198006 desert magazine 1980 june

8/14/2019 198006 Desert Magazine 1980 June

1/60

Dell 04

JUNE, 1980 $1.50

rjia

1 0 4 1 0 1

0 6


2/60

The ultim ate w agon

Luxury and comfort combined with ex-

Rich leather seats, extra-thick carpet-woodgrain tr im you're surrounded inomfort. And brand new for 1980, con-

stereo AM /FM radio with your choice of 8 plus Quadra-Trac," Jeep's exclusive, au to-track or CB. matic 4-wheel drive system all work to-Superior performance is the Jeep trade- gether to provide unsurpassed traction andma rk! Features like automatic transm ission, superb towing capabilities. On-road or offpower steering and power fro nt disc brakes in good weather or bad.We invite you to test drive the 1980 Jeepl ^ % ^ % w % Wagoneer Lim ited. You'll quickly under-J\x?J stand why it is the ultimate wagon and the ~ ulttmalein4-wheeJ--4 riv?-


3/60


4/60

T h e C A X T O N P R I N T E R S , L t d .P . O . B o x 7 0 0

C a l d w e l l , I d a h o 8 3 6 0 5W e take pride in the production of fine booksfor the readers of Western American history with particular emphasis on the history of thePacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountainregion.

Write for a Free Catalog.

M O V I N G ?SO YOUWILL NOT MISS AN ISSUE

N O T I F Y US SIXW E E K S IN ADVANCEB E S UR E TO INCLUDE OLD

ADDRESS AS WELL AS THE NEWA N D B O T H ZIP C O D E S .

Metal Detectors, Geologists,Miners & Prospectors Supplies,Topo Maps, Books.SEND FORCATALOG:2400 E. Foothill BoulevardPasadena, California 91107

MOTOR LODGE75-188 Highway W,Indian Wells, California 92260(714) 346-8113 ( 7 1 4 ) 346-2314 THE DESERT'SMOST FAMOUS

BISTRO

First Phase ofOur Rem odelingProgram NowCompleted

Edi torD onald M acDonaldAr t D i re c t o r / Pho t o Ed i t o rThomas ThreinenP roduc t i on D i r e c t o rBarry B ergM a n a g i n g E d i to rM ary E.TwymanAss 't . M an ag i n g Ed i to rP at J. W illiamsArt Assoc ia teJennifer O sbornCon t r ibu t i ng Ed i t o r s :K aren S ausman, N a t u r a l S c i e n c e sW ayne P.A rmstrong, N a t u r a l S c i e n c e sJerry andLuisa Klink , Ba ja Ca l i forn iaM erle H. G raffam, C a r t o g r a p h e rL i t h o g r a p h e d byWorld Co l o r P r e s sOffered in M icrofilmby Xerox Univers i ty Microfi lmsP u b l i s h e rD onald M acDonaldAssoc i a t e Pu b l i s h e r /Adve r t i s i ng D ir e c to rDaniel D.W hedonM arke t i ng D i re c t o r

G eorge E. SectorSubsc r ip t ion Fulf i l lmentP at J. W illiamsB u s in e ss M a n a g e rM arjorie M olineC o u n s e lC hester M.RossR epresented byN ational A dvertising Sales, Inc.Robe r t E. L e y b u r n , P r e s .M. M i c ha e l C e r i c k , Na t 'l . Sis. Mgr.Lo uis T. Zito, Reg. Mgr.750 Th ird Av e., 29th FloorNew York , NY 10017(212)682-7483Phi l ip E. H o l m e s , Reg. Mgr.435 N. M i c h i g a n Ave.,Sui te 1314C h i c a g o , IL 60611(312)467-6240L o u P a g l i u g h i , Reg. Mgr.1680 Vin e St., Suite 909L o s A n g e l e s , CA 90028(213)466-7717D istributed byD ell D istributing Co., Inc.John G affney, Acc ' t . Exec .1 DagH a m m a r s k j o l d P l a z aNew York, NY 10017(212)832-7300D esert is p u b l i s h e d m o n t h l y by C a c t u sP a p e r w o r k s , Inc. Officers: R. C. P a c k e r ,P r e s i d e n t ; C h e s t e r M. Ros s , V i c e -P r e s i d e n t ;D o n a l d M a c D o n a l d , V i c e -P r e s id e n t ; G a r y E.S q u i e r , V i c e - P r e s i d e n t ; M a r jo r i e M o l i n e ,S e c r e t a ry . E ditorial, C irculation, and Ad-

vertising O ffices: 74-425 H igh w ay 111, P.O.Box 1318, P a l m D e s e r t , CA 92261. T e l e -p h o n e : (714) 568-2781. Qwip t r a n s m i s s i o na v a i l a b l e . S ubscription R ates: U.S. and itsp o s s e s s i o n s , C a n a d a , and Mexi c o : 1-year,$10.00; 2-years, $19.00. All o t h e r c o u n t r i e sadd $4.00 U.S. c u r r e n c y for e a c h y e a r . Sees ubs c r i p t i on o r de r f o rms in t h is i s s u e . P l e a s ea l l o w f iv e w e e k s for c h a n g e of a d d r e s s ands e n d b o th new and old a d d r e s s e s w i th e x a c tz i p c o d e s . S e c o n d C l a s s P o s t a g e p a i d atPa lm De s e r t , Calif., and at a d d i t i o n a l m a i l -i ng o ffi ce s u nd e r Act of M a r c h 3, 1879. Con-t e n t s c o py r i g h t e d 1980 by D e s er t M a g a z i n e ,a n d p e r m i s s io n to r e p r o d u c e any or all con-t e n t s m u s t be s e c u r e d in wri t ing . Unsol i c i t edm a n u s c r i p t s and p h o t o g r a p h s are e n c o u r -a g e d , but wil l not be r e t u r n e d u n l e s s ac-c o m p a n i e d by a s e l f - a d d r e s s e d , s t a m p e de n v e l o p e or i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x c h a n g ec oupons . Wr i t e r s Gu i de f r e e w i t h SASE;s am p l e c op y , $1 .50.

4 JUNE,1980


5/60

"I N C I S E D " S TO N E SRe "Cave P a i n t i n g s of Baja" inyou r Apr il'80 i s sue , Iwase s p e c i a l ly i n t e r e s t e d in thep i c t o g r a p h s d e p i c t i n g t ri a n g u l a r m o t i fs .I'v e c o l l e c t e d w h a t I c a l l " i n c i s e d " s t o n e sfo r m a n y ye a r s h e r e ins o u t h e r n N e v a d aa n d the t r ia n g u l a r m o t if d o m i n a t e s 80p e r c e n t of t h o s e I've f o u n d .T h e p r o b l e m hasb e e n , whow e r e t h e s ep e o p l e andw h e r e did t h ey go? ThePa i u t e sd id notk n o w t h e m , orso t hey say; nos t o n e s are f o u n d inp u e b l o or b a s k e t m a k e rbu r i a l s ; yet, t h ey no d o u b t w e r e h e r e al o ng t im e ju dg i ng fr om the m a n y c a m p sfo u n d t h r o u g h o u t s o u t h e r n N e v a d ap r o d u c i n g the s t o n e s ." In c i s e d " s t o n e s h a v e b e e n f o u n dt h r o u g h o u t N o r t h Am e r i c a , e v e n as fara w a y asAla sk a ; h ow eve r , o n ly the s t o n e sfr o m s o u t h e r n N e v a d a p o s s e s s thech a r a c t e r i s t i c s ofyour Baj a cavep i c t o g r a p h s . Andn o t e d a r c h e o l o g i s t s I'vec o n s u l t e d canc o m e up wi t h no a n s w e r s .I'v e t h e o r i z e d t h a t th e s e p e o p l e c a m e upt h e C o l o r a d o R i v e r, fr o m w h e r e I d o n ' tk n o w , andp r o b a b l y asm u c h as2,000 yea rsa g o . M o s t all c a m p s p r o d u c e ave ry oldg r a d e ofb la c k c o o k i n g w a r e w i th no mot i f so r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g m a r k s . Nor are p r o j e c t i l ep o i n t s d i a g n o s t i c to anyk n o w n h e r e in theG r e a t B a s in .A f r ie nd , Mi lt B l a k e , r e co v e r ed ab e a u ti fu l s p e c i m e n ( " i n c i s e d " ) n e a r theBig Sandy River in Ar izon a wh i chc o n v i n c e s me t h e y dida lot of t r a v e l i n g . Ia m s e n d i n g a fewp i c t u r e s andif a n y o n ec a n s h e d anyl i gh t on themyste ry , I'd

g r e a t ly a p p r e c i a t e it.Raoul M. DixonLas Vegas, Nevada

S A N T A N A ORS A N TA A N A ?C. Wi ll iam Ha r r i s o n ' s i n t e r e s t i n g andfa c t u a l a r t i c l e "Be w a r e theDevi l ' s Wind"refe r s to t h i s w i n d asa"San t an a" or( q u o t e ) "... i n co r r e c t l y but equ a l l y as aSan ta Ana . " E n c l o s ed isa c o p y of a c l i p p i n gfrom theL os Ange l e s Times, w r i t t e na r ound 1962 , inw h i c h C.W. Ka l s t rum , t h e nch i e f fo r e c a s t e r for theU.S. We ath erBu r e au , i d en t i f i e s thew i n d as"San ta Ana"a n d i n d i c a t e s th a t is the c o r r e c t n a m e andt ha t hiso ffi c e w i ll c o n t i n u e to use it.Henry J.JamesSan Clemente,Calif.We at Dese r t , lacking total faith in theopinions ofth e U.S. Weather Bureau, tookthis question toDr. George Fischbeck, theaffable weathercasterforKABC TV News inLos Angeles. Dr.George calls ita "tempestin a teapot." Hetold us that thecity ofSanta Ana wasindeed tired ofbeingblamed for theDevil's Wind and may beresponsible for thelarge-scale publicrelations effort behind Santana. However,Dr. George thinks Santana isreally a"corruption by Iowans" and notes thatWebster's calls itSanta Ana because thewind, around Los Angeles at least,originates in the Santa Ana Mountains.Being in theword business, we are inclinedto go With Webster's.

WEST WIDEMA'IT COSTS TO GETLOST!"

Don't use a road map.UseaTOPOmap..,"' Let ushelp you find , ; :MgSyour heart's desire: Gold,,;s-Ghost Towns, Hiking TrailsTravel by-ways or Wildlife.

; - > r * j s. l r \ . ' : :.- : ' " I > ; J , - - - ,Just$1.75 plus $1.30 shipping. ; per order.(Calif, residents add6% salestax)We have 29,000 USGS Quads; ofall western states

IVESTWIDE MAPSCd!Topographic Maps114 W est 3rdStreetLosAngeles, CA 90013Call Walker S.CIute(213)624-2679 c

"ON YOUFVOESKTOMORROW MORNING"

OF THEHORSE, INC.

Six exhibit halls dedicated to thehorse. From early Greek to moderntimes.ORIGINAL REMINGTONS RUS-SELL BRONZE ONE OF FOURKACHINA CHESS SETS IN THEWORLD WESTERN TREASURESVALUED AT $1,000,000Fine Indian crafts for sale in giftshop.J u s t 60 m i l e s s o u t h of T u c s o n on S-83 inh i s t o r i c P a t a g o n i a , A r i zo n aO p e n d a i ly 9 to 5.Y o u r h o s t : A n n e S t r a d l in g

DESERT


6/60

L I M E P O W E L LI I F F - S E B S a n IS J U S T BSB E H U T I F U L

It's th e greatest fo r summer family fun.Wahweap, Bullfrog and Hite resorts/marinasare open year around, bu t you really shouldtry us in the spring, fall and winter...Not only fo r moderate temperatures,/ betterfishing and less crowded conditions, but fo r

S a v i n g s to1 0 /

A d d r e s s _Ci t y

S e n d c o l o r and r a t e b r o c h u r e s onW a h w e a p , B u l lf r og and H i t e r e s o r t s / m a r i n a s 1II

_ S t a l e . _ Z i p _

L a h e P o w e l l R e s o r t s 6 m a r i n a s D MB o x 2 9 0 4 0 , P h o e n i x , AZ 8 5 0 3 8

N e w c e n t r a l r e s e r v a t io n s s y s t e m :W e s t of M i s s i s s i p p i c a l l to l l - fr e e 1 - 8 0 0 - 5 2 8 - 6 1 5 4 .

I n A r i z o n a , c a l l (602) 2 6 4 - 8 4 6 6 .

6 JUNE, 1980

IIIJ

A W eighty D ec is ionby D on M a c D ona l d

As th i s is w r i t t e n , c o p i e s o f th e B u r e a u o fLa nd M an ag em en t ' s 436-pag e d r a ft o f t h e"Ca l i f o r n i a De s e r t Cons e r va t i on A r e a P l a nA l t e r n a t i v e s a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c tS t a te m e n t " a r e a r r i v i n g in t h e m a i l o fc o n c e r n e d m e m b e r s of t h e p r e ss ,g o v e r n m e n t , a n d p u b l ic .I c a n ' t s p e a k fo r o t h e r r e c i p i e n t s b u t w eat Desert, b e i n g in t h e w o r d b u s in e s so u r s e l v e s , r e a c t e d w i th a w e w h e n o u r s w a sde l i v e r e d . I t w e i g h e d i n a t 5 lb s ., 4 oz . a n dm e a s u r e d 11 b y 14 i n s . W e d o n ' t k n o ww h a t i t c o s t t o m a i l b e c a u s e B L M , e n jo y i n gg o v e r n m e n t f r a n k i n g p r i v i l e g e s , d o e s n ' tn e e d t o li c k s ta m p s l i k e t h e r e s t o f u s .W e d o k n o w t ha t so m e d a y w e m u s ts t udy t h i s t om e i n a l l o f i ts d e t a i l bu tm e a n w h i l e , w e ' v e b e e n r e a s s u r e d t h a t th ed ra ft d o e s n o t p r o p o s e a c o u r s e o f a c t io n .It a t t e m p t e d t o t h r o w o u t a s e e m i n g l ye n d l e s s c h o i c e o f o p t i o n s a n d a r r i v e a t fo u rba s i c a l t e r n a t i v e s . Spe c i fi c a lly, t h e s e a r eo n e w h i c h fa v o rs i n t e n s iv e e c o n o m i c u s e ,o n e w h i c h fa v o rs c o n s e r v a t i o n , t h e n a"ba l a nc e d " a l t e r n a t i v e a n d fi n a l ly , noa c t i on a t a ll .R e m i n d i n g o u r s e l v e s th a t t h e P l a ni nvo l v e s on ly a 10-1 /2-m i l l ion - a c r e c h un kof l a nd c a l l e d t h e C a l i fo r n i a De s e r tC o n s e r v a t i o n A re a a n d n o t t h e e n t i r eS o u t h w e s t , w e a c c e p t B L M 's l a m e n t t h a t ith a d t o c o n t e n d w i th e x t r e m e v i e w s fr o md i v e r s e g r o u p s a s w e l l a s w i t h t h e t h i n k i n gof m id d l e - o f - t h e - r oa d e r s . Aft er a l l , s o m e 12m i ll io n p e o p l e l iv e o n t h e w e s t e r n e d g e o ft h e CDCA and a s i g n i fi c a n t n um be r o ft h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s c o n s i d e r t h i s v a s te x p a n s e o f p u b l i c l a n d t o be theirp l a y g r o u n d . So , t o o , d o t h o s e w h o c o m efr o m e l s e w h e r e t o v is it .T h e r e l i e s th e r e a l i ss u e , o n e t h a te x t e n d s fa r be y o n d t h e b o u n d a r i e s o fC DC A t o p u b l i c l a n d s e v e r y w h e r e . O n t h eo n e e x t r e m e a r e t h o s e w h o a r g u e t h a t if i t'si n d e e d ou r g o v e r n m e n t , w h y t h e n a r e n o ti ts l a nd s ou r l a nd s fo r e a c h o f u s t o e n j oy a sw e i n d i v i d u a l l y w i s h . At t h e o t h e r a r e t h o s ew h o fa v o r m a n a g e m e n t i n tr u s t w h i c h inr e a l it y m e a n s c l o s u r e o f m o s t o f it to m o s to f u s .I h a v e m ixe d f e e l ing s . I d r i v e o n C -78 byt h e a r e a o p e n t o r e c r e a t io n a l v e h i c l e s i nA n za - B o r r e g o a n d c a n fe e l a n d s e e t h eh a v o c w r o u g h t b y t h e s w a r m s o f b ik e s a n db u g g i e s s c u r r y i n g a i m l e s s l y o v e r t h es c a r r e d t e r r a i n . T h e n w h e n I t a k e t h e Sa n

M a r c o s Pa s s r o u t e , C -154 , p a s t L a keC a c h u m a , I'm o f fe n d e d b y t h e c o u n t l e s ss i g n s s p r o u t i n g e v e r y 5 0 fe e t o r s o a l o n gt h e h i g h w a y t e l li n g m e i t 's a g a i n s t t h e l a wt o e n t e r , p a r k o r e v e n p a u s e .Am I a l o n e i n t h i n k i n g t h a t e i t h e re x t r e m e i s u n a c c e p t a bl e ? Am I t o h a n g u pm y p a c k a n d s ta y h o m e w h e n I r e a c h a na g e a t w h i c h i t i s n o l o n g e r w i s e to v e n t u r eo n f o o t i n t o t h e w i l d e r n e s s ? M u s t Ic o n t i n u e t o su ffe r e l e c t e d a n d a p p o i n t e da u t h o r i t i e s w h o a s s u m e I'l l m a n g l e fl o raa n d h a r a s s fa u n a w h e r e v e r I v e n t u r e ? Am Ia n t i -s o c i a l i n r e s e n t i n g n o t o n e b u t t h r e er a n g e r s s e p a r a t e ly c h e c k i n g m y p e r m i t o non e t h r e e -m i l e s t r e t c h o f t r a il ? I s i td e p r a v e d t o to y ju s t fo r a m o m e n t w i th t h et h o u g h t o f o p e n i n g t h a t fo r e s t s e r v i c e g a t e ,l o c k e d fo r n o r e a s o n o t h e r t h a n t h e i rc o n v e n i e n c e , w i t h a p a i r o f bo l t -c u t t e r s ?A re t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s u b i q u i t o u s s i g n sm o r e o r l e s s o ffe n s i v e t h a n e m p t y b e e r c a n s ?

It is fo r t h e s e r e a s on s t h a t I fa vo r t h efo u r t h a l te r n a t i v e p r o p o s e d b y B LM ;n a m e l y , n o a c t i o n a t a l l. G i v e t h e p r i v a t es e c t o r , r a n g i n g fr o m t h e N a t i o n a la s s oc i a t i on o f Fou r -Whe e l -D r i ve C l ubs tot h e S i e r ra C l u b , a c h a n c e t o t h r a s h o u to p p o s i n g v i e w s , t o fin d m i d d l e g r o u n d ,a n d t o c r e a t e a s e l f- p o l ic e d m a n d a t e t h a te x c lu d e s n o o n e p e r s o n o r g r o u p . W en e e d l e s s g o v e r n m e n t , n o t m o r eg o v e r n m e n t , p a r t i c u l a r l y 2 0 m i l e s fr o mn o w h e r e .BLM 's ye t -t o -be w r i t t e n P l a n w a sm a n d a t e d b y t h e s a m e l e g i sl a t io n t h a tc r e a t e d t h e C DC A. It w i l l u n d o u b t e d l ys e r v e a s a m o d e l f o r o t h e r c o n s e r v a t i o na r e a s . A n d w h a t w e h a v e b e f o r e u s a r e f o u ra l t e r n a t iv e s o f w h i c h a n y o n e c o u l d b ec o m e a r e a l i t y in t h e fi n a l d r a ft .You r i npu t i s i nv i t e d by Sep t e m be r 1 st . Ifyou a r e l i k e m e , you m ay fi rs t fa vo r t h e" ba l a n c e d " a l t e r n a t iv e . B u t t h i n k am o m e n t . R e g u l a ti o n s m u s t b e c r e a t e d t oe n f o r c e t h i s b a l a n c e . D o w e n e e d m o r e o ft h e s e , o r m o r e s i g n s , m o r e p a t r o l s , m o r el o c k e d g a t e s ? I f o r o n e d o n ' t w i s h t o r is kb e i n g c i t e d f o r ja y w a l k in g i n t h e m i d d l e o ft h e d e s e r t . So , m a y b e n o a c t i o n a t a l l w i l lg iv e u s a b r e a t h e r , a c h a n c e t o g e tg o v e r n m e n t o u t o f th i s a ct , a c h a n c e t op r o t e c t o u r f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t t o g e t a w a yfr o m i t a l l , e a c h i n a w a y th a t i s c o m p a t i b l et o h i s b r o t h e r ' s , w i t h o u t B i g B r o t h e rd i r e c t ing t r a ff ic .


7/60

TALL H OUSEE s sa y a n d P h o t o g r a p h s b y B e t ty T u c k e r -B r ya n

r UPATKI. T H IS HOP I WORD sing s of m yste ry , of/ a n t i q u i t y, o f l o n g a g o . T h e r u i n , u n d i s c o v e r e d by' t h o u s a n d s o f t o u r i s t s ye t o n ly 60 m i l e s fr om t h eDe s e r t V ie w e n t r a n c e t o G r a n d C a nyon , is in W upa t k i Na ti o n a lM o n u m e n t q u i e t ly a w a it in g th e d i s c r im i n a t in g v i s it o r.The village of Wupatki (above) once contained over 100rooms, housing between 250 and 300 Sinagua Indians.The village's ampitheater is in the oregroun d.


8/60

U PATKI , M EA N I N G 'A.D. 1210. It w as o n ce a th r iv-i n g p u e b l o o f I n d i a n s w h o fa r m e d t h ep o r o u s v o l ca n i c as h s p e w e d o u t byw h a t is n o w c a l le d S u n s e t C r a te r .In 1066 A.D. th e few sc a t t e red In-d i a n s w h o m a i n t a in e d a m e a g e r e xi s-t e n c e b y fa r m i n g t h e w o r n v o l c a n i cf ie l d s o f t h e San F r a n c i sc o P e a k s w e r es t a r tl e d b y a v i o l e n t e r u p t i o n . T h eg r o u n d h a d b e e n t r e m b l i n g f o r d a y s ,m a k i n g everyone n e r v o u s a n d w o r -r i e d . T h e n , off i n t h e d i s t a n c e , t h e y s a wa t a ll r e d f la r e s ho o t i n g i n t o t h e s ky. Asit c o n t i n u e d r i si n g h i g h e r , l o w e r i n g ,a n d t h e n s p u r t i n g u p w a r d a g a in , th es k y d a r k e n e d a n d f il le d w i th a s h . As t r o n g w i n d c a r r i e d t h i s a s h fo r m a n yd a y s ' j o u r n e y t o w a r d t h e L i t tl e C o l o -r a d o R i v e r. Sl ow l y t h e g r o u n d s t o p p e ds h a k i n g . T h e p la c e w h e r e t h e e a r t h go tm a d w a s h u m p e d u p l i k e a h e a d b as -k e t . F ir e l ik e th i c k e n e d r e d b l o o d r a nd o w n i ts s i d e s .

S o m e t i m e l at er , w o r d c a m e th a t t h ee a r t h ' s m a d n e s s h a d r e n e w e d t h el a n d s . T h e t h i n l a ye r o f a s h a c t e d a s am o i s t u r e -r e t a in i n g m u l c h w h i l e t h ec i n d e r c o v e r h e l p e d h o l d i n th e m o i s-t u r e . Fa r m i n g w a s g o o d . T h e In d i a nPhoto above shouts tiro types of nictatesused by 1 the Sinagucms, also theirtime-defying construction techniques.

p e o p l e be g a n t h e i r m o v e t o t h isn e w p l a c e.F ro m a ll d i r e c t i o n s t h e y c a m e . T h eH o h o k a m from t h e s o u t h , th e M o g o l-l o n fr om t h e s o u t h e a s t , a n d t h eAnasazi fr o m t h e n o r t h . A nd w i t h t h e mthey b rou gh t t h e i r way s o f l ife a ndt h e i r c u l t u r e s .A s m a l l g r o u p f ro m t h e s o u t hk n o w n a s S in a g u a (sin m e a n i n g w i th -o u t , agiui m e a n i n g w a t e r ) ir o n i c al lyl o c a te d a g o o d s p r i n g . T h e g r o u n dl o o k e d g o o d fo r fa rm i n g a n d s o it w a sh e r e t h e y d e c i d e d t o s e tt le .A c r o p h a d fi rs t t o b e p l a n t e d . T h em e n , w o m e n a n d c h il d re n w o r k e ds t ea d i ly , p u n c h i n g h o l e s i n t o t h e v o l-c an i c s o il w i t h d i gg i ng s t i c k s . I n t o e a chh o l e th e y d r o p p e d s e e d s . T h e y p l a n t e ds q u a s h , c o r n , b e a n s , a n d c o t t o n .As s o o n a s t h e c r o p w a s i n t h e yb e g a n b u i ld i n g t h e i r h o m e . T h e r e w a sa n a b u n d a n c e o f m a t e r i a l fo r th i s .O n c e a n a n c i e n t se a h a d c o v e r e d t h i sa r e a a n d i n t i m e t h e s i lt fr o m t h i s s e at u r n e d i n to w h a t is n o w k n o w n a sM o e n k o p i s a n d s t o n e . T h i s r o c k s p li te a s i l y a l o n g h o r i z o n t a l p l a n e s , ma k i n git c o n v e n i e n t t o u s e fo r b u i l d i n g . T h em a t e r i a l w a s l a v e d e v e n l y a n d h e l d se-curely w i th a fill o f m ud a nd sm a l ls t o n e s . T h e r o o m s w e r e u s u a l ly sm a llw i th l o w d o o r w a y s t h at c o u l d b ec o v e r e d o v e r d u r i n g t h e c o ld w i n te r

m o n t h s . S o m e i n s i d e r o o m s w e r e p la s -t e r e d o v e r w i t h m o r e m u d . V e n t il a to r sw e r e bu i l t i n by le a v i ng a ho l e a t f loo rl e v e l . F r o m t h i s t h e y p u t a s t o n e - l in e dc h a n n e l t o d i r e c t t h e a i r Row. At th ee n d o f t h e c h a n n e l w a s a n u p r i g h t s l a bp l a c e d s o t h e d r a ft s t a v e d away froms o m e o f t h e fo o d p r e p a r a t io n r o o m s w e r e s m a l l s t o r a g e b i n s th a t h e l d as u p p l y of c o r n w h e r e it w o u l d b eh a n d y fo r d a i ly u s e , m u c h a s o u r c u p -b o a r d s o f t o d a y a r e u s e d a n d in a n t i c i-p a t i o n o f c r o p s t o c o m e , th e Si n ag u ab u il t m a n y la r g e s to r a g e r o o m sa n d p i t s .T o m a k e m e a l, d r i e d c o r n w a sg r o u n d o n a fla t s t o n e c a l le d a metette.T h e g r in d i n g s t o n e w a s h e l d i n t h eh a n d a n d c a l l e d a memo. T h e c o o k i n gr o o m s h a d s e v e r a l d i ffe r en t m e t a te st h at w o u l d p r o d u c e m e a ls fro m c o a r s eto v e r y fine,A bo u t th e s a m e t im e c o r n w a s ri p e ,b e a n s w e r e p i c k e d . T h e d r i e d p o d sw e r e l a ve d o u t o n w o v e n m a ts a n d t h ey o u n g g i r ls flayed t h e m w i t h s e e db e a t e r s m a d e o f s t ic k s t i e d t o g e t h e r .T h e y k e p t th i s u p u n t i l t h e b e a n s w e r ea l l f r e e d . T h e n t h e b e a n s w e r e p l a c e din a w i n n o w i n g b a sk e t a n d t o s s e d i n t ot h e a i r , l e t ti n g t h e w i n d b l o w t h echaff aw av.


9/60

In a n a l l -t o o -br i e f 90 ye a r s , t h e w on d e r fu ls o il s e n t d o w n fro m t h e v o l c a n o w a ss l o w l y b l o w n a w a y.b e a t e n i n m u c h t h e s a m e w a y. L a t ert h e y w o u l d b e s p r o u t e d a n d c h e w e dby th e w o m a n o f t h e h o u s e . Sh e w o u l dt h e n s p i t th e m e s s i n t o a bo w l . T h i sm i x tu r e o f s t a r c h a n d s a li v a p r o d u c e da s u r e , i f n o t appetizing, s ug a r s u pp ly .

C a c t u s fr u it s w e r e g a t h e r e d . T h e y ,' ~n g w i th t h e d r i e d squash, w e r ezed fo r t h e i r s w e e t n e s s . O n c e d r y," I d b e g r o u nd o n t h e me t ajteid w i th o t h e r m e a l s to fo rm t h e r a i n s h a d o w o f t h e Sa nF r a n c i sc o P e a k s , t h e w e a t h e r w a s quitea r i d . Th e a l t i t u d e wa s a r o un d 4 , 90 0f e e t s o s o l a r r a d i a t i o n wa s i n t e n s e .D u ri n g t h e s u m m e r m o n t h s th ew o m e n w o r e l o o m -w o v e n c o t to nsk i r t s . T h e i r s a n d a l s w e r e o f t w i ll e dn e . M a n y o f t h e o l d e r w o m e n k e p ti r h a ir c r o p p e d s h o r t , m a in l y b e -c a u s e t h ey u s e d i t fo r d e s i g n s i n t h e i rcrafts.W h i le t h e w o m e n w e r e n o t v e ryp i c k y a b o u t h o w t h e y l o o k e d , th e m e ns p e n t h o u r s a d o r n i n g t h e m s e l v e s .

T h e y k e p t t h e i r hair l o ng a n d t i e d it inv a r i o u s fancy way s . Th e i r l o i n c l o t h sd e s i g n e d c o t t o n . Th ey li k e d c o l o r fu lb o d y p a i n t a n d s p e n t m u c h t i m e inc r e a t i n g i n t r i c a te d e s i g n s .B u t e v e r y o n e w o r e j e w e l r y.N e c k l a ce s , p e n d a n t s , br a c e l e t s a n dr i n g s w e r e p r o u d p o s s e s s i o n s . An dl i k e t o d ay , t h ey p r i z e d f o r e ig n im po r t s .C o n s i d e r i n g t h e d i s t a n c e s i n v o l v e d ,t r a d i n g wa s b r is k . Th e s e e a r l y d ayh u c k s t e r s h a d n o t ru c k s o r w a g o n s bu tt h e y c a m e b e a r i n g g o o d s t o t e m p t t h epu eb l o fam i l y. Po t t e r y w a s b r oug h ts t a c k e d i n e a r n i n g b a s k e t s . T h eS in a g u a w o m a n p a r t ic u l a r l y y e a r n e dfo r t h e be a u t i fu l K ayen t a p o ly ch r om e sa n d t h e Anasazi b la c k - o n -w h i t e d e -s i g n s . S h e s e l d o m m a d e f an c y p o t t e r y ,l im i t i n g h e r s e l f to t h e m o r e u t i l i ta r i a n ,c o r r u g a te d c o o k w a r e t e m p e r e d w i thv i t r ic a s h .Bu ffa lo h i d e s r e a c h ed Wu pa t k i fr omt h e R io G r a nd e Va ll ey, Fr om t h e s o u t ht h e H o h o k a m s br o u g h t c o t to n a n ds h e l l o r n a m e n t s . Sa lt w a s b a r t e r e dfrom t h e Ve r d e Va ll ey. And w hen t h eh a n d s o m e y o u n g m a n fr om M e xic oc a m e ji n g li n g u p c a r r yi n g c o p p e rbe l l s , e v e r yo n e t u r n e d o u t . T h e n ,

w o n d e r o f w o n d e r s , h e p u l l e d f ro m ac ag e s t r a ng e a n d b e au t i fu l b i r d s w i t hb r ig h t r e d , ye l l ow , b l u e , a n d e v e ng r e e n , f e a t h e r s . Eye s li t u p . H i s p r i c e sw e r e e a g e r l y m e t . Soon t h e S i n ag u aw e r e r a i s in g t h e i r o w n p a r r o t s a n dm a c a w s .T h o u g h t h e t r a d e r br o u g h t s t r a n g efo o d s a n d g o o d s fr o m d i s ta n t p l a c e s ,h e r e t u r n e d t o w h e n c e h e c a m e b e a r-i n g lo v e ly w oven c l o t h a nd i n t r i c a t ebaske t ry .F o r t h e p e o p l e o f W u p a tk i w e r e s u -p e r b c r aft sm e n . T h e w o m e n w o u l d s itin th e o u t d o o r w o r k a r e a s , p r o t e c t e dfr om t h e w i nd b y t h e s i d e wa l l s o f t h e1 p u e b l o a n d fr om t h e s u n b y a r a m a d ao f j u n i p e r b r a n c h e s . H e r e t h e y w o u l dg o s s i p a s t h e i r h a nd s fl ew a t c r e a t i n g .Us ing t h e y u c ca n e e d l e fo r a n aw la n d n e a r b y d e s e r t p l a n t s fo r t h e w a r pa nd we f t, s h e w ove h e r s t o ry . Th e c e n -t e r o f t h e b a s k e t r e p r e s e n t e d t h e b e -g i n n i n g o f li fe . Th en t h e r e w e r e b l a c kc l o u d s a s t h e r a i n c a m e . B u t s o o n t h es u n w o u l d c o m e a nd s o s h e a d d e d r e dt o t h e d e s i g n . T h e o u t e r p a r t o f t h eb a sk e t w a s t h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e p e o p l e .An d s o t h e s t o r i e s w e n t .

UT LIFE WASN'T all w or k.o n e t h i n g t h ey h a d b u i l t ah u g e a m p h i t h e a t e r . In m a n y w a ys itr e s e m b le d a t e w o f t h e n e i g h b o r in gAna sazi bu t i t w a s n e v e r r o o f e d o v e r a s

a k iv a s h o u l d b e . H e r e t h e y h e l d t h e i rc e r e m o n i a l d a n c e s . It w a s t h e n t h a tt hey d re s se d i n the i r bes t f ine ry ofjew e l ry a nd f e a t h e r s . Th ey tw i n e ds h e l l s i n to , t h e i r c o r d e d b e l t s a n d w o r et h e i r m o s t e l a b o r a t e s k i r t s . A g r e a t fi rew a s bu i l t in t h e c e n t e r o f t h e am -p h i t h e a t e r . T h e n t h e I n d i a n s li n e d t h ew a l l s , w a t c h i n g t h e m a s k e d d a n c e r s a st h e y a p p e a r e d t o t h e b e a t o f m a n yd r u m s .And a lm o s t e v e ry d ay t h e m en foundt i m e t o g a m b le . Fo r t h i s g a m e t h e y h a dd i c e ba s k e t s th a t w e r e r o u n d a n dr a t h e r l o w . T h e y u s e d s e v e r a l e l a bo -r a t e d i c e c a r v e d o f b o n e . T h e p l a ye r st o s s e d t h e d i c e f rom t h e b a s k e t , le t t i n gt h e m d r o p i n t o i t a g a in . P o i n t s w e r es c o r e d a n d s t a k e s p a i d a c c o r d i n g t oh o w t h e y la n d e d .Th e Wupa t k i h a d a b a ll c o u r t s im i l a rt o t h o s e s e e n by t h e S p a n i s h c o n -q u e r o r s w h e n t h e y i n v a d e d M e x i c o .Th ou g h c a r e fu l ly b u i lt o f s a n d s t o n er a th e r th a n th e m o r e c o m m o n a d o b e ,t h e d i m e n s i o n s a r e q u i t e s i m i l a r t ot h o s e s t il l u s e d a t t h e t i m e o f t h eS p a n i sh c o n q u e s t . T h e c o u r t w a s n o tr o u n d , bu t r a t h e r i n t h e s h a p e o f afoo tba l l w i t h v e e - s h a n ed e n t r y d o o r s at

It h a s b e e n s ug g e s t e d t h a t t h i s c o u r ta s u s e d fo r ceremonial b a ll g am e s i nc o u l d t h e s e r i t e s h a v e b e e n a n y m o r er i tu a l i s t ic t h a n o u r v e ry ow n Wor l d Se -r ie s ? Wha t e v e r , t h e S in ag u a c ou r t s h a da b u il t-i n a i r c o n d i t i o n e r , a bl o w h o l e .In t h i s a r e a t h e r e a r e fa u l ts a n d o c c a -s i o n a l l y, t h e r e s u l t i n g e a r t h c r a c k sh a v e s m a l l o p e n i n g s t o t h e s u r fa c e .T h e s e o p e n i n g s , k n o w n a s bl o w h o l e s ,a l t e r n a t e l y ta k e i n a nd d i s c h a r g e a i r inr e s p o n s e t o su r fa c e t e m p e r a t u r e a n dp r e s s u r e c h a n g e , e x p e l l i n g c o o l a i re v e n in th e s u m m e r .So t h e S in a g u a h a d t h e i r w o r k a n dt h e i r g a m e s b u t j u s t li k e t o d ay , t h eya l s o h a d t h e i r s o r r ow s . Many b ab i e sa n d c h i l d r e n d i e d . T h e o l d p e o p l e su f-f e r ed t e r r ib ly f rom a r th r i t i s , e spec i a l lyi n t h e w i n t e r . T h e i r te e t h w e r e r u i n e da t a n e a r l y a g e fr om c h e w i ng t i nyp i e c e s o f r o c k m i x e d i n t h e m e a l th a th a d been g r o u n d o n t h e s t o n e m e -t a t e s . D i se a s e s w e r e b r o u g h t i n r e g u -l a rl y, a l o ng w i th t h e t r a d e g oo d s ,T h e n , i n an all-too-brief 90 yea r s , t h ew o n d e r f u l s o i l s e n t d o w n fr o m t h ev o l c a n o w a s sl o w l v bl o w n away bv th eh a r d p an r e fu s e d d i g g i ng s t ic k s a nds e e d s . T h e r a in c e a s e d . T h e s p r i n g sb e g a n t o dry. T h e r e w e r e o v e r 250p e o p l e l iv i n g h e r e a n d t h e l an d c o u l dn o l o n g e r s u p p o r t t h e m . Sl ow l y t h eS in a g u a n s p a c k e d t h e i r m o s t p r e c i o u sb e l o n g i ng s , s a i d a s a d fa r ewe l l t o t h e i rd e a d , a n d d e p a r t e d w i th m a n y a ba c k -w a r d g l a n c e a t t h is h o m e t h e y h a d s oc a r e fu l ly b u i lt a n d l o v e d . Som e m ove don t o o t h e r l a n d s i n t h e Ve r d e Va ll ey tot h e s o u t h w h i l e o t h e r s w a v e d g o o d b y ea n d h e a d e d e a s t to C h a v e z P as s nearw ha t i s n ow Win s l ow , A ri zon a .

ES,THEYRE GONE bu t' you can go and see how_ it m ust have b een. Over800 sites have been loca ted an dseveral of these ruins have beenexcavated an d restored. Mostcan b e easily visited. Amongthem are Wukoki, Citadel andNalakihu,and Lomaki.The best way to see this area isto go north of Flagstaff, Arizonaon U.S. 89. Turn off at the SunsetCrater National Monu ment.There is an excellentcampground near the visitorcenter. Next morn ing drive the14 miles through beautiful,changing scenery to Wup atki Na-tional M onument. There is a visi-tor center and self-guiding trailsbut no camping. jr>]


10/60

Sa l t Sp r in gMay each step you take over her aL old trails be always^i^^haunted by Breyf ogle's lost gold and the Mexicans'

hidden treasure.

Story andP h o t o g r a p h s bySa lly L i ndm anONCE AND AWHILE a b r a v eo f f - r oa de r or twow i l l s t u m b l e ont o the oldg h o s t c am p andSaltS p ri n g , b o th h i d d e n b e y o n d D u m o n tD u n e s , Calif., and if the s h i ft ing s a nd s arejus t r igh t and r e m n a n t s ofthe old M e x i c a nt r a i l s arev i s ib l e , c u r i o s i ty mayt e m p t thev i s i t o r to s tay for a bit.P r e c i o u s g o l d d u s t wasg l e a n e d f r o m thes a n d of theAma rgos a R ive r atSal t C r e e k ,2 9 m i l e s n o r t h ofB a k e r , Calif, as far ba c ka s 1830,m a y be e v e n e a r l ie r , and t h o s em i n e r s whow e r e d r i v e n a w a y , t i m e a ft e rt i m e , bya n g ry I nd i a n s l e ft p l e n ty ofproof.Som e w i l l s c o ff at the pos s ib i l i t y of thea b a n d o n e d c a m p on the e d g e ofDea thVa ll ey e ve n ex i s t i ng , p a r t i c u l a r ly wh e nt h e y 'v e p r o b a b l y p a s s e d r i g h t by it w h i l et r a ve l l i ng C -127, be c a u s e S al t Sp r i ng andt h e old r o c k r u i n s are h e m m e d in bys e c l u d i n g g r a n i te andn a r r o w r o c kyc a n y o n s , and notm or e t h a n fi v e c ity b l oc k sf rom the p a v e d h i gh w a y !Sa lt Spr in g and theg h o s t c a m p sheg u a r d s h a v e w i t n e s se d m a n y a h u m a nd i s a s t e r andw h e n e v e r t h e r e is v i o l e n c e ,yo u cans u s p e c t the p r e s e n c e off a s t - s t a s he d va l u ab l e s . If it w a s n ' t I n d i a n sv e r s u s M e x ic a n m i n e r s , it wasp a r c h e d s t r a g g l e r s f ro m w a t e r - h u n g r y w a g o n t r a i n s ,o r h o r s e t h ie v e s and m i li ta r y p a t r o l s ,f r e i g h t e r s and fur t r a p p e r s . All t h e s e h a r s hp i o n e e r r o le s w e r e p l a ye d t h r o u g h o u t ther u g g e d e n v i r o n s ofSa lt Spr in g and herg h o s t ly m i n i n g c a m p .No one, for e x a m p l e , hasf o u n d thel o c a t i o n ofthe M e x i c a n s ' h i d i n g p l a c ec o n t a i n i n g b o t h g o l d d u s t and the10 JUNE, 1980

h a r d r o c k g o l d c r u s h e d bya r r a s t r a .Andt h e r e w e r e thewagon ca s t -offs tha t aret o d a y ' s a n t i q u e s and r e l i c s , bo t h f r om theW a d e p a r t y and theJe f f e r s on Hun t p a r ty .Loc a t i ng the t e m p o r a r y I n d i a n c a m p sm i g h t a l s o r e v e a l c o l l e c t a b le s anda r r o w h e a d s .F r e m o n t , C a r s o n , andG o d e y w e r ec a m p e d atSa lt Spr in g inApril , 1844,and itw a s F re m o n t who d e s c r i b e d it as "a v e r yp o o r c a m p i n g g r o u n d ; a s w a m p y , s a lt s p o t ,w i t h a l i t t l e l o n g , u n w h o l e s o m e g r a s s ;andt h e w a t e r w h i c h r o s e in the s p r i n g s u s e fu lo n l y to wet the m o u t h but e n t i r e l y too s a l tyt o d r i nk . "Sa lt Spr in g is l o c a t e d in the c a n y o n oft h e s o u t h b r a n c h ofthe Ama rgos a R ive r .T h i s c a n y o n f o r m s a p a s s be t w e e n theK i n g s t o n R a n g e and theAvawa tz M oun t a i n sa n d a c c o r d i n g toSprings of Californiap u b l i s h e d by theU.S.D e p a r t m e n t of theI n t e r i o r in 1915:"De s e r t t r a ve l hasb e e nm a i n ly n o r t h of t h a t p a s s , th r o u g h thec a n y o n ofthe m a i n b r a n c h of the r ive r ."K n o w i n g o r ig i n a l r o u t e s of t r a v e l can of tenl e a d thes e a r c h e r to s t a s h e d g o l d or c o i n s .T h e old Ca l i forn ia Tra i l ofthe 1840se n t e r e d the s t a te fr o m P a h r u m p , Nev.,wi t ha s t o p atR e s t in g Sp r i n g s w h e r e t h e r e wasw a t e r . N e xt c a m e T e c o p a and t h e n thed e s c e n t i n t o theva l l e y of theA m a r g o s aR ive r to its bigb e n d at thes o u t h e r n end ofDea th Va l ley. C lo se to t h i s b e n d is the oa s i sof Sa lt Spr ing .

Ca p t . J e ff e r s on H un t ' s c a r a va n ofM a r c h ,1849, h a l t e d atSa lt Spr in g to c h e c k t h e i re q u i p m e n t and a fewm e m b e r s of theg r o u p p r o s p e c t e d , f in d i n g g o l d - b e a r i n g

r o c k on the h i l l be s i d e the l it t le p o n d .S h e l d o n S t o d d a r d , a M o r m o n m e m b er ofH u n t ' s p a r t y, is c r e d i t e d w i t h t h i sd i s c o v e r y . M o v i n g on to C h i n a R a n c h ,S to d d a r d s h a r e d his d i s c o v e r y w i th a Col.Wil l i ams , whos o o n setS t o d d a r d up w i t h ap a c k t r a in and men to w o r k the m i n e ,u t i l iz in g a r r a s t r a s t h a t w e r e a l r e a d y t h e r e .We r e t h e s e a r r a s t r a s l e f t bye a r l i e r M e x ic a nm i n e r s ? Ifnot, w h e r e did t h e y c o m e f ro m ?An d now theA m a r g o s a g o l d r u s h b e g i n s .Sa lt Sp r i n g g o l d s a m p l e s t a k e n byH u n t ' sp a r t y w e r e d i s p l a y e d inLosA n g e l e s d u r i n gJ a n u a r y of 1850and s e v e r a l men m a d ep l a n s to r e t u r n to " M o r m o n Di g g in s " (as itw a s t h e n c h r i s t e n e d ) to s t a r t m i n i n g . So m ew r i t e r s of the daya l s o r e f e r r e d to ther e m o t e a re a as "L o s t M o r m o n D ig g i n s, "butn o one had r e a l ly l o s t the p l a c e .A Mr.R o a n was the first to w o r k anda c t u a l ly "own" Sa l t Sp r i ng a c c o r d i ng toA n d r e w S u b l e tt e , the f a m e d fur t r a p p e rw h o was f o r e m a n ofthe m i n e in the 1850s.C o m e 1 8 51 , theLos A n g e le s M i n in g Co.w e n t to w o r k . R i ch orewas f o u n d , but thep l a c e wasjus t too far a w a y . T h e n the D e s e r tM i n i n g Co.a t t e m p t e d o p e r a t i o n , o n l y tofo l d b e c a u s e of f r e i g h t i ng c o s t s . Next , theSa lt Sp r i ng M in i ng Co.s t u m b l e d to f a i l u r e .P e o p l e andg o ld c o m p a n i e s w e r e c o m i n ga n d g o i n g on a l m o s t an a n n u a l b a s i s!A d r ia n E g b e r t ofDagge t t , Calif., in the1890s met an a g e d M e x i c a n inLos Ange l e sw h o t o ld ofh a v i n g t a k e n " p l e n t y g o l d "f rom theA m a r g o s a in 1853u n t i l theI n d i a n s f o r c e d t h e m out.E g b e r t andf ri e n d s t h e n w e n t to the m i n e and set up afi v e -s ta m p m i ll t h e m s e l v e s .


11/60

tiuLU'Mcmnu\iu\i ?"), WfX w he nBe a l e 's we s t - bo u n d exp e d i t i o n h a l t s at S al tS p r in g . H e i s s u r p r i s e d t o s e e t h e r e m a i n so f h o u s e s a n d a r r a s t r a s w h e r e "a f o r t u n eh a d be e n s u n k by m en s u ff ic i e n tl y d e l u d e do r s a n g u i n e t o a b a n d o n t h e r i c h m i n e s ofCa l i f o rn i a , t r ave l 150 mi l e s o f d e se r t , andl iv e u p w a r d s o f 12 m o n t h s i n a s p o t s od e s o l a t e a n d f o r lo r n t h a t t h e r e i s n o te n o u g h v e g e t a t io n t o k e e p a g o a t f r oms t a r v a t io n . " Th e m u l e s o f B e a l e ' s c a r a v a nr e fu s e d t o d r i n k fr o m t h e s u l p h u r o u ss p r i n g .T h e n a b o u t 10 M e xi c an m i n e r s a r r i v e d a tt h e Am a rgo s a M i n e s in M a r c h , 1861 , a n da c t i v a t e d o p e r a t i o n s . S o o n a f te r , t h eI n d i a n s r a i d e d t h e m , ta k i n g n e a r l y a ll t h e i rp r o v i s i o n s . T h e P a i u te s h a d b e e n w a t c h i n g

t h e m i n i n g c amp f o r s e v e r a l d ay s f r o mt h e i r o w n t e m p o r a r y s e t t l e m e n t at Sh e e pSp r i ngs . T he C iv il War was i n f u ll b lo oma n d t h o u g h o n e M e xi ca n m i n e r s a fe lym ad e i t t o a n Army p o s t a t Ma r l S p r i n g , 45m i le s s o u t h , fo r h e l p , t h e h e l p a r r i v e d t o ol a te a n d s i x d e a d M e x ic a n s w e r e b u r i e ds o m e w h e r e a t Sa lt Sp r i n g .S o m e o f t h e a d o b e h o u s e s , i n c l u d i n g t h ep r e s e n t r o c k r u i n a t o p t h e h i ll , w e r e b u i l ti n 1862 by t h e p a r t n e r s h i p o f McF ad d e n ,S tu a r t, a n d B e n n e t t . T h e y w e r e c o n t i n u a l lyt h r e a t e n e d by t h e P a i u t e s , s o a r o c k fo r tw a s f a s h i o n e d a n d s t o c k e d w i t h a ba r r e l o fw a t e r . A n o t h e r b a r r e l o f w a t e r w a sp o s i t i o n e d i n t h e lo n g e s t t u n n e l , w h e r e ag u a r d s t o o d d a y a n d n i g h t.T h i s t im e a n a m b u s h a t ta c k b y t h eI n d i a n s l e ft fi ve m i n e r s d e a d , t h e i r bo d i e sr i d d l e d w i th b u l l e t s . W h e r e t h e I n d i a n s g o tt h e i r g u n s wa s a n ybo d y 's g u e s s . S u rv i v o r sq u i e t l y h i d i n t h e t u n n e l u n t i l n i g h t fa l l ,t h e n h u r r i e d l y m a d e t r a c k s fo r M o ja v ew h e r e a n a r m e d p o s s e w a s o r g a n i ze d t obu ry t h e v i c t i ms . Th e s e f iv e g r a v e s a n do t h e r s we r e r e p o r t e d v i s i b l e u n t i l 1900 bu tt h e r e s e e m s t o b e n o t r a c e o f t h e m t o d a y.

SCCmO the go ld iS t h e r e a l l r i ft h t , and sow e r e t h e M e x i ca n s a n d s o w e r e t h eI n d i a n s . Wh at c o u l d a p e r s o n fi n d i f t h eyw e r e t o l o c a t e t h e P a i u t e 's o l d c a m p ?L e g e n d s a r e n ' t al w a ys d e p e n d a b l e a n d o u to v e r t h e s t a r k , v a s t a n d s i l e n t r e a c h e s o f t h eM ojave Dese r t , fa c t and f ic t i on m ay t u rn ou tt o h a v e b l e n d e d a s e a s i ly a s Ko o l-A id t ow a t e r , bu t yo u c a n ' t tu r n yo u r ba c k o nau the n t i c h i s t o r i c a l f ac ts , e spec i a l ly if youe n jo y h u n t i n g t r e a s u r e .A m i l l w as bu i l t be tw ee n 1862 and 1863.O r e t r ia l s w e r e d e p r e s s i n g a n d t h e m i llw a s p u t i n c h a r g e o f t w o m e n . T h e P a i u t e sd i d n ' t ta k e l o n g b e a t in g o u t a n o t h e rw a r p a t h t o t h e p l a c e , w h e r e t h ey b u r n e dt h e n e w m i ll a n d k i ll e d t h e m e n . F r e m o n tr e t u r n e d t o Sa lt Sp r i n g i n De c e m be r , 1864 ,o n l y to v ie w t h e d e s t r u c t i o n d e l i v e r e d t ot h e c am p by t h e h o s t i l e In d i a n s . E i g h tw e e k s p r i o r t o h is a r ri v a l, t h r e e m o r e m e ng u a r d i n g t h e p r o p e r t y w e r e s l a i n .Th e m id -1860s f in a l ly saw succe s s fu lm i n in g a t Sa lt S p ri n g , a c c o m p l i s h e d u n d e rt h e d i re c t i o n o f S u p e r i n t e n d e n t G e o r g eRo s e , a n d t h e n An t o n B r eyfo g l e s e t f ir e t o ab l a zi n g d r e am o f i n s t a n t we a l t h w i th h i s"Los t B reyfog l e G o ld M ine ."T h e r e w e r e s o m e o l d -t im e r s , a n dq u a l i fi e d m en a t t h a t , w h o f e lt s u r e t h a t t h eA m a r g o s a o r e w a s n o n e o t h e r t h a nB r eyf o g le 's r o s e - p i n k q u a r t z .B r eyf o g l e h a d s p e n t a n a f t e r n o o n a n de v e n i n g a t t h e A m a r g o s a , p o k i n g a r o u n d a llo v e r t h e p r o p e r t y . R o s e d e v o u t lym a i n t a i n e d t h r o u g h o u t h i s e n t i r e l ife t h a ts a m p l e s B r e yfo g le c a r r i e d h a d o n l y c o m efr o m t h e Am a rgo s a . He fe lt t h a t t h ee v e n t u a l ly d e r a n g e d m a n p r o b a b l y h a d n 'te v e n r e m e m b e r e d w h e r e t h e y ' d c o m efrom himself, a ft e r h i s o r d e a l w i t h t h ed e s e r t . R o se w a s n ' t th e o n l y o n e w h os e e m e d t o p o s i t iv e l y r e c o g n i z e t h e o r e .Fr a nk D e m m i n g (n o w d e c e a s e d ) s a w t h eB r e y fo g le s a m p l e s a n d s w o r e t h a t it w a sA m a r g o s a h i g h g r a d e . No w t h o s e a r e a fe wo p i n i o n s o n o n e s i d e o f t h e f e n c e .H o w e v e r , d i d yo u e v e r n o t i c e th a t r o c ko c c u r r a n c e s , g e o l o g i c a ll y, h a v e a t e n d e n c yt o c r o p u p , so m e t im e s e v e n m a n y m i l e saway , c o m p o s e d o f exa c t ly t h e s am e s tu ff?Th a t r o s e - p i n k o r e w i t h i ts o c c a s i o n a lbro w n de po s i t s i s ju s t a s li k e ly s t i ll s i t t ingo u t t h e r e o n t h a t d a r n e d o l d d e s e r t , ju s tw a i t in g t o be f o u n d . An d t h a t 's wh a t Ibe l i e v e w i ll st il l h a p p e n .

A NOTHER CONTEMPORARYr e c o r d s t a te s : " T h e s e m i n e s w e r ed i s c o v e r e d i n 1856 a n dr e - l o c a t e d i n 1863 . Ve i n s a r e n a r r o w bu tr i c h i n g o l d . G o l d i s f o u n d i n p o c k e t s , o n ef rom wh i ch $11,000 was t aken ."

A LL OF US KNOW tha t t h e de se r tc a n be bo t h k i n d a n d c r u e l . It isa n a r e a t h a t i s a lwaysu n p r e d i c t a b l e b e c a u s e e v e n a sl ig h t w i n ds t i r s a n d s h i ft s t h e h i l l s a n d p i l e s o fg l i s te n i n g s a n d . Yo u r r o a d i n t o th e m i n e sfr o m t h e h i g h w ay mu s t be i n d i v i d u a l l yc h o s e n . D o n o t a tt e m p t d r i v in g t oa n yw h e r e exc e p t S a lt Sp r i n g i t se l f w i t h o u tw a l k i n g o r s c o u t i n g a h e a d o n t h e t r a i l( wh a t yo u c a n f in d o f i t ) t o t h e r u i n s .T h e r e a r e m a n y t u n n e l s a n d m i n e s a t t h eA m a r g o s a c a m p a n d i n o n e o f t h e m , o n ly30 fe e t fr o m t h e s u r f a c e , h o t wa t e r bo i l sn o i s il y b e l o w t h e g r o u n d . G r e a t c o l u m n s

o f s t e a m h a v f h>(*e*n s p p n coming from thec h a s m o n w i n t ry d a ys .Y o u 'l l s e e i n n u m e r a b l e r u i n s o ff o u n d a t i o n s , a n d f o o t p a t h s l e a d e v e ryw h i c h w a y o v e r t h e m o u n t a i n s . Wa lk t h e m .T a k e t i m e t o w a g e r w h e r e t h e M e xi c an sw o u l d h a v e s t a s h e d t h e i r g l e a n i n g s o f g o l d .

Th e t u n n e l s a r e a l l d e c e i v i n g . At fi rs ta p p r o a c h t h e y a re s o l i d a n d c l e a n c u t , t h e ny o u fi n d th a t o n e m o r e s t e p c o u l d h a v es e n t yo u i n t o a bo t t o m l e s s p i t . Wo u l d t h a tt h e o l d o v e n o n t h e e a s t b a n k o f t h eh i l l s i d e c o u l d t a lk . Th i s i s h a r d t o s e e i f yo ua r e u n a w a r e o f it s p r e s e n c e , fo r t h e o v e nb l e n d s i n t o t h e t e r r a i n v e ry w e l l .G o ld f eve r h i t a t Sa l t Sp r i ng aga in i n t h e1 88 0s a n d e x p e n s i v e m a c h i n e r y w a sb r o u g h t i n fo r t h e r e c o v e r y o f m u c h g o l d .Th e n i n 1902, t h e n e w o w n e r o f t h e S a ltSp r i ng M ine , J. B . Osbo r n o f Dagge t t , h i t ap o c k e t o f h i g h g r a d e n e t t i n g h im $60 ,000 i no n e w e e k . T h e n t h e T o n o p a h a n dT i d e w a t e r R a i l ro a d c a m e a l o n g , to fl o u r is hfo r a w h i l e a n d b r i n g p e o p l e . A nd w h e r et h e r e w e r e p e o p l e , t h e r e a r e p e o p l e r e li c s.Ja c k M o o r e o f L o s A n g e le s o w n e d t h e m i n ei n 1950 a n d i n I 960, a g r o u p o f m en o n c ea g a in w e r e d i l ig e n t ly a t w o r k i n t h e o l dt u n n e l s .

Y " OUR FIRSTglimpse of historic Saltspring will be ust east of Highway127. The Spring is ever-flowing andguarded by two giant m esquite trees, thick andgreen, and always looking totally out of placeagainst the dry, scorched appeara nce of thesurrounding desert and crusty white alkali.On foot, you can follow a narrow trail(northwest) a short distance where you discovera very early rock-house ruin, nestled in to thenatural deep gorge of the ancient Amargo sachannel. The Mexican miners m ay have residedhere. To the south sits Silurian Lake, all dry andskirted with the sites of ancient Indian camps.East of that and a little north are mo re adoberuins. North of Salt Spring lie the be autifulDumont Sand D unes. And to the west is therugged Avawatz Range. Amethyst crystals andgeodes are found up and down nearbyKingston Wash.It is said that the Devil controls the Am argosaRiver. He causes it to flow underground. Only atinfrequent intervals does the bed of the river riseabove the surface, and of this beware, especiallyin stormy weather. Enjoy Salt Spring and mayeach step you take over her old trails be alw ayshaunted by Breyfogle's lost gold and theMexicans'hidden treasure. EJ1


12/60

By Kirk PocanAmong California's scenic high-ways, there is probably none moreinspired than the stretch of U.S. 39 5that straddles the Owen s Valley be-tween the White Mou ntains and theeastern Sierra Nevada escarpment.And wha t's more, it leads one to BigPine where it intersects withWestgard Pass Road (C-168), gate-way to the forest of the ancientbristlecone pines.Asyour vehicle wheezes up the"pass" to its 9,000-foot peak and itsmeeting with White Mou ntain Road,which in turn leads to thepre-biblicalforest, stop and look out atthe panoram a of life zones that un-fold below you.

i n yo n a n d l i m b e r p i n e s in -t e r s p e r s e r a n d o m l y w i th d e s e r tb u s h w o r k a t t h e p e r i m e t e r s o ft h e s a g e b r u s h b e l t . A s p e n t r e e s f r e q u e n tt h e b o r d e r s o f s m a l l s t r e a m s . W il d f lo w e r sp r o v i d e o c c a s i o n a l v a r i a t i o n w i t h s u b t l ep l u m m a g e i n t h e w e s t e r n f o o th i ll s a n dh i g h l a n d s l o p e s w i t h w i l d r o s e s , w h i t e f lo x ,a n d c o c k l e b e r r i e s c o l o rf u ll y i l lu m i n a t i n ga n o t h e r w i s e a c h r o m a t i c e n v i r o n m e n t . O nthe e a s t e r n s i d e o f t h e v a l l e y , d ry g ra s s -l a n d s m e r g e w i th g e n t l e fo o t h i ll s w h i c hq u i c k ly a s c e n d t h e e l e v a t e d s l o p e s o f th eS i e r ra . S c a t t e r e d Je ffr ey p i n e s c o m pr i s e t h eb o u n d a r y of t h e e a s t e r n m o u n t a i n p i n efo r e s t , g iv i ng r i s e t o a v a r i e ty o f m ixe dc o n i f e r s . T h e s e , in t u r n , c u l m i n a t e i n s u b -a l p i n e f o re s ts w e l l be l o w t h e b a r r e n a l p i n efe ll f ie l d s o c c u p i e d b y t h e d o m i n a n t S i e r rac r e s t s . In s o m e a r e a s , l o c a l i ze d a n o m a l i e si n t e r r a i n a l l o w c o n i fe r o u s s t a n d s t o g r o wi n p r o x i m i t y t o s a g e b r u s h , t h u s m e r g i n gd e s e r t a n d f o re s t i n a n u n l ik e l y e n c o u n t e r .E a c h b e l t o f t o p o g r a p h y , s h o w i n g n e a r l ye v e r y tr a n s i t i o n i m a g i n a b l e , m a y b e s e e nfr o m h i g h o n W e s t g a rd P a s s R o a d .

A lt h o u g h t h e W h i te M o u n t a i n s t o w e ro v e r l a n d l e ft b a r r e n b y th e e a s t e r l yr a i n -g a t h e r i ng S i e r r a s , t h ey a r e t r u ly e l e -g a n t . P a t c h e s o f g l i m m e r i n g s n o w c l in g t oc h i m n e y s a n d c h u t e s n e a r su m m i t r i d g e s .S ti ll , t h e d r y , s t e r i l e h i g h l a n d s r e s e m b l e a ne l e v a te d m o o n s c a p e , s u r r o u n d e d b y t h ec r u m b l in g r u i n s o f e r o d e d s o i l s a n dr a v i n e s. T h e c h a l k -c o l o r e d I n yo M o u n t a i n sf u r th e r s o u t h w i l l r e i n f o r c e y o u r f e e li n g o f12 JUNE, 1980

e a r t h l y d i s p l a c e m e n t .W h i te M o u n t a i n P e a k , a t a n e l e v a t i o n o f14,242 fe e t , w i ll be c o ve r e d w i t h a m an t l eo f s n ow abov e 12 ,000 f e e t . H ow eve r , un -l i k e th e n e i g h b o r i n g i c e -c a r v e d S ie r r a s ,o n l y s c a t t e r e d g l a c ia l e r o s i o n i s e v i d e n t i nt h e W h i te M o u n t a i n s . W e a t h e r e ds a n d s t o n e , d o l o m i t e , a n d p e l l is i e r g r a n i t efo r m t h e a r i d s o i ls o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n gs l o p e s , ye t t h e o r i g i n a t i o n o f th e W h i t eM o u n t a i n s is n o t e n t ir e l y u n d e r s t o o d .Afte r fu l ly a scending Wes tga rd Pa s sR o a d , y o u t u r n n o r t h o n W h i t e M o u n t a i nR o a d w h i c h w i ll t ak e y o u t o t h e B r i s tl e c o n eP i n e F o r e s t 11 m i l e s a h e a d . B e y o n d t h es t a n d o f br i s t l e c o n e p i n e s , W h i t e M o u n t a i nR o a d t w i s ts a n d w i n d s f o r 20 u n g r a d e dm i l e s , t o e v e n t u a l ly te r m i n a t e o n t h e s u m -m i t o f l ofty Whi t e M oun t a i n P e a k .T r a v e l in g o n W h i t e M o u n t a i n R o a d ,y o u 'l l tr a v e r s e m o u n t a i n h i g h l a n d s w h i c hh o s t s c a t t e r e d p i n y o n , li m b e r , a n d j u n i p e rt r e e s s u r r o u n d e d by s t a n d s o f d e s e r t c h a p -p a r a l . T h e s p e l l o f th e W h i t e M o u n t a i n s i s as u i t a bl e p r e l u d e t o m e e t i n g t h e i r m o s t g a l-l a n t i n h a b i t a n t s , t h e a n c i e n t b r i s t l e c o n ep i n e s , o n l y a s h o r t d i s ta n c e a h e a d .Y o u r d r i v e c a n t e r m i n a t e a t S ie r r a Vi e w ,a n a r r o w p l a t e a u t w o m i le s s o u t h o f th eB r i s t l e c o n e F o r e s t, w h e r e t h e r e i s a s p e c -t a c u l a r p a n o r a m a o f t h e S i e r ra N e v a d aM ou n t a i n s f ar a c r o s s t h e v a l l e y . F r omSie r ra View , e le va t ion 9 ,000 fee t , a t r i ad ofC a l i f o r n i a ' s g e o g r a p h i c a l m o n u m e n t s w i l lbe v i s ib le . F a r t o t h e s o u t h a l on g t h e a d ja -c e n t S ie r r a C r e s t, M t . W h i tn e y p r o t r u d e si r o m b e h i n d a w a ll o f s u r r o u n d i n g p e a k s .L o o k i n g fa r t o t h e s o u t h a n d t h e e a s t , t h en o r t h e r n e l o n g a t e d t i p o f D e a t h Va ll eys t r e t c h e s o u t i n fu l l v i ew . Ju s t two m i l e s upW h i te M o u n t a i n R o a d , th e a n c i e n tB r i s t l e c o n e P i n e F o r e s t c o m p l e t e s t h e t r i a d th e h i g h e s t U .S. e l e v a t i o n o u t s i d eA la s k a, th e l o w e s t p o i n t o n t h e N o r t hA m e r i c a n c o n t i n e n t , a n d , o f c o u r s e , th eo l d e s t l i v i n g t h i n g s o n e a r t h .Le a ve you r v e h i c l e a n d g o by foo t f r omh e r e . Y o u 'l l e n t e r S c h u l m a n G r o v e , t w om i l e s f u r th e r o n . F o ll o w a s t e e p , o n e - q u a r -t e r m i l e , s w i t c h -b a c k p a t h w a y k n o w n a sP i n e A lp h a T r a il w h i c h p r o v i d e s a l o o k a tb r i s t le c o n e p i n e t r e e s o f v a r y in g a g e . H e r e ,t h e b r i s tl e c o n e t r e e s ,Pinus a ristata, h a v ee n d u r e d fo r t h o u s a n d s o f ye a r s . S o m e h a v es t oo d f o r g r e a t e r t h a n 4 ,000 ye a r s . You ' lls e e a c o l le c t io n o f e r o d e d s t u m p s a n d

t w i st e d c r o w n s s p a c e d r a n d o m l y a b o u t inr o c k y a r i d s o i l . T h e s t u n t e d , g h o s t l y t r e e ss e e m t o b e tr e m b l in g o n t h e b r in ko f d e a t h .T h e t r a il c u l m i n a t e s a t t h e b a s e o f P i n eA lp h a , a 4, 30 0 y e a r -o l d s p e c i m e n w h i c hs ti ll b e a r s c o n e s a n d n e e d l e s . D i re c t ly b e -h i n d P i n e A lp h a , a ba r e t r u n k s t r e t c h e s 3 0fe e t s k y w a r d , e x p o s i n g b o n e ) ', s c u l p t u r e dl i m b s o f t h e S i e r r a s k y. T h i s t r e e d i e d m o r ethan 1 ,000 yea r s ago.T h e a g e o f t h e b r is t l e c o n e p i n et r e e s i n t h i s lo fty de s e r t i s l a ndr e m a i n e d u n k n o w n u n t il t h e la te1 95 0s w h e n E d w a r d S c h u l m a n , a n a s -s o c i a te p r o f e ss o r o f d e n d r o c h r o n o l o g y a tthe Un ive r s i ty of Ar izona , fi r s t inv e s t iga tedt h e B r i s t le c o n e P i n e Fo r e s t i n t h e W h i t eM o u n t a i n s. S c h u lm a n c o n d u c t e d a g e -d a t i n g s t u d i e s o n o v e r 1,000 t r e e s i n t h ea r e a . M o r e th a n a d o z e n t r e e s w e r e a g e d a t4 ,000 yea r s . Ev en tua l ly , a 4 ,600 p lus yea r -o l d s p e c i m e n w a s a g e d , t h e o l d e s t l iv i n gt h i n g . P r io r t o S c h u l m a n ' s s t u d i e s , itw a s b e l ie v e d t h a t th e g i a n t s e q u o i a s o fC a l i fo r n i a r e p r e s e n t e d t h e o l d e s t l ife o ne a r t h . S o m e o f t h o s e t r e e s h a d b e e n d a t e da t 3, 500 ye a r s . Now i t i s kn ow n t h a t t h eo l d e s t br i s tl e c o n e p i n e , m a n y h u n d r e d s o ft im e s s m a l l e r t h a n t h e g i a n t s e q u o i a s , s u r-p a s s e s t h e m in a g e b y m a n y c e n t u r i e s .A s e p a r a t e a r e a , P a t r ia r c h G r o v e , c u td e e p e r i n t o t h e c r u m b li n g f o re s t, c o n t a i n sc l u s t e r s o f b r is t l e c o n e s . A m u l t i -t r u n k e ds p e c i m e n k n o w n a s T h e P a t ri ar c h m e a -s u r e s n e a r l y 40 fe e t i n d i a m e t e r , t h e l a r g e stb r i s t le c o n e p i n e y e t d i s c o v e r e d . In i tsy o u t h , t h e t r e e s p r o u t e d m u l t ip l e s t e m s , asdo m any o f th e t r e e s . Typ ic a l ly , m any o ft h e s e m u l t ip l e s te m s a r e a b a n d o n e d a s th et r e e r e s p o n d s t o t h e s c a r c i ty a n d b r u t a l it yo f a h a r s h h i g h l a n d e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e t r e em a y n o u r i s h o n l y a s in g l e s t e m f o r m a n yh u n d r e d s o f y e a rs , p e r h a p s t h o u s a n d s , s a c -r ifi c in g p o r t i o n s o f i ts a n a t o m y t o s u r v i v e ,bu t a t r i c k l e o f li fe p e r s i s t s . The Pa t r i a r c h ,h o w e v e r , h a s f lo u r i s h e d a n d e a c h s t e m h a sg r o w n t o m a t u r i t y , po s s ib ly du e t o i t s fa -v o r a b l e p o s i t i o n o n l e v e l g r o u n d . A l th o u g hfa r m o r e f la m b o ya n t t h a n i ts n e i g h b o r i n gA group of bristlecone pines (right)overlook a shallow basin just below theirhearty regime, their sculptured limbspushing skyward after literally thousandsof years of weathering. Photo by Engilis


13/60

V - -y

0t ^^fc.1^^ ^ ^


14/60

bro the r s , t he Pa t r ia r ch i s bu t a m ere ch i l dof 1,500 years. Stil l, the tre e is no t e ntirelyfr e e o f t h e s c a r r ing t h a t s e ems t o p r e d om i :na t e i n t h is d eso l a t e fo r es t. The c rowncu lm ina t e s i n a s e r i e s of dead , nak ed , tw i s t-ing l im bs, only 30 feet h igh, as thou gh i tsh e a l thy tr unk h ad s om ehow been s t un t e dby forces un kno w n.Unl ike m ost conifers wh ich flour ish inacidic soi l , the br is tleco ne pin e thr ives inan a lka l i ne so il of c rum bled do lom i t e .Root s comm only occur w i th in two fee t oft he g ro un d sur face . Neighbor ing a r easha rbor s agebrush and r e l a ted dese r t-typebush f lo r a g row ing i n r i che r , s ands toneso i l , w hi ch r ep resen t s a com pe t it ive i n t e r-play too fierce for the br is tlecon es. Con-versely, few oth er p lants are able to sus ta ing row th i n t he l i gh t -co lo r ed d o lom i te so i lwh i ch is hom e f or t h e t r e e s .Fire da nge r , for tunately, i s m inimal ,s i nce t he t r ee s a r e spaced fa r apa r t w i t hl i tt le grou nd cov er betw een . Lack of oxy-

gen at this lofty elevat ion also red uce s thedan ger of fi re . Fur the rm ore , Edw ardSchulman has pos tu l a t ed t ha t the t h i ck re s -i nou s s a p p r od uc ed by t h e t r e e s p r o t e c t st hem f rom sus t a ined o r s eve re i nsec t dam-age , a s we ll a s d amage fr om m o l d s a ndfungus . B r is t lecone w ood ce l ls a r e den se ,ex tr em ely r e s ino us , and h igh ly durab l e .And, t oo , br i s tl econe nee d l es pe r s i s t fo r anaverage of 10 years , som e for greater than30, before r egene ra t i on occur s . By com-par i son , nea rby l imber p ines sh ed t h e i rnee d l es eve ry t h r ee t o four yea r s.The s e d e fen s e m echan isms a r e n e ed ed .

Th e are a a bove 10,000 feet rece ives on ly 12inch es of annual ra infall , tw o inch es in ex-cess of the qual i fications for a t ru e des er t ,and t hus t he g row th season r a r e ly exceedss ix wee ks . Even so , a s l a te a s M emor i a lDay, snow th r ee t o four fee t de ep can be ,foun d in dr ift s a long h i l ls ides andsha l low r av ines .The m ost aged t re es of Methusaleh Walk,ano the r m arked t r a il t o t he br i s tl econearea, are s i tuated at the very limi t of the d ryfores t edge , w here ca l ca r eous rock ou t -c ropp ings and m in im a l r a infa ll p r edo m i-na t e . In t h i s h igh l and w i lde rnes s , the t r eesseem to t h r ive on ha rdsh ip . Sus t a ined pe-r i ods of g rowth may r esu l t in t he add i t iono f no m o r e t h an on e i n ch o f n ew g i r th ove ran en t i r e cen tu ry. Dur ing adve r se pe r i ods ,14 JUNE, 1980

the t r ees s ac ri fi ce s egme nt s of tr unk andl imb, wh i le a min ima l por t i on of t he t r eekeep s i t a li ve . Deadwoo d wi l l accumula t ein other major por t ion s of the t ree , resul t -ing in layer ing of wo od in varying s tages ofg rowth an d decay.

M !oving t h rough t h is t ime l es s l andof antiquity, you 'll feel a se ns e ofdisplacem ent , as if you w eret rave r s i ng t he p r im a l beg inn ings of som earcha ic c u l t u r e . Inde ed , many of the t r eesh ere r ival the or ig ins of c ivil ization in age.You'l l observe sc ores of conto r ted,dwar fed t r ees nes t l ed i n to rocky a ri d so i l ,occas ional ly cl inging to brok en l imeston eor a scend ing from e ro de d r av ines . The i rl im bs and gna r l ed s t um ps r evea lsco ure d grain p at terns after l itera lly thou-sands of years of wea ther ing. At leas t n inet r ees i n M ethusa l eh Walk have been foundto be gre ater than 4,000 years of age . T het r e e s s e em t o b e e nd u r i ng a c on t i nuou s ,violent s t ruggle , frozen in t ime , bat tl ing ab ru t a l e nv i ronm en t w h i ch r e nde r s t r unk sand c r owns m i ss hapen and c r ipp l e d .The b r i s tl econe p ine r eg i s t e rs we a the rpat terns over the co urse of i ts l ife by therela tive w idths of ann ual r ings. A r e co r d edper i od of wo r ld-wide d rou ght i n t he 12thCentury, fo r exam ple , co r r e spo nds w i thna r row r i ng pa t t e rns w i th in t he t r ees a t t ha tselected interval . Likew ise , long w et per i-ods c or r e spo nd wi th w ide r r i ngs , i nd ica t-i ng maximum g r ow t h p e r i od s .M oving fur ther a long M ethusaleh Walk,you 'l l encoun t e r t he b r i s tl econe p ineknow n as Methusa l eh , the o ldes t know nl iving thing. This anc ient t ree has survivedfor gr ea ter than 4,600 years. Examining th et ree reveals layers of grow th of varying age;a ba rk cov e red segme nt p rov ides li vi ng t is -sue r is i ng from the t r unk , o the r l ayer s a r eei ther dead or dying. Insp ect ion of thet im e l es s w ar r io r , t he image of a t iny seed-l ing bur row ing i n to p r ima l so i l and sprou t -ing l ife th ou san ds of years in th e pa s t ,before civil ized m an, i s hu m bling. Ahum an l ife i s bu t a m ere w hi spe r i n t h iscrad le of longevi ty. This e ld er pinesuggests the final rewards of perseverance inthe face of ad versity.This multi-trunked bristlecone (right), wellover3,000 yearsold, stands in Schulm anGrove. Photo by Pocan

, . & *


15/60

At least nine trees havebeen found to begreater than 4000yearsofage

A s to n i s h i n g l y, t h e o l d e r p i n e s a r e s t i lla b le t o p r o d u c e c o n e s o n o c c a s i o n , a s t h e yh a v e f o r t h o u s a n d s o f y e a r s . T h e t r e e s fi rs tb e a r c o n e s a t 20 y e a r s o f a g e , s h e d d i n gs e e d s i n la t e S e p t e m b e r a n d e a r l y O c t o b e r .T h e c o n e s a r e c o v e r e d w i th b r is t le - ti p p e ds c a l e s , fo r w h i c h t h e s p e c i e s i s n a m e d .E v e n t h o u g h m a n y o f t h e t r e e s i n t h eB r i s t le c o n e P i n e Fo r e s t h a v e b e e n a g e d a t4 ,0 00 y e a r s o r m o r e , d e a d w o o d l yi n g a b o u ti n t h e a r e a h a s b e e n d a t e d a t 8,200 y e a r s ,s u g g e s t in g t h a t e v e n o l d e r t r e e s e x is t e dt h e r e a t o n e t i m e . E v e n s p e c i m e n s o f lo c a ls a g e b r u s h e x c e e d 2 20 y e a r s i n a g e , fa rg r e a t e r t h a n t h e i r n o r m a l a v e r a g e l ife s p a n .S c h u lm a n h i m s e lf w o n d e r e d a b o u t th ep r o p e r t y o f C a l ifo r n i a s o i l s w h i c h a l l o ws u c h a g e d s p e c i m e n s , n o t o n l y inB r i s t le c o n e F o r e st , b u t a l so t h e n o r t h e r nr e d w o o d s a n d s o u t h e r n s e q u o i a s .B r i s t l e c o n e p i n e s a r e n o t e l o q u e n t , fa u lt-l e ss s p e c i m e n s . T h e y a r e s c u l p t u r e d r e l ic sfr o m t h e h e a r t o f n a t u r e ' s m y s t i q u e . T h efa c a d e o f b r o k e n , t w i s t e d c r o w n s a n dg n a r l e d s t u m p s r e v e a l g re a t s tr e n g t h s u p -p o r t e d b y a f o u n d a t i o n o f p o w e r f u l m y s -t e r y. H i d d e n w i t h i n t h e g i r t h o f t h eb r i s t l e c o n e p i n e l ie fo r c e s o f s u r v i v a l u n -m a t c h e d b y a n y li v in g s p e c i e s , p e r h a p s b ya n y s p e c i e s t h r o u g h o u t a ll o f t im e .

Y o u 'l l w a n t t o r e t u r n a g a i n t o t h i s ti n yf o r e s t o f a n c i e n t , g h o s t l y t r e e s n e s t l e d d e e pw i t h i n t h e w e s t e r n s l o p e s o f th e W h i teM o u n t a i n s b u t t h e r e w i ll b e n o h u r r y . T h et r e e s h a v e t i m e , l o ts o f t im e . MEven the most aged bristlecone willproduce small, spiny cones (above).Photo by Engilis


16/60

eglegSmith'sLost Gold "In t e rv i e w w ith C h o r al P e p p e r

Early in 1965 an anonymous writer sent an article to Dese r tMa gazine stating that he had, during the past ten years, collected$314,660 in black gold nuggets in an area "within 30 miles of theSalton Sea." This article, which was published in March of that year,wasfollowed by other letters answering qu estions from readers, eachaccom panied by at least one of the writer's nuggets in o rder toauthenticate his correspondance. All of his letters were signed "Fromthe Man Who Found Peg leg's Black Gold"and each was mailed froma different location. With some letters he sent photographs. Theletters were also published in the magazine between 1965 and 1968,and the nugge ts he sent were displayed in Desert's office for readersto examine. Because the Peg legBlack Gold legend is as important tothe lore of the Southern California desert as the Lost Dutchman Minein the Superstitions is to Arizona, proof that the black goldactually existed and w as still to befound made a substantial impactupon modern desert history. To recap and update this fascinating

story, Desert Maga zine's present editor, Don MacD onald, arranged tointerview former editor-owner Choral Pepper who was the recipientof the modern Pegleg letters and nuggets in the 1960s.16 JUNE, 1980


17/60

caJ-

M a c D o n al d: I'mg l a d y o u ' v e m o v e db a c k t o t h e d e s e r t ,C h o r a l , e s p e c i a l lyw i t h g o l d b o u n c i n gbe tw e e n $600 a n d $800 a no u n c e a n d a t l e a s t t h r e e r e a d e r s e v e r y d a ya s k in g w h a t h a p p e n e d t o th e P e g le g g o l dyo u u s e d t o d i s p l ay i n t h e o ffi ce h e r e i nP a lm D e s e r t .P e p p e r : Well , Do n , I 'm w o n d e r i n g abo u t i tt o o . I a lways fe l t th a t t h e n u gg e t s s e n t a sp r o o f b y t h e m a n w h o c l a i m e d t o h a v ef o u n d t h e P e g l e g b l a c k g o l d b e l o n g e d i nt r u s t to t h e m a g a z i n e a n d i t s r e a d e r s , r a t h e rt h a n t o m e p e r s o n a l l y. W h e n I s o l d t h em a g a z in e , I i n c l u d e d t h e m i n t h ei n v e n t o r y . T e n n u g g e t s , o n e w e i g h i n g t w oo u n c e s a n d t h e o t h e r s a r o u n d a n o u n c e ,a r r iv e d w h i l e I w a s e d i t o r a n d I u n d e r s t a n dt h a t o n e o r tw o m o r e w e r e r e c e i v e d a ft er Is o l d Desert.M a c D o n al d: L e t 's s e e t h e y ' d b e w o r t hs o m e t h i n g l i k e $6,600 t o d ay , wo u l d n ' tt h ey? I ' v e been t o l d t h a t t h e f i r s t nugge t sy o u r e c e iv e d fr o m t h e m a n w h o f o u n dt h e m s e t off a g o l d r u s h t o t h e d e s e r t .

P e p p e r : It wa su n be l i e v ab l e . Ou r o f fi c e w a ss o c r o w d e d o n w e e k e n d s w i th P e g le gb la c k g o l d s e e k e r s t h a t w e h a d t o l i n e t h e mu p o u t s i d e . We w e r e t h r e a t e n e d b y n u t sw h o t h o u gh t w e k n e w t h e m o d e r n M r .Peg l e g 's i d e n t i t y. We w e r e a c c u s e d o ff o s t e r in g a m y th t o i n c r e a s e c i r c u l a t i o n . Wew e r e c a j o le d b y m y s t ic s w h o w a n t e d t ob o r r o w t h e m t o g et p s yc h i c i m p r e s s i o n s .P e n d u l u m s w i n g e r s b e l i e v e d t h e y c o u l dd e t e c t t h e s o u r c e b y m a g i c . C o l l e c to r so ffe r e d u s e n o r m o u s s u m s . T e l e v is io np r o d u c e r s s o u g h t u s f o r i n t e r v i e w s a n da d v e n t u r e f e a tu r e s . T h e e x c i te m e n t c a r r i e do n f o r a n e n t i r e ye a r .M a c D o n a ld : Wh a t 's t h e real Peg l eg s t o ry?Wh en d i d i t a l l be g i n ?P e p p e r : U n l es s y o u 'v e h a d r e a s o n t or e s e a r c h i t i n d e p t h , a s I d i d a f te r w er e c e i v e d t h e b la c k n u g g e t s , y o u ' d p r o b a b lys e t t l e fo r t h e l e g e n d a bo u t a J o h n O. S mi t h ,h o r s e t r a d e r a n d t r a p p e r k n o w n a s" P e g l e g " b e c a u s e o f h i s w o o d e n l e g , w h of o u n d s o m e b la c k g o l d n u gg e t s i n 1852w h i l e t r a v e l i n g fr o m Y u m a t o L o s A n g e le sv ia W a r n e r 's r a n c h . S o m e w h e r e i n th a t

Recent photo of ChoralPepper (opposite page) issurrounded by some of theactual nuggets she receivedwhen she owned and editedD e s e r t Magazine. Letter(left) is a copy of"TMWF PBG's"first contact.Monum ent (above) tooriginal Pegleg(s) stands inAnza-Borrego State Park.

d e s o l a t e r e g i o n h ec l i m b e d o n e o f a s e r i e s o f t h r e eh i l ls t o g e t h i s be a r i n g s . On i ts t o pl ay a q u a n t i t y o f b l a c k l u m p s t h a t S m i t ha s s u m e d w e r e c o p p e r d u e t o t h e i r h e a v yw e i g h t . H e p i c k e d u p a fe w a n d c a r r i e dt h e m w i t h h i m t o L o s A n g e l e s . W h i lee x h i b it i n g t h e m i n a b a r t h e r e , h e l e t am i n e r e xa m i n e th e m . T h e m i n e r s c r a p e da w a y t h e b la c k d e s e r t v a r n i s h a n d r e v e a l e dt h e g o l d .P e g le g Sm i th i m m e d i a te l y d r u m m e d u pa g r u b s t a k e a n d s e t o u t t o r e l o c a t e t h e h i l lw i t h t h e n u g g e t s b u t h e p e r i s h e d o n t h ed e s e r t . I n t h e ye a r s t h a t f o l l o wed , o t h e ra t t e m p t s t o fi nd t h e b o n a n z a a l s o e n d e d i nt raged y. Aft er t h e C iv il War, v e t e ra n s w i t hp e g l e gs w e r e a l m o s t as c o m m o n a s m e nn a m e d S m i t h , a n d a t l e as t tw o o t h e r P e g l e gS m i th s c a m e u p o n b l a c k -c o a t e d g o l d i n t h es o u t h e w e s t d e s e r t . B o t h p r o d u c e d r e l ia b lew i t n e s s e s t o v o u c h fo r t h e a u t h e n t i c it y o ft h e i r g o l d a n d b o t h m e t tr a g i c d e a t h sbe f o r e c a s h i n g i n on t h e i r f in d s .

I, p e r s o n a l l y , c o u l d n e v e r g e t i n v o l v e d i nt h e h i s t o r i c P e g l e g S mi t h h a s s l e .W h i c h e v e r l e g e n d y o u bu y , s o m ep a s s i o n a t e b e l i e v e r o f a n o t h e r P e g l e gS mi t h s t o ry w i l l a c c u s e yo u o f be i n gm i s in f o r m e d . I n o t i c e d a l e t te r fr o m o n e o ft h em i n yo u r Ap r il 1980 is s u e . Th e o n l y

DESERT 17


18/60

P e g i e g le g e n d I s u b s c r i be t o i s t h e m o d e r no n e . I k n o w h e f o u n d b la c k - c o a t e d g o l d . Is aw i t , h e l d i t , h a d i t a s s aye d . Our m ani d e n t i fi e d i t a s c o m i n g f ro m a n a r e a w i t h ina m a p p u b l i s h e d i n a n e a r ly is s u e o f D e s e r tM a g a z in e , w h i c h w e r e p r i n t e d w i t h h is fi rs tl e t t e r i n M a r c h , 1965. Wh e the r o r no t t h i s ist h e s a m e a r e a a s h a zi ly re c o l l e c t e d b y a n yo r a l l o f t h e 19th c e n t u ry Pe g l e g s i si r r e l e v e n t .M a c D o n a l d: H o w d i d t h e m o d e r n P e g ie gh a p p e n u p o n t h e g o l d ? Wa s h e ap r o s p e c t o r ?P e p p e r : N o w a y. H e s i m p l y w a s a n a t u r el o v e r c a m p i n g i n t h e d e s e r t t o e n j o y t h es p r i ng w i l d f l owe r s . Aft er h i k i ng a f ewm i l e s o v e r u n e v e n t e r r a i n , h e s t o p p e d t or e s t . T h e s m a l l h i ll h e s a t u p o n w a sc o v e r e d w i th a c r u s t o f s m o o t h ,w a t e r - w o r n p e b b l e s , t h e s a n d h a v i n g b e e npa r t l y b l ow n away by w ind . Th i s is t yp i c a lo f d e s e r t s i n t h e s o u t h w e s t . So m e a r em o s a i c k e d fo r m i l e s w i t h th e b l a c k -c o a t e ds t o n e s w o r n s m o o t h b y a c o m b in a t i o n o fs a n d a c t i o n , fl as h f lo o d s , a n d a n c i e n t s e a st h a t on c e c ov e r e d t h e d e s e r t . Vife c a l l t h eb la c k c o a t i n g " d e s e r t v a r n i s h . "O u r m o d e r n M r . P e g i e g s a t t h e r e a w h i l ef l i p p i n g p e b b l e s d o w n t h e s i d e o f t h es l o p e . W h e n o n e s e e m e d u n u s u a l l y h e a v y,h e e x a m i n e d i t. B l ac k , r o u n d e d o n t h ee d g e s a n d a b o u t t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f a n i n c hi n d i a m e t e r , it fe l t s u s p i c i ou s ly he a vy fo r i t ss i ze . H e s c r a t c h e d a w a y t h e b l a c k s u r fa c ew i t h a p e n k n i fe . It s h o n e b r i g h t g o l du n d e r n e a t h . As a l o n g -t im e DesertM a g a zi n e r e a d e r , h e w a s fa m i li a r w i t hl e g e n d s o f t h e S o u t h w e s t . H e k n e wi m m e d i a t e l y t h a t h e h a d f o u n d t h el e g e n d a r y P e g i e g b l a c k g o l d .M a c D o n a l d: W h y d i d n ' t h e s t a k e a c l a im ?P e p p e r : H e h a d l e a r n e d fr o m t h e P e g ie gl e g e n d s n o t t o r u s h o ff h a l f- c o c k e d t o b r a ga b o u t h i s f i n d a n d e n d u p u n a b l e t or e l o c a t e i t . I n s t e a d , h e h u n g a r o u n d f o r t w oh o u r s o r so to g a th e r u p s e v e n m o r en u g g e t s w e i g h i n g f r o m o n e - h a l f o u n c e t ot w o o u n c e s a n d t h e n m a r k e d a t ra i l b a c k toh i s J e e p . T e n d a y s l a t e r h e r e t u r n e d w i t h am e t a l d e t e c t o r t o r e c o v e r 7 2 0 o u n c e s . Afte rt h a t h e r e t u r n e d o n l y s e v e r a l t i m e s a ye a r .W it h g o l d w o r t h o n l y $3 5 a n o u n c e a t t h a tt i m e , h e h a d c o l l e c t e d $ 31 4, 65 0 w o r t h o fn u g g e t s w h e n h e g a v e u s h i s s to r y . At

t o d a y ' s r a t e 5, t h a t w o u l d b e w o r t h u p t o $ 7m i l l i o n . B e c a u s e h e w a s ( h e s t a t e d ) o u t o fs y m p a t h y w i t h c e r t a i n r e c i p i e n t s o f o u r t a xd o l l a r s , h e d i d n ' t w i s h t o s h a r e t h e l o o tw i t h t h e IR S, s o h e k e p t t h e s i t e a s e c r e ta nd d i dn ' t s t a ke a c l a im . He d i d s ay t h a t i ft h e r e w e r e a n y w a y h e c o u l d c o n t r i bu t e t oa c a u s e th a t se r v e d p e o p l e w i th o u tg o v e r n m e n t i n t e r f e r e n c e , h e w o u l dd i v u l g e t h e l o c a t i o n s o i t c o u l d b ee x p l o i t e d . N o n e o f o u r r e a d e r s w a s a b l e t om e e t h i s c h a l le n g e .M a c D o n a ld : W h a t m a k e s t h e n u g g e t sblack?P e p p e r : T h e a s sa y w e h a d r u n c o n f ir m e dM r . P e g l e g 's s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e n u g g e t sw e r e 70% go l d , 20% s il v e r , a n d 10%c o p p e r . H i s t h e o r y w a s th a t t h e bl a c k c a m ea b o u t fr o m o x id a t i o n o f t h e c o p p e r .H o w e v e r , a n a c ti o n o f t h e s u n a n dc h e m i c a l s l e f t f r o m o c c a s i o n a l d e s e r ts t o r m s b u i l d s u p a c o a t i n g o n r o c ks u r fa c e s , r e f e r r e d t o a s d e s e r t v a r n i s h ,w h i c h i s c o m m o n t o t h e d e s e r t .A rc h a e o l o g is ts s o m e t i m e s u s e t h e d e g r e eo f d e s e r t v a r n i s h c o a t i n g a t a si te t oe s t a bl i sh d a t e s fo r p e t r o g l y p h s o n r o c k yc l i f f s . The r e a r e a r e a s n e a r t h e S a l t on S e at h a t a r e e n t i re l y p a v e d w i t h s m a l l , l u m p yp e b b l e s t h a t l o o k i d e n t i c a l to t h e P e g i e ggo l d . S im i l a r a r e a s ex i s t i n Neva da a ndA r iz o n a . M r . P e g i e g p h o t o g r a p h e d o n e o fh i s n u g g e t s in situ a n d it w a si n d i s ti n g u i sh a b l e fr o m s u r r o u n d i n g r o c k s .On ly by w e ig h t w a s h e ab l e t o i d e n t i fy i t . A sa m a t t e r o f i n t e r e s t , I u s e d t o d i s p l a y ab la c k r o c k I h a d fo u n d a l o n g s i d e o n e o ft h e r e a l n u g g e t s t o i l lu s t r a t e t h e p o i n t . T h ed a r k c o l o r o f t h e P e g i e g n u g g e t s m a y h a v eb e e n a t t r i b u t a b l e t o c o p p e r c o n t e n t , b u t It h i n k t h a t t h e y w e r e b l a c k r a t h e r t h a n d a r kb r o w n b e c a u s e o f th e i r d e s e r t v a r n is hc o a t i n g .M a c D o n a ld : S p e a k in g o f p s u e d o n u g g e t s ,I h e a r d fr o m o n e n o r m a l l y r e l ia b le s o u r c et h a t t h e n u g g e t s fr o m M r . P e g i e g w e r ep h o n y bu t t h a t y o u r e fu s e d t o a d m i t i tb e c a u s e i t w o u l d h a v e d i s c r e d i t e d t h em a g a z i n e .P e p p e r : T h a t i s r i d i c u l o u s . O u rm y s te r i o u s M r . P e g i e g o n c e s e n t a n u g g e tfo r t h e m a g a zi n e a l o n g w i t h o n e h u n g o n ag o l d c ha i n f o r m e . I s t il l h a ve i t . Som eu n q u e s t i o n a b l y r e l i a b l e j e w e l e r s h a v ee x a m i n e d i t. I w o u l d c h a l l e n g e a n y o n e ' sw o r d t h a t t h e n u g g e t s w e h a d a s s a ye d a n d

d i s p l aye d a t t h e Desert M aga z ine off ic ew h i l e I w a s e d i t o r w e r e p h o n y .M a c D o n a ld : D id y o u e v e r h a v e a n yi nd i c a t i on o f M r . P e g l e g ' s i d e n t i ty?P e p p e r : N e v e r . It c o u l d h a v e b e e n a n y o n ew h o w a l k e d i n t o th e Desert M agaz ine offic et o b u y a b o o k . I u s e d t o h a v e a f ews u s p i c i o n s , b u t n o n e o f t h e m p r o v e d o u tw h e n I t r ie d v a r i o u s d e t e c t in g m e t h o d s w eh a d d e v i s e d . I n o n e l e t t e r h e s a i d t h a ts o m e d a y h e w o u l d m a k e h i m s e lf k n o w n t om e , bu t I e d i t e d t h a t o u t b e c a u s e i t m i g h th a v e e n c o u r a g e d m o r e t h a n th e u s u a ln u m b e r o f t h r e a t s w e r e c e i v e d . Ac t u al ly , Iw o r r i e d a b o u t M r . P e g i e g . H e s t a t e d i n o n el e t te r th a t h e st il l h a d a n e n o r m o u s a m o u n to f n u g g e t s s t a s h e d a w a y , u n t r e a t e d . I fe ltt h a t w h a t I d i d n ' t k n o w c o u l d n ' t c r e a t et r o u b l e f o r a n y o n e .M a c D o n a l d: St il l , w i th a l l of thec o r r e s p o n d e n c e , yo u m u s t h a v e h a d s o m ep e r c e p t i o n o f t h e m a n .P e p p e r : Well , s t r i c t ly fr om i n t u i t i o n , Do n ,I 'd s a y t h a t h e h a d p u t i n s o m e t i m e o n t h ed e s e r t d u r i n g W o r ld W a r I I. G e n e r a l P a t t o nt r a in e d m e n h e r e , y o u k n o w . An d t h e n I'dg u e s s th a t th e m a n h a d a c o l l e g e e d u c a t i o n .H i s le t t e r s p r o v e d a n a b il it y t o r e s e a r c h as i t u a t io n , a s s i m i l a t e i n f o r m a t i o n , a n di n t e l li g e n t l y a d a p t i t t o a n e n d e a v o r . H i sl e t te r s s u g g e s t e d a s t r o n g - m i n d e d , c a n - d os o r t of p e r s o n t o w h o m m a t e ri a l w e a l thw o u l d b e u s e d f o r s e l f - e n l i g h t e n m e n tr a t h e r t h a n t o a c h i e v e s o c i a l s t a t u s . Ii m a g i n e h i m a s s o m e w h a t o f a l o n e r , a ni d e a l i s t. H e c o u l d b e q u i t e t yp i c a l o f a n yn u m b e r o f m e n I 'v e m e t l iv i n g i nm o t o r h o m e s w h i l e t h e y fi sh a t C a m p b e llR i v er in t h e s u m m e r . It w o u l d b e

18 JUNE, 1980


19/60

Scabbard (oppositepage) found in Pegleg' gold area has been dated by experts as 16th' or 17th century, landscape (left) is typical' of the area (circled on map) where the goldis believed to have been found.

i n t e r e s t i n g t o m e e th i m s o m e t i m e . It i sn 'to ft en t h a t an u n k n o w n s t r a n g e r p l a ys a s "im p o r t a n t a r o l e i n o n e ' s l ife a s M r . P e g l e gd i d i n m i n e d u r i n g t h e y e a r s t h a t I w a se d i t o r o f Desert M a g a z i n e .M a c D o n a ld : I k n o w t h a t yo u d i d a l o t o fd e s e r t e x p l o r a t i o n i n t h o s e y e a r s . W h a t i sy o u r p e r s o n a l i d e a o f th e l o c a t i o n o f th eg o l d h e f o u n d ? Di d n ' t

198006 desert magazine 1980 june

Documents