We never found Bill Keys' gold mine and the gold processing plant yesterday. Obscurely marked trails led us to the ranch house foundation, but literature described the mine as "well preserved" since it closed for good in 1966.
"We're going back to Hidden Canyon," said Andy, as we drove back to Joshua Tree. "We're going to try again to find the mine." This time we parked at Queen Road and ignored the left fork in the trail. Sure enough. The historical reward was a mile in. We found the ruins of the windmill and a clay cistern, three wrecked trucks, the processing mill, the mine and a tombstone. Apparently Bill Keys had a run-in with Worth Bagley and killed him on May 11, 1943. At least he had the courtesy to bury him and mark the grave with a painted stone.
Dotted with bright yellow flowers on December 15, the Arch Rock Trail surprised us and taught us some geology. The boulders formed when magma pushed between rock layers underground some 135-150 million years ago in the age of the dinosaurs. The rusty color on some rocks, caused by desert varnish, reveals less weathering, so less exposure. Geologists believe these rocks were still buried until more recent geologic times, when the land here dried out and the climate turned arid. In igneous veins or dikes, prospectors looked for precious minerals, like gold, silver and copper.
We walked the nature trail at Cholla Cactus Garden, reading about the teddy bear or jumping cholla, the silver cholla, the pencil cholla and the calico cactus. The trail guide also pointed out evidence of animal inhabitants, like the desert wood rat "pack" nest and the cactus wren nest.
Dotted with bright yellow flowers on December 15, the Arch Rock Trail surprised us and taught us some geology. The boulders formed when magma pushed between rock layers underground some 135-150 million years ago in the age of the dinosaurs. The rusty color on some rocks, caused by desert varnish, reveals less weathering, so less exposure. Geologists believe these rocks were still buried until more recent geologic times, when the land here dried out and the climate turned arid. In igneous veins or dikes, prospectors looked for precious minerals, like gold, silver and copper.
We walked the nature trail at Cholla Cactus Garden, reading about the teddy bear or jumping cholla, the silver cholla, the pencil cholla and the calico cactus. The trail guide also pointed out evidence of animal inhabitants, like the desert wood rat "pack" nest and the cactus wren nest.
Andy tried "helping" a teddy bear cholla bud in the trail regenerate by kicking it to one side. It stuck to his sneaker. First one foot, then the other. Removing the spines tipped with microscopic barbs took major ingenuity.
We drove toward the mountains, following the Geology Tour Road to the Stop #9 turn-around, reading about the formation of the boulders and the fault line mountain building. Squaw Tank offered a convenient turning area, as the road deteriorated to sand and four-wheel drive was necessary. Little Red has served us too well to abuse her further.
Not far away, Indian Cove Nature Trail, a .6-mile loop, followed a broad wash through the valley at the end of an extensive picnic area. In addition to identifying types of cactus and a few geological formations, the interpretive signs explained where wood rats nested and how native Americans used specific desert plants: jojoba leaves, 50 percent oil based, for bathing and creosote bush with its resin for repairing pottery and to alleviate pain.
We drove toward the mountains, following the Geology Tour Road to the Stop #9 turn-around, reading about the formation of the boulders and the fault line mountain building. Squaw Tank offered a convenient turning area, as the road deteriorated to sand and four-wheel drive was necessary. Little Red has served us too well to abuse her further.
Not far away, Indian Cove Nature Trail, a .6-mile loop, followed a broad wash through the valley at the end of an extensive picnic area. In addition to identifying types of cactus and a few geological formations, the interpretive signs explained where wood rats nested and how native Americans used specific desert plants: jojoba leaves, 50 percent oil based, for bathing and creosote bush with its resin for repairing pottery and to alleviate pain.
By late afternoon grey clouds covered the sky and the few blue patches totally disappeared. "It's supposed to be nicer tomorrow," said Andy, "before the chance of actual rain increases and we leave California for good."
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