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.