Mystery Cave

 Years ago, someone told me about a cave in a very remote area in Joshua Tree National Park. He mentioned there were signs of digging, and even a metal screen nearby (likely used to sieve through sand). It was upsetting, as the "evidence" pointed to someone digging up and looting the cave (which is obviously illegal in a national park). But digging up what? It was a mystery. He shared the location with me. I marked it on Google Earth and forgot about it. Until just recently, when I found myself hiking in the area.

This area is full of interesting rock formations with shallow caves and alcoves.

Inside, looking out.

 

These lines in the rock are so interesting. Geologists call them dykes or dikes. These particular dykes look like they were made by a master stonemason, who carefully placed rocks side by side! They extend all the way over to the shallow cave on the left side of the photo.

 

 

We spot another cave.

This one is quite large inside and unique looking, with a hanging rock wall. It also has the appearance of human hands stacking rocks off to one side to improve the shelter.

Finally we find "mystery cave". Although it may be hard to see in the photo, there is indeed a big berm of sand directly in front of the cave opening. It's obvious someone has done a lot of digging.

My friend Nadine gives perspective to the size of the cave opening.

Inside, the cave is deeper and more spacious than I anticipated. Although it's tempting, I don't do much poking around because I don't want to disturb the soil (hantavirus). It's obvious a lot of burning has been going on in this cave, perhaps for many years. I've never seen rocks with such heavy soot deposits.

The soot is so heavy that it looks like tar in some areas.

Wire mesh found just outside the cave.

So we have a cave with clear signs of substantial digging, and huge soot deposits. The combination of digging and wire screen means someone, perhaps years ago, was sifting the dirt dug from inside the cave, looking for something. But what? My first guess would be this cave was used as a storage site for Native Americans. Perhaps there was an olla for water or grain storage in the cave. There could have also been grinding stones and pottery sherds. Or possibly this cave was used as a small shelter by Native Americans, which might help explain all the soot. I guess it's even possible that this was an old burial site. It's likely this is another one of those desert mysteries that will never be solved!

It's turning into an absolutely gorgeous golden hour! As the clouds move by, the light on the Coxcomb Mountains is constantly changing. I decide to use my iPhone for a time lapse video. This is where we make camp for a few hours while we wait for the stars.

 

 

 

Nadine enjoying the beautiful sky!

 

I think it was worth the wait. A beautiful mix of clouds and stars!

 

Thanks for dropping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Camp Coxcomb (Part 2)

 This was a very memorable day for me! A fun day exploring an area that is rarely visited, with lots of photo opportunities, fascinating history, and a pretty and constantly changing sky. I even discovered what I think was an old underground food storage shelter. Oh, and I accomplished my main objective, which was to see if Camp Coxcomb really does have an altar (it does!). If you want to see part one of this post, click here.

 

 

I wondered if the Camp Coxcomb alter was still around. Perhaps time and erosion had destroyed it? When researching it on the internet, there wasn't much information and few photos. But it still exists, and my photos are proof! It's a little hard to find and to get to (4WD recommended). It's beautifully framed by two large Ocotillo trees. The altar at Camp Iron Mountain (here) is larger and better known, but something about the solitude of the Camp Coxcomb altar appeals to me more. 

A small flag blows in the wind at the Camp Coxcomb altar.

 

Ocotillo under swooping clouds!

 

What a beautiful evening to be out in the desert! The sky really started going off, which was nice because it kept me busy taking pictures as I waited for the stars to come out.

 

 

The altar with with my LED lights and tripod set up.

Blue hour.

Camp Coxcomb altar under the stars!
 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Camp Coxcomb (Part 1)

 This was a fun and memorable adventure! I can't call it a hike. I spent hours bouncing around on the remains of badly eroded and washed out roads in my dusty old Jeep, making frequent photo stops. So more of a Jeep trip than a hike.

 

Camp Coxcomb was one of 14 divisional training "camps" that made up General George Patton's WW2 Desert Training Center (DTC). The DTC camps were used to "harden men for battle", simulating conditions they would experience when fighting in the deserts of Northern Africa. At the height of the DTC, there were 11 camps in California (one of which was Camp Coxcomb) and 3 in Arizona. All of the Camps were located in the most remote desert areas possible, and each camp had 15,000 or more soldiers! The camps would have been unbearably hot, even dangerously hot, during the summer months. Life must have been extremely difficult and challenging for these young soldiers.

 

Camp Coxcomb facilities include 39 shower buldings, 165 latrines, 284 wooden tent frames, one 40,000 gallon water tank, and one combination observation and flag tower. Entertainers who performed here included Red Skelton, Rosalind Russell, Pat O'Brien, and others. The army did a good job removing nearly all traces of the camps when they vacated, and if not for all the rocks used to line roadways, walkways, and structures, you wouldn't know they ever existed!

 

Camp Coxcomb was constructed in the spring of 1942 and was closed and dismantled in 1944 when the last troups were shipped overseas.

Today, these WW2 training camps have all but disappeared. People drive right by them as they navigate through the California desert, but they don't see them. Few people know they even exist! If somehow you found out about them, and did a little research, you would be directed to visit Camp Iron Mountain, which is the best known and best preserved of the DTC camps, and is a designated California Historical Landmark. (Side note: I visited Camp Iron Mountain a year ago to the day here. Just a funny coincidence.)

 

Camp Coxcomb does have a roadside information marker (photo above), but unless you slow way down and know to look for it, you're going to miss it. The main "road" in to Camp Coxcomb starts at this marker. Lots of soft sand so make sure you have 4WD. You quickly lose cell service as you leave the highway.

 

I was surprised my GPS app shows the historical roads (dotted lines) of Camp Coxcomb. Most have been washed out and are long gone. I spent hours on Google Earth trying to figure out which roads still exist and might be Jeep friendly.
 
I've never heard anyone talk about Camp Coxcomb, and never seen any photos posted. It would pop up every once in a while on a map, but I always figured it was one of those historical sites that's long gone. Then recently I heard that there might be a chapel or altar. When I Googled "Camp Coxcomb chapel", there are no photos that came up (only a couple photos of the chapel at Camp iron Mountain). If I Google "Camp Coxcomb altar", one photo comes up (NPSHistory.com). I'm pretty sure the area gets few visitors, which makes it all the more intriguing.

 

I eventually found something on Google Earth that had the possibility of being the altar (or perhaps just a pile of rocks?). So off I went, camera gear, tripods, food, lots of water, extra gas, etc., etc. (it was a long list). I decided to check out the altar site (or pile of rocks) first.

Yes, the rumor is true about an altar at Camp Coxcomb!

So now that I knew the altar existed (and its location), I could go explore other parts of Camp Coxcomb (or at least those I could get to). My big goal for this outing was to be back at the altar a little before sunset, capture a time lapse video, and get some photos of the altar as the sky transitioned from sunset to stars (which will be in Camp Coxcomb (Part 2)). Next up is to try and find the "Camp Coxcomb circle formation."

 

I was very fortunate to be out exploring on a day with beautiful skies (although a little windy). I read somewhere that Patton was concerned about soldiers getting into trouble if they had too much down time, so they were ordered to line EVERYTHING with rocks. The rock lines had to be perfectly straight. What a job that must have been!

 

Interesting little ramp leading up to a 55 gallon drum buried in the sand. What possible use could it have? Looks like some of the surrounding rocks were imported from somewhere else.

 

 

Google Earth view of Camp Coxcomb circle formation

 

The circle formation was directly in the center of camp and reportedly contained a flagpole where the American flag would be raised and lowered every day. Kind of nice that someone has kept the tradition alive with these small flags. Aside from these flags, I wouldn't see any evidence of anyone visiting this area other than some tire tracks. No footprints at all.

 

For some strange reason, they imported gravel for this walkway (note darker color). It's visible on Google Earth (orange arrow on map). 

 

This huge pile of lumber is odd on two counts: [1] The army didn't leave much behind, so why this big mess? and [2] Almost all structures were made using tents, so what did they use this wood for?

 

 

 

Nails everywhere. I really had to be careful not to step on any!

Lantern base?

 

Anyone remember these??

 

Find of the day: Doesn't look like much. If you weren't paying attention, you could fall right in. As I approach, I'm guessing about a foot deep (heavy shadow covering the details). So imaging my surprise when I see...

A structure totally constructed with wood siding and steps leading down to...

What the heck??

Vent in the ceiling. I didn't have a light with me, so things were very dark and a bit spooky. I thought I heard a faint hissing sound as I tried to look into a darkened corner, so I didn't waste any time getting out! My best guess is that this was used as an underground food storage cellar. The military may have brought in large blocks of ice to keep things cool. Just a guess, though.

 

Bad hare day (sorry, couldn't resist!). I don't think this jackrabbit was enjoying the wind much.
 

Time to start the long, bumpy ride back to the altar.

 

Fingers crossed. It looks like a good sunset is on the way!

 

Shadows from the Coxcomb Mountains have already put me in the shade, but mountains to the NE are in full sun.
 

Thanks for stopping by, and come on back next week for Part 2!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.