Field notes from exploring backcountry locations of the Western United States

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Eastern Mojave

Eastern Mojave

California's Eastern Mojave Desert, centered on the Mojave National Preserve

27 posts

Tramway Mine

Tramway Mine

This gold mine lives up to its name. The inclined wooden tramway is the most interesting thing here and makes this old mine worth visiting. Don't be confused though, it is not an aerial tramway, but a railed inclined tram used to lower ore down from the mine to the

Sagamore Mine Camp

Sagamore Mine Camp

The Sagamore mine, also known as the New York mine, was a silver, lead, copper, zinc, and gold mine. It was first discovered in the 1870s by Mormons who found rich silver veins in the foothills of the New York Mountains. It is one of the oldest mines in the

Gold Butte Mine (Mojave)

Gold Butte Mine (Mojave)

Recently, I had a request to post my photos of this mine and camp out near Goffs in the Mojave Desert. I had forgotten all about it. I originally went out and visited the site in 2014. I found a few empty cabins and old cars in camp - not

Halloran Spring Petroglyphs

Halloran Spring Petroglyphs

Surprisingly, just off the I-15 freeway northeast of Baker in the Mojave Desert of California are four or five groups of rock art scattered across small basalt hills and along a sandy wash. The main site is right next to the freeway. Thousands of people drive by the site every

American Flag Mine Cabin

American Flag Mine Cabin

I couldn't find any history on the American Flag Mine or the cabin. I first visited the cabin in 2016 and stopped by for another visit in 2022. Little has changed. I believe volunteers and the NPS have both made repairs to the place (The cabin is inside of the

Vontrigger Springs

Vontrigger Springs

We first visited this site in 2007 with the Dzrtgrls and Dan. I made a return trip when I was in the area recently to check on the site. Also known as Von Trigger Springs, the spring and surrounding hills were first prospected in 1858 (some say the 1870s) by

Riggs Cabin

Riggs Cabin

Out near Baker, is the Riggs Cabin at the old Riggs Mine. We first went out there on a chilly January day in 2004. I've been back many times over the years. It makes a nice place to camp. The oldest mine in the Silurian Hills, the Riggs Mine was