,Is facing problems like manytowns and cities large andsmall all across the country.The town board of RoundMountain and the owner ofthe water company contactedDr. Knechel to help explorepotential alternatives for re-solving the problem. Subse-quently, the owner-operatorof the water company an-nounced he might considerselling the water system toE X P E R T S S U G G E S TG E R M A N S I L V E RF O R H O B B Y W O R KSacramento, Calif - Withthe high price of silver goinghigher, the silversmith orhobbiest might consider try-ing German silver. The cost ismuch less and it solders andhandles about the same asreal silver. It even looks likesilver. So why is it so muchcheaper? There is no silver init. It contains 65% copper,17-1/2% zinc, and 17-1/2%nickel. Sterling silver con-tains 92-1/2% silver and7-1/4% other metals. Finesilver is 99-l/2%pure silver.Mexican silver is 95% silverand 5% copper. U.S. coinsilver is 90% silver and thebalance copper. The meltingpoint of fine silver is 1,760degrees and for sterling silverit is 1,640 degrees. Silver sol-ders are used for silver workand are alloyed in four differ-ent grades or melting points.Usually the harder solder isused for the first assemblyand softer solders later.- THE ROCK LEDGER

the town, and the town boardpassed a resolution to con-sider forming a water dis-trict. The county agreed toapply for a federal grant andhelp with the necessary legaland political arrangements.Further, the Smoky ValleyMining Division of the Cop-per Range Company has in-dicated its willingness tohelp."The water situation couldbecome a major impedimentto growth in Round Moun-tain," Dr. Knechel said, "withthe difficulty largely being fi-nancial, although the alter-native of the town taking overthe system now seems moreviable, especially if help canbe derived via grants." Sho-

a r u mslione water Company cus-tomers have enjoyed waterrates as low as any in thestate, mostly because thespring water was pure andneeded no treatment, no en-ergy is used for pumping,and because of the owner'sneighborliness.He concluded that if thegrants applied for comethrough, customers therewill still have relatively lowrates compared to other smalltowns in Nevada. And RoundMountain can grow one moretime, keeping the "ghost"away that has descended onits neighbors like Belmontand Ophir Canyon.Ton op ah TI M E S -BO N A N ZAan d Goldf i e l d N EWS

M 0 T 0 R H 0 M E S S T I L L B E S TF O R L O W - C O S T V A C A T IO N SDetroit, Mich. - No matterhow you figure it, even up to$2.50 a gallon for gasoline,vacationing by motorhomestill beats anything excepthitchhiking.That's the conclusion of ananalysis by Chrysler engi-

neers of various types of va-cations all based on a fam-ily of four traveling 3,000miles over a two-week period.Meals and motel/hotelprices were held constant incalculating the cost, whilethe price of gasoline was var-ied between *1 and $3.One family, traveling in asix-cylinder Plymouth Volarethat averaged 23 miles pergallon of gasoline, stayingeach night in a hotel and eat-ing all their meals atmodestly-priced restaurants.

spent between $1,979 and$2,239.A second family, hauling apop-up travel trailer behind a318-cubic-inch V8-poweredDodge Aspen, staying eachnight in a state park and eat-ing half their meals out,spent between * 1,810 and$2,240.A family of four vacationingin a rented class C motor-home, staying each night in astate park and eating all theirmeals in the motorhome,spent between $1,600 and$2,350.The study according toChrysler engineers, provesthat the economics of RVtravel are still favorable in theface of any foreseeable rise ingasoline prices.- Desert News ServiceCROSS-COUUJTRTS U I T WALK

Blythe, Calif. Joe B o w e n ,w h o is w a l k i n g a c r o s s thec o u n t r y on t w o - f o o t h i g hs t i l t s , was in B ly t h e r e c en t l yt o h e l p r a i s e f u n d s to f ightm u s c u l a r d y s t r o p h y .B o w e n b e g a n his t r i p Feb.23 in Los Ange l e s and willwalk on s t i l t s to his h o m e -t o w n of B o w e n , Ky., a v e r a g -

38 JULY, 1980

in g 20 m i l e s per day.H i s g o a l is to r a i s e$ 1 00 ,0 0 0 t h r o u g h d o n a t i o n sfo r the M u s c u l a r D y s tr o p h yF o u n d a t i o n .B owen ' s wa lk is s p o n s o r e dn a t i o n a l l y by the J a y c e e s , ac-c o r d i n g to Bob Z i m m e r m a n ,a s p o k e s m a n for the BlytheJ a y c e e s . The o r g a n i z a t i o n is

p a y i n g B o w e n ' s e x p e n s e sp l u s t h o s e of a f r i end who isd r i v i n g a m o t o r h o m e B o w e ns l e e p s in a f t e r a day ofw a l k i n g .D u r i n g his s t a y in B ly t h e ,B o w e n p l a n s to h a v e w o r kd o n e on the m o t o r h o m e at al o c a l s h o p .- P a l o V e r d e V a l le y T IM E S

cont. from page 33the world. The location isnear Needles. The claim is theproperty of the Needles Gemand Mineral Club and isopened to the public only onthe occasion of the annualgem show.- Needles Desert Star

P E O P L E ' S P O L LA G A I N S T M X I NS I L V E R S T A T EAustin, Nev. A recentpoll of Austin citizens regard-ing the MX "racetrack" mis-sile system came up withsome adverse opinions. Notall persons wished to have

their names printed but theywill recognize themselves.Laurence Saralegui: "Nowif they would build the MXaround the White House,Congress and all their homesand everything, we couldconquer two birds with onestone. They'd have to startusing their heads and wewouldn't need the draft."John Nagy: "Tell the politi-cians there won't be anykickback and there won't beany MX.""It's the best thing thatever happened to our area.Look at all the jobs andmoney it will bring in.""I'm leaving!" Reese River ReveilleC H E A PG O L DBuena Park, Calif. E v e nKnott's Berry Farm, the pop-ular tourist attraction in thistown near Disneyland, hasbeen affected by the soaringprice of gold. Visitors mustnow pay $1 instead of 85$ topan for gold. Knott's obtainsbags of gold-bearing sandfrom miners in the YukonRiver Valley of Alaska andfrom each pan, the pannershould average about 12flakes of gold. One flake iscurrently worth about 10


39/56Sign Gii t Card ' .


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Broken-HeartedBRA1b y D o n M i l l e rM ANY OF THE NAMES THEY Have been ca l l ed a r eu n p r i n t a b l e . O t h e r s i n c l u d e R o c k y M o u n t a i nCana r i e s , P i k e ' s Pe ak Cana r i e s , S ou t hwes t e r n N igh t -i nga l e s , Co l o r a do Mock i ngb i r d s , Co l o r a do N igh t i nga l e s , a s s e s ,j a c ka s s e s , j a c k s (ma l e s ) , j e nn i e s a nd / o r j e nne t t e s ( f ema l e s ) ,Equus asinus, d o n k e y s , o r b u r r o s .

S o m e a u t h o r i ti e s c l a im t h e y w e r e t h e fir st a n i m a l t o b e d o m e s -t ic a t e d a nd t h a t t ho s e s ti ll t o b e f ound i n t h e Am e r i c an Wes t we r ede r i ved f rom a s t ock of Afr i can wi ld a s ses abou t 6 ,000 yea r s ago.T h e i r r a u c u s " h e e - h a w " b r a y is u n m i s ta k a b l e . P h o s p h o r M a lla mwro t e i n The Donkey/ Book: "When t h a t l ong-d r awn r o cke t i ng pe a l ,i n swe l l i ng vo l ume o f n a s a l t r e b l e a nd gu t t e r a l b a s s , r i ng s a nde choe s t h r ough t h e c i t y s t r e e t s , a nd t h e t r ag i c - com i c c l a ngou r i st r a c e d t o t h e d i s t o r t e d t h r o a t a n d b a r e d g u m s o f a n i n c o n g r u o u smoke , r i s i b i l i t y i s t i c k l e d , a nd man g i v e s way t o i r r e s i s t i b l elaughter. ' . 'S o m e c la im t h e d o n k e y ' s s e r e n a d e is a b r o k e n - h e a r te d c ryaga i n s t t h e pa i n o f ex i s te n c e , wh i l e o t h e r s c a l l i t "a vo i c e o f poe t r y . "One ob s e r v e r wro t e : "H i s no s t r i l s c u r l t i l l h i s t e e t h s how, a nd f r omt h i s ta u t l y open ed m ou t h c om e s a l ong-d r awn-ou t c r y , a w i ld Yah!' l ik ea wa i l o f t h e b an s he e , f o ll owed by t h r e e l oud r a sp ings a nd exp i r i ng in as e r i e s o f whee zy t h r o a t i ng s ."N o t o n l y d o t h e i r v o i c e s r i n g th r o u g h o u t t h e W e st, s o d o l e g e n d s a b o u tt h em f l ou r i s h . B u r r o s a r e f r equen t l y c r e d i t e d w i t h une a r t h i ng r i c h go l da n d s i l v e r d i s c o v e r i e s . O n e o b s e r v e r c l a i m e d t h e b u r r o u n a s s i s t e d h a sd e v e l o p e d m o r e m i n e s th a n a ll t h e r a i lr o a d s i n t h e w o r l d .Nevada f o l k l o r e h a s i t th a t J im B u t l e r pi c ked u p a r o ck t o h u r l a t h i sb u r r o s t o h u r r y t h e m u p a n d n o t i c e d i t w a s m i n e r a l iz e d q u a r t z h e h e l d inh i s h a n d . T h i s le d t o t h e d i sc o v e r y o f s e v e r a l a re a m i n e s a n d t h e f o u n d i n gof T o nopah , Nevada .Anothe r t a l e has i t t ha t "Bi l l , " t he "Jackas s of t he Coeur d 'Alenes , "d i s c o v e r e d t h e B u n k e r H i l l a n d S u l l i v a n m i n e a t K e l l o g g i n n o r t h e r nIdah o t he wo r l d ' s l a r ge s t s i lv e r p r od uc e r . S o m e c l a im B il l wa sp l a c ed on a fa rm a t Co t t age Grove , Or egon , to l i v e ou t h i s l a s t y e a r s i nr e l a t iv e l uxu r y , wh i ch h e d i d u n t i l h e d i e d o f n a t u r a l c a u s e s . Acon f l i c t i ng r epo r t i s t h a t t h e bu r r o wa s b r ough t t o Mu r r a y , I d aho ,w h e r e l o c a l m i n e r s t i e d a b u n d l e o f d y n a m i t e st ic k s t o h i m , l it t h efu s e , a n d b l e w h im u p .S ti ll a no t h e r v e r s i on a l s o c l a im s t h e a n im a l was a t M u r r a y in t h el a t e 1880s . A t am bo ur i n e-pl ay in g S a lva t i on Arm y l a s s was v i s it i ngs a l o o n s a n d s h e s a w m i n e r s g i v i n g B i l l b o o z e a n d c h e w i n gt oba c co . T h e yo ung l a dy is s a id t o h ave t a k en Bil l away fr om a llt h a t t o wa lk t h e s t r a i gh t a nd n a r r ow pa t h . B u t B ill e s c aped a ndw a n d e r e d a r o u n d i n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g m o u n t a i n s a n d f o u n d a nu n a t t e n d e d o p e r a t i n g s ti ll . H e r e p o r t e d l y c h o m p e d h i s t e e t h o n t ot h e s p i g o t a n d s o o n d i e d o f a l c o h o l - c a u s e d delirium tremens.T h en t h e r e ' s t h e s t o r y wh i ch c l a im s Bil l wa s r e t i r e d t o a fa rm ne a rC l e E l um , Wash i ngt on wh e r e h e l a t e r wa s s ho t a nd k i l le d .

4 0 JULY, 198 0


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T a le s of t h e u n c a n n y a b i l i t ie s o f b u r r o sto fi nd wa te r , o f t h e i r s u pe r io r i n t e l l ig ence ,o f t h e i r s u r e f o o t e d n e s s , a n d o f t h e i re x c e l l e n t s e n s e o f d i r e c t i o n a r e l e g i o n . Am in e r n e a r O u r a y , C o l o r a d o b r o k e h i s l e g.T h e s t o r y a v e r s t h a t h i s b u r r o quicklyt r o t t e d 15 m i l e s to t h e n e a r e s t c am p fo rh e l p , w h i c h w a s p r o m p t l y s e n t . A n o t h e rb u r r o w a s o n c e u s e d t o pa c k ab a d l y - in j u r e d m o u n t a i n c l im b e r o ff M t .S tu a r t in the C a s c a d e M o u n t a in s .In ano th e r t a l l story i t 's c l a im ed ag r e e n h o r n t o t h e W es t s a w a b u r r o w i t h a nu p s i d e - d o w n w h e e l b a r r o w o n i ts b a c k . T h en e w c o m e r a s k e d t h e a n i m a l ' s o w n e r w hyt h i s w a s d o n e . T h e o w n e r r e p l i e d t h a t t h eb u r r o f r e q u e n t l y g o t t i re d t o i l i n g u pm o u n t a i n s i d e s , s o w h e n a n i m a l a n d o w n e rc a m e t o t h e p e a k , t h e b u r r o w a s t u r n e do v e r o n t o t h e w h e e l b a r r o w a n d w h e e l e dd o w n t h e o t h e r s i d e w h i le h e r e s t e d .G e n u i n e a ffe c ti o n b e tw e e n m a n a n da n i m a l wa s n o t u n c o m m o n . P e r h a ps t h eb e s t - k n o w n a n d w a r m e s t r e l a t i o n s h i pi n v o l v e d o l d - t im e m i n e r R . M . S h e r w o o d

a n d a b u r r o . S o m e p e o p l e s ay t h e a n i m a lc a m e t o F a i rp la y , C o l o r a d o l o o k i n g s o o l da n d w r i n k le d t h a t t h e m i n e r s d u b b e d h i mO ld P r u n e s . " O t h e r s m a i n t a in h e w a sw r i n k l e d b e c a u s e h e a t e pr u n e s f ro m aw o o d e n b o x t h a t h a d b r o k e n o p e n a ft er i tfe ll fr om h i s m o th e r ' s p ack .When P ru ne s was r e t i r e d from a l ong li feo f w o r k i n g u n d e r g r o u n d i n a r e a m i n e s , h eturned t o m o o c h i n g f la p ja c k s a n d b r e a da n d o t h e r g o o d i e s fr o m F a i r pl a y r e s i d e n t s .

Prun es f ina lly d ied in 1930 a t age 63 andh i s g ra v e wa s m a r k e d b y a m o n u m e n tf e a tu r i ng an i n s c r ip t i on made f rom coa lfr o m t h e m i n e s i n w h i c h h e h a d t o i le d s olon g and fa ithfu l ly . His ma s te r , R . M.Sh e rwo od , d i ed i n 1931 a t 82 yea r s o f age .H e h a d p r e v io u s l y a s k e d t h a t h is r e m a i n sb e b u r i e d n e xt t o Pr u n e 's m o n u m e n t n e a rt h e H a n d H o t e l o n t h e m a i n s t r e e t o fFa i rp lay .HEN THE "PROGRESS ofiza t i on" d r a s t i c a l l y r educedt h e n e e d f o r b u r r o s , m a n y w e r et u r n e d l o o s e i n t h e w e s t e r n w i l d s to f e n dfo r t h emse lv e s . The se a r e c a l l e d f e r a lb u r r o s , pe r h a p s b e c a u s e t h e y proliferateaggre s s iv e ly l ik e a weed . Som e we re sh o tby "spo r t s m en ," bu t m os t a r e now-p ro t e c t ed by law and s t il l r o am wi ld (ind e s c e n d i n g o r d e r o f n u m b e r s ) inCal iforn ia , Arizona, Nevad a, New M exico ,U ta h , Id a h o , C o l o r a d o , W y o m in g , O r e g o n ,a n d T e xa s . M o r e r e c e n t l y , s o m e o f t h e s ef e r a l b u r r o s a r e b e i n g a d o p t e d u n d e r t h e

"Adop t a Ho r s e" p rog ram o f t h e Bu re au o fLa n d M a n a g e m e n t .S o m e b u r r o s a r e n e i t h e r d o m e s t i c a t e dn o r w i ld b u t r a t h e r , s o m e w h e r e i nb e t w e e n . T h e s e a r e t h e moochers whoa p p ro a c h t h e p u b l i c fo r a fo o d h a n d o u ta n d s p e n d t h e b a l a n c e o f t h e i r t im e i n t h eh i l l s o r d e s e r t s . They r ange t h e Wes t fr omCu s t e r S t a t e Pa rk i n Sou th D ako t a ' s Bla ckHi ll s t o s u ch p l a c e s a s t h e s t r e e t s o fOatman, Arizona.

T1 HE FUTURE OF th e an im a l s i sunc e r t a i n . Los Alamo s Lake,Ar izona i s a c en t e r o f t r oub l e s i nb u r r o c o u n t r y . B u r r o s i n th e a r e a a r er o u n d e d u p a n d s h i p pe d t o fo s te r h o m e st h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y t h r o u g h t h e"Adopt a Hors e" pro gram . West of LosA la m o s La k e , b u r r o s a r e b o t h e r s o m e t o t h eU.S. Navy a t i ts C hina Lake Naval WeaponsC e n t e r . N o r t h w a r d , i n t h e G r a n d C a n y o nNa t iona l Pa rk t h e r e a r e p l an s t o k i l l s ev e r a lh u n d r e d o f t h e m t o pr o t e c t th e r e m o t e a n dfr a gi le c h a n n e l s t h a t ru n t o t h e C o l o r a d oR i ve r. T o th e s o u t h t h e y c o m p e t e w i thb igho rn sh eep fo r s c a r c e food . The p ro l i f i cb r e e d e r s e a t a lm o s t a n y t h i n g : d r o p s e e d ,Ind i an r i c e g r a s s , mesquite, b l ac k b r u s h ,b r i t t le b u s h , a n d l i c h e n . T h e y e v e n c h o m pu p th e t e n d e r b a r k o f t h e p a l o s v e r d e s tr e e s .

O n e observer c o m m e n t e d a b o u t wh a tl i e s ah e ad . He c l a imed th a t t h e g r e a t d ay o fth e b u r ro i s pa s t , t h a t h e h a s n o p l a c e t oc a ll h o m e , a n d t h a t h e n o l o n g e r a p p e a l s t op e o p l e . O f t h e w il d b u r r o t h e o b s e r v e rw r o t e : " O w n e r l e s s a n d h o m e l e s s , h e l iv e sl ik e t h e a l le y c a t a r o u n d s m a l l t o w n s a n dm i n i n g c a m p s , s o m e t im e s e v e n g e t t in go r d i n a n c e s p a s s e d a g a in s t h im f o r b e i n g ap u b l i c n u i s a n c e . No w o n d e r h i s h e a r t i sb r o k e n . "S o , a s y o u r a m b l e t h r o u g h t h e W es t a n dh a v e t h e c h a n c e , y o u m ig h t w a n t tob e fr i en d a b r o k e n - h e a r t e d b u r r o o r atl e a st g iv e o n e o r m o r e o f th e m a b e e p oft h e h o r n a n d a fr ie n d l y w a v e . S o m e t im e sthey e v e n a n s w e r b a c k ! fj ]

Photo taken at Dole Meadows, Mono County, in 1943 by H.M. Hall was captioned "3partners"with a notation that the prospector was 78-years old.D E S E R T 4 1


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T h eMcCain ValleyPictographs

Artic le an d Pho tographsb y T o m E v an sONE OF THE r a r e s t k i nd s o f a r tIc r e a t e d b y n a t iv e A m e r i c a n s ,p i c to g r a p h s , a l s o m a y b e t h em o s t v u l n e r a b l e t o l o s s , a s th e y a r ec o m p a r a ti v e l y s c a r c e a n d e a s y to d e s t r o y .Pe t r og l yphs ( r o ck c a r v i ng s ) and i n t ag li o s( im a g e s m a d e b y s c r a pi n g t h e d e s e r t fl o o r )hav e su f fe r ed h eav i l y f rom vand a l i sm , bu ts p ec i a l c i r cums t ance s wo r k i n t h e i r f avo r .T h e v a st n u m b e r o f p e t r o g ly p h s a s s u r e st h a t s om e w i l l s u r v i v e , wh i l e t h e t yp i c a ll a r g e s i ze o f an i n t ag l i o r equ i r e s a m a jo rphy s i c a l e f fo r t f o r i t s t o t a l d e s t r u c t i on .No t s o w i t h p i c t og r aphs ( r o ck p a i n t i ng s ) .O n e w a r p e d m i n d a n d o n e c a n o f s pr a yp a i n t c a n c a u s e i r r e p a r a b l e l o s s o n a w i d es ca l e . No on e kn ows f o r c e r t a i n wh a t i s l o s t42 JULY, 1980

w h e n a pi c t o g r a ph i s r u i n e d , b u t t h e r e a r ef ragmen t s o f i n f o rma t i on f rom m anys o u r c e s th a t i n d ic a t e w h o m a d e t h e r o c kp a i n ti n g s a n d w h y t h e y w e r e m a d e . If t h e s ei n d i c a t i o n s a r e c o r r e c t , t h e r o c k a r t wa s o fe x t r e m e i m p o r t a n c e i n pr e h i st o r ic -c u l t u r e s .7- f HERE IS co nt in u in g ef for t to f indo u t m o r e a b o u t t h e m e a n i n g o fp i c to g r a p h s , b u t " h a r d e v i d e n c e "i s a l m o s t n o n e x i s t e n t . T h e r e a r e a fe wa c c o u n t s fr o m I n d i a n s th e m s e l v e s , b u tt h e s e u s u a l ly a r e s c r a p s o f i n f o r m a t i o n ,o f t en g i v en w i t h r e l u c t ance .T h e d e t e c t i v e w o r k d e a l s w i th b i t s a n dp i e ce s o f i n f o rm a t i on , m ix ed w i th

a s s u m p t i on s an d t h e l i tt l e t h a t i s r e a l l yk n o w n . T h e c o n c l u s i o n s t h a t a r e f in a ll ym a d e r e s t o n t h e l o o s e s a n d o f n o tk n o w i n g a b s o l u te l y .O n e o f t h e m o s t n o t a b l e d e t e c t i v e s int h e f ie l d o f p i c t og r aph r e s e a r ch i s KenH e d g e s , C u r a t o r o f A rc h a e o l o g y a n dE t h n o l o g y a t t h e M u s e u m o f M a n i n S a nD i e g o . H e r e c e n t l y c o m p l e t e d a n i n v e n t o r yo f 27 ro ck a r t s i t e s fo r t h e Bu r eau o f LandM anagem en t i n t h e M cCa i n Va ll ey Study-A re a i n e a s t e r n S a n D i e g o C o u n t y . H e d g e sh a s r e s e a r c h e d r o c k p a i n t i n g i n t h e a r e afo r 1 0 y e a r s a n d h a s a u t h o r e d n u m e r o u spape r s on h i s f ind i ng s .T h e r o c k a r t i n v e n t o r y i s in a po r t i o n o ft h e a re a o n c e d o m i n a t e d b y t h e K u m e y a a v


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( p r o n o u n c e d Koom-yi), o r S o u t h e r nD i e g u e n o I n d i a n s . T h e y o c c u p i e d m o s t ofw h a t is n o w S a n D i e g o a n d Im p e r i a lC o u n t i e s a n d a po r t i o n o f N o r t h e r n Ba ja ,C a l i fo r n i a. T h e r e i s e v i d e n c e t h e y l i v e d i nthe a rea a t leas t 1 ,200 years .T h e k n o w n r o c k p a i n t i n g s i te s o c c u r i na n a r e a o f d e s e r t m o u n t a i n s a b o u t 80 m i l e sl o n g a n d u p t o 2 0 m i l e s w i d e o n l y af ra g m e n t o f t h e a r e a o c c u p i e d b y t h eKum eyaay . Th e s i t e s ex t end i n to Ba ja fo rab ou t 30 m i l e s . All o f t h e p a in t i ng s wi th int h i s a r e a h a v e s im i l a r d e s i gn f e a t u r e s a n da r e k n o w n a s t h e La R u m o r o s a s t y l e . T h en a m e i s d e r i v e d fr o m t h e m o s t e l a b o r a t es i t e o f t h e s t y l e wh ich i s l o c a t ed i n Ba ja .All o f t h e s i t e s a r e a s so c i a t ed wi th l a t ep r e h i s t o r i c o r h i s t o r i c K u m e y a a yh a b i t a t i o n . T h e l a t t e r i s in d i c a t e d b yr e p r e s e n t a t io n s o f m e n o n h o r s e b a c k , a n do n e s i t e a p pe a r s t o d e p i c t C h r i s t ia ns y m b o l s . H e d g e s s a i d t h e t y pi c a l si t e s a r ei n s h a l lo w r o c k s h e l t e r s a n d a r e c l e a r lyv i s ib l e t o a n y o n e s t a n d i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l ed i s t an ce f rom th e p a in t i n g s . Th e LaRu m oro sa s t y l e o f p a in t i ng s i sc h a r a c t e r i ze d b y h u m a n f i gu r e s w i thf in g e rs a n d / o r t o e s ( d i g it a t ea n t h r o p o m o r p h s ) , l i z a r d f o r m s , s u n b u r s t s ,c i r c l e s , a n d g r i d s . T h e y a r e p a i n t e d i n r e d ,b l a ck , wh i t e , a nd y e l l ow.T h e r e d p a i n t is r e d o c h e r ( i r o n o x i d e ) .T h e b l ac k i s m a n g a n e s e d i o x i d e a n d s o m ec h a r c o a l . T h e s o u r c e o f wh i t e p i gm e n t i su n k n o w n b u t m a y b e c h a l k o r gy p su m . T h ey e l l o w is y e ll o w o c h e r . H e d g e s b e l i e v e sth e d i f fi cu l ti e s o f ob t a in in g r aw ma te r i a l sa n d m ixi n g t h e pa i n t s w o u l d p r e c l u d emak ing th e p a in t i ng s fo r f r i vo lou s r e a son s .JT T E IS CONVINCED th a t mos t o f t h e r o c k a r t o f t h e La R u m o r o s a s t y leM J. w a s d o n e b y s h a m a n s , t h ei n d i v i d u a l s w h o s u p p o s e d l y h a d t h e a b i l it yt o c o n t a c t a n d i n t e r a c t w i th t h es u p e r n a t u r a l w o r l d ." T h e sh a m a n w a s m u c h m o r e t h a n am e d i c i n e m a n o r a w i tc h d o c t o r , " H e d g e ss a i d . " Hi s c o n t a c t s w i th t h e s u p e r n a t u r a lw e r e f o r m a n y p u r p o s e s t o i n c r e a s eg a m e , to b r i n g a b o u t t h e a b u n d a n c e o fp l a n t f o o d s , c o n t r o l w e a t h e r , fo s t e r h u m a nfe rt i li t y , a nd cu r e i l l n e s s ." Hi s c o n t a c t w i th t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l c o u l do c c u r t h r o u g h v i s i o n s , d r e a m s , a n d t r a n c e sw h i c h c o u l d b e n a t u r a l o r w h i c h c o u l d b ep r o d u c e d b y fa s ti n g o r b y th e u s e o fh a l l u c i n o ge n i c s u b s t a n c e s ."Such a c t i v i t i e s may r e su l t , a s th ey h avei n m a n y c u l t u r e s , in a r t w h i c h i l lu s t r a t e sm y t h o l o g i c a l t h e m e s , t h e s h a m a n ' se x p e r i e n c e s , b e i n g s , a n d f o r c e s h ee n c o u n t e r s i n th e s u p e r n a t u r a l r e a l m ,a n im a l s f r o m w h i c h h e d e r i v e ss u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r , o r t h e s h a m a n h im s e l fa s h e p e r f o r m s h i s m a g i c a l d u t i e s . "S h a m a n i s t ic p e r f o r m a n c e s a n d p a i n t in gm a y h a v e b e e n c o n n e c t e d w i th a w i d e

v a r ie t y o f c e r e m o n i e s , b o t h p u b l ic a n dp r iv a t e , H e d g e s s a i d . H e n o t e d t h a t t h ee a s il y v i si b l e s it e s m a y h a v e b e e n t h el o c a ti o n o f c e r e m o n i e s c o n d u c t e d i n t h ep r e s e n c e o f n u m b e r s o f p e o p l e . T h e r e a l s o

are scatterings of small sites inou t -o f- th e -way p l a c e s . The se m ay haveb e e n " po w e r s p o t s " w h e r e t h e s h a m a nw e n t a l o n e t o c o n t a c t t h e s u p e r n a t u r a l a n dr e s t o r e h i s p o w e r .A m o n g t h e m o s t c o m m o n l y r e c u r r i n gf e a tu r e s i n t h e r o c k p a i n t i n g s a r e a b s t r a c td e s i g n s w h i c h H e d g e s b e l i e v e s m igh t b ep i c t u r e s o f p h o s p h e n e s w h i c h a r e t h e l i gh tim a g e s t h a t m a n y p e o p l e c a n " s e e " w h e nt h e y c l o s e t h e i r e y e s . T h e im a g e s c a n b ec a u s e d a n d h e i g h t e n e d b y r u b b i n g t h ec l o s e d e y e s . P h o s p h e n e s a l s o c a n a p p e a rw i th s e v e r e h e a d a c h e s o r if s o m e t h i n g h i t sy o u r h e a d h a r d e n o u g h t o c a u s e y o u t o" s e e s t a r s . ""Wha t you a r e d e a l i ng wi th , " Hed gess a i d , " a r e s t im u l i r e c e i v e d b y t h e b r a i nw h i c h t h e b r a i n i n t e r p r e t s a s v i s u a l s tim u l ii n t h e a b s e n c e o f t r u e v is u a l s t im u l a t i o n .T h e b r a i n h a s a w ay o f d e a l i n g w i th t h i n g si t c a n ' t u n d e r s t a n d o r c o p e w i t h , s o i ti n t e r p r e t s t h e p h o s p h e n e s a s li gh t o r av i su a l p a t t e rn .H e d g e s s ai d t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f b a s i cp a t te r n s a n d e l e m e n t s t h a t o c c u rf re q u e n t l y i n p h o s p h e n e s . H e h a s a s k e ds e v e r a l o f h i s fr i e n d s t o r e c o r d t h e im a g e st h e y s e e s o h e c a n c o m p a r e t h e m t o t h eab s t r a c t d e s ign s i n p i c tog raphs ."W e k n o w th a t t h e s h a m a n u s e d t h eh a l l u c i n o g e n , jim s o n w e e d , i n t ra n c e s , " h es a id , "and t h i s wou ld i n t en s i fy t h ep h o s p h e n e s . T h e r e a r e o t h e r w a y s o fa ch i ev ing th i s r e su l t , s u ch a s fa s t ing . To t h en o r t h , i n t h e T e h a c h a p i a r e a , t h e I n d i a n si n g e s t e d r e d a n t s a n d l e t t h e m b i t ei n t e rn a l l y . Appa ren t l y , th i s a l s o c au s edh a l l u c i n a t i o n s . "O t h e r d e s i g n s w h i c h o c c u r a t s o m e r o c kp a i n t in g s i te s a p p e a r t o b e r e l a t e d t o t h eK u m e y a a y s t o r y o f c r e a t i o n . T h e s e i n c l u d et h e p r e s e n c e o f tw o h u m a n - l ik e f ig u r e s , ac e n t i p e d e - t y p e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a n da w h i r l p o o l .I n t h e i r s t o r y of c r e a t i o n , t h e r e w e r e tw ob r o t h e r s w h o l iv e d u n d e r t h e e a r t h . T h e yc a m e t o t h e su r fa c e t h r o u g h t h e s e a . O n eo f t h e m o p e n e d h i s e y es i n th e s a l t w a t e ra n d w a s b l in d e d . H is m o v e m e n t s a r e t h ec a u s e o f e a r t h q u a k e s .T h e o t h e r b r o t h e r w a s t h e c r e a t o r ofe v e r y t h i n g . W h e n h e d i e d , n o o n e k n e wt h e c e r e m o n y fo r t h e d e a d , s o o n e o f t h e

p e o p l e w a s s e n t a s a b u b b l e o r w h i r l p o o li n t h e r i v e r t o t h e s e a t o s e a r c h fo r t h em o n s t e r , M a i h iy o w it a , a c e n t i p e d e - l i k ec r e a t u r e .T h e m o n s t e r c a m e a n d t a u gh t e v e r y o n et h e c e r e m o n y , t h e n c u r l e d h i m s e lf i n s i d e ah o u s e . F i r e w a s s e t t o t h e h o u s e a n d t h em o n s t e r w a s b u r n e d . H e b r o k e i n t o pi e c e s ,w h i c h s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . T h el egen d s ay s t h a t i s ho w we go t d i f fe r en tc u l t u r e s a n d l a n g u a g e s .A n o t h e r r e c u r r i n g d e s i g n is t h e s k e l e t a lf igu r e , wh ich Hedges s a id b e a r s ou t at h e m e t h at is c o m m o n t o s h a m a n i s m i n

N o r t h Am e r i c a a n d S i b e r ia . T h e b o n e s a r ev i ewed a s t h e e s s e n t i a l s ou r c e o f t h e l ifefo r c e , r a t h e r t h an t h e f le sh an d v i ta l o rg an s ." In s h a m a n i s m , it is fr o m t h e b o n e s t h a ts h a m a n i s r e g e n e r a t e d a ft er h i s d e a t h a n d

d i sm em be rm en t t n d i e supe rna tu ra l!w o r l d , " H e d g e s s a id . "T h i s t h e m e h a s n o tb e en sp ec i f i c a l l y i d en t i f i e d fo r t h eK u m e y a a y , a n d t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e s k e l e t a lm o t i f m u s t r e m a i n a s a ta n t a l i zi n gi n d i c a t i o n o f a l l t h a t w e d o n o t k n o w . "A M O N G O T HE R d e s i g n e l e m e n t s/ I in roc k a r t of th e McC ain ValleyJL A. s t u d y a r e a w h i c h h a v es h a m a n i s t i c im p l i c a ti o n s a r e t h o s e w i t h as u n motif. T h e s e o c c u r at n u m e r o u s s i te sa n d r e fl e c t t h e b e l i e f t h a t th e s u n w a s t h es o u r c e o f li fe a n d p o w e r .H e d g e s h a s i d e n t i f i e d r o c k a r t s i t e sw h i c h a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e w i n t e rs o l s t ic e . H e a ls o l o c a t e d w h a t a p p e a r s t o b eK u m e y a a y " o b s e r v a t o r i e s " u s e d t od e t e r m i n e w h e n t h e s u n w o u l d h a l t i tsc h il ly m o v e m e n t o n t h e s o u t h e r n h o r i z o na n d r t t u r n n o r t h w a r d t o r e s t o r e l ife ."If y o u o b s e r v e d t h e p o i n t s a t w h i c h t h es u n r o s e fr o m t h e t i m e o f t h e s u m m e rso l s t i c e ( J une 21s t o r J un e 22nd ) , i t wou lda p p e a r t o m o v e t o w a r d t h e s o u t h e a c h d a y .It w o u l d r e a c h t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t p o i n t a tw i n t e r s o l s t ic e , o n D e c e m b e r 2 2n d , "H e d g e s s a i d ."As th e win t e r s o l s t i c e app ro ac he d , itw a s a b a d t im e f o r t h e K u m e y a a y , a s w e ll a sm a n y o t h e r p e o p l e . T h e w e a t h e r w a s c o l da n d t h e r e w a s n o n e w gr o w th . If s o m e t h i n gw a s n o t d o n e t o " s t o p " t h e s o u t h e r nm o v e m e n t o f t h e s u n , t h e r e w o u l d b en o n e w l ife a n d t h e w o r l d w o u l d c o m et o a n e n d ." E v e n t h o u g h t h e s u n s t o p p e d i t ss o u t h e r n m o v e m e n t e v e r y y e a r a t t h e s a m et im e , y o u c o u l d n e v e r besure i t wou ldh a p p e n . I t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o d o t h ec e r e m o n i e s . It wa s a t im e o f r e a l c r i si s a n di t w a s b e l i e v e d t h a t th e s h a m a n w a s a b l e ,t h r o u g h h i s c o n t a c t s w i th s u p e r n a t u r a lp o w e r s , t o h a v e s o m e m e a s u r e o f c o n t r o lo v e r t h e c o s m o s . "F o r t h e l a s t f o u r o r f iv e d a y s c e n t e r e d o nt h e w i n t e r s o l s t i c e , t h e K u m e y a a y c o u l dn o t t e l l b y n a k e d - e y e o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t t h es u n w a s c o m i n g u p i n a d i ff e re n t p l a c e o nt h e h o r i z o n . W o u ld i t g o n o r t h a g a i n a n db r i n g s p r i n g t im e a n d n e w l i fe , o r w o u l d i tgo sou th aga in? F in a l l y , no r t h e rnm o v e m e n t c o u l d b e s e e n . T h e r e a r ee t h n o g r a p h i c a c c o u n t s t h a t t h i s e v e n t

b r o u g h t f o r t h e n t h u s i a s t i c s o n g a n d d a n c e .H e d g e s h a s m a d e w in t e r s o l s t i c eo b s e r v a t i o n s fr o m s o m e o f t h e pl a c e s u s e db y t h e K u m e y a a y fo r t h e s a m e p u r p o s e .T h e o b s e r v a t o r i e s h a v e r o c k a l i gn m e n t s i nw h i c h o n e a x i s p o i n t s t o w a r d a d i s t a n c eh o r i z o n m a r k e r s u c h a s a p r o m i n e n t r o c ko r m o u n t a i n p e a k . In o n e c a s e , t h e h o r i z o nm a r k e r , w h e r e t h e s u n r i s e s , i s 14 m i l e saway and a l l ows a g r e a t d e a l o f pr e c i s i on i nd e t e r m i n i n g t h e t im e o f w i n t e r s o l s t i c e ,Hedges s a id . Bu t un fo r tuna t e ly , t h e r o cka l i gn m e n t s a t o n e o f t h e o b s e r v a t o r i e s h a v es i n c e b e e n r u i n e d b y v a n d a l s .T " T " EDGES IS con f id en t t h a t a l o t o fr J t h e g e n e r a l a s s u m p t i o n s m a d eJL JL a b o u t K u m e y a a y r o c k a r t a r ec o r r e c t b e c a u s e t h e y a r e b a s e d o n a


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g e n e r a l k n o w l e d g e o f s h a m a n i s mth ro ugho u t t h e Wes t."As fa r a s ge t t in g spec if ic explan a t ion s ,"h e s a i d , " I t h i n k t h a t l i t e r a l ly i s im po s s i b l e .W h at w e k n o w a b o u t s h a m a n i s t icexpe r i e n c e s i n gen e r a l i n d i c a t e s t h a t a n yi n d i v id u a l s h a m a n ' s e x p e r i e n c e is go ing t ob e u n i q u e , s o o n ly t h e p e r s o n w h o m a d et h e pa i n t i ng wou ld k no w wha t it is r e a l l ya b o u t .A re t h e r e s h a m a n s a m o n g t h e K u m e y a a ytoday?"I d o n ' t k n o w ," Hedge s s a i d . "Th e r e a r ep e o p l e w h o h a v e s h a m a n i s ti c k n o w l e d g e .W h e t h e r t h e y a r e a c t u a ll y s h a m a n s o r n o t i sh a r d t o s a y . I t h i n k t h e r e p ro b ab ly a r es om e . You c a n 't ju s t c o n t a c t o n e a n d t a lk t oh i m . I k n o w o f n o o n e w h o c l a im s t o b e as h a m a n o r w h o s a ys h e c a n i n t e r p r e t t h er o c k a r t ."

T " T " E D G E S S A I D t h a t a l l b u t a f e w o fr J t h e k no wn r o ck a r t s i t e s i n t h eJL J . s t u d y a re a a r e e i t h e r o n p u b l i cl a n d a dm in i s t e r e d b y BLM o r i nAnza -Bo r r ego S t a t e Pa rk . T h e r e i s o n eou t s t a n d i n g exc ep t i o n a si t e c a l le d"Wikwip," o r " ta lk ing roc k ." I t i s sa id tha t ,if y ou s t a n d i n fr o n t o f a pa r t i c u l a r r o c k a tt h e s i t e a n d t a lk t o i t , t h e r o c k w i l l r epe a ty o u r w o r d s .Wikwip i s c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f th e l a rge s ta n d m o s t s ign i fi c a n t o f al l k n o wn s i t e s a n dit is t h e o n l y K u m e y a ay s i te o n t h eCa l i fo rn ia s ide o f the U.S.-Mexico bo rde ra b o u t w h i c h t h e r e i s e t h n o g r a p h i c d a t a .In the la te 1920's , M a lco lm Ro gers o f theM u s e u m o f M a n o b t a i n e d a n a c c o u n t o f t h es i te from Wass Hi lmawa, a Kum eyaay , whos a i d t h a t t h e p a i n t in g s i n t h e c a v e w e r em a d e b y s h a m a n s a s t h e y pr e p a r e d fo r

I F o u n d T h e S l e e pin g G ia n tb yC ol. F. G. "Jerr y " Ph il l ips

L OOKING DOWN from an a l t i t u d eo f 5,000 f ee t t o t h e b a r r e n d e s e r tf lo o r b e n e a t h m e , I c o u l d h a r d l yb e l i e v e wha t I s aw . My c u r i o s i t y m o t i v a t e da c h ange i n c o u r s e . F l y i ng n o r t h a n dd r o p p i n g to a l o w e r a l t i tu t d e , I c o u l d m a k eout a d i s t in c t o u t l i n e o r f igu r e o f a m ancarved ou t o f t h e d a r k g r a v e l r o c k s u r f a c eo f t h e g r o u n d b e l o w .It wa s o f e n o r m ou s s i z e , a t l e a s t 200 f e e tl o ng , w i t h d e t a i l e d ex t e n d e d f i nge rs o n t h ee n d o f e a c h o u t s t r e t c h e d a r m . T h e

e x a gg e r a te d k n e e c a ps a n d t h e o d dlo ok ing t o e s m ad e a fa s c i n a t ing c a r i c a t u r e .B u t th i s c r e a t u r e w a s n o t a l o n e !Ju s t a s h o r t d i s t a n c e we s t of t h e p r o n em an f igu r e wa s t h a t o f a d e e r o r po s s i b l y ah o r s e . I e s t i m a t e d t h e s i z e of t h e a n i m a lf igu r e t o b e a b ou t 100 f ee t l o ng a nd n e a r l yt h e s a m e h e i g h t.T h i s u n u s u a l w o r k o f m a n o u t h e r e i nt h e m i d d l e o f n o w h e r e w i th n o s i gn o fc i v i li za t i o n f o r m i l e s i n a n y d i r e c t i o n Iwon de r e d wha t , who , why a nd when ? All

fo u r q u e s t i o n s h i t m e a t t h e s a m e t i m e , b u tt h e a n s w e r s w e r e n o t to b e r e v e a l e d u n t i lmany y e a r s l a t e r.

198007 Desert Magazine 1980 July

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