Trail Report: Lucerne Loop

[Mitch]

I went out for a drive today to clear my mind and take it off of my other issues with family. I've been driving 5-6 days a week for the last 6 weeks to be with my father who is in ICU at Long Beach St Mary's Hospital. That's been 1000 - 1200 miles between Hesperia and Long Beach in addition to my 40+ hour job. So alone time was good. I left word as to where I'd be and check in times just incase. I dropped off my doors at Roger's house in Lucerne this morning @ 8:00am and headed east on Hwy 247 to Pitkin Mine Road (about 15 miles east of town). I did part of this run 1 1/2 years ago when I first got the stock Jeep. The main road is washboard and or washed out and the "air down" did the trick. First stop was at an old rock quarry with some equipment foundations left around the pits. Next was was the Silver Reef Mine and Mining Camp. This is just around the corner from the first stop. There are a couple of buildings standing, and foundations and floors for another 7 or 8 structures. There is a small mine tunnel (100') and several prospect tunnels 10' to 30' deep. Lots to explore and wonder about. Next I continued south toward the mountain and the huge limestone pit. I passed several mine tunnels on the way to the Lester/Dale Mining Camp. This abandoned camp is at the foot of the limestone quarry and it is in rather good shape. 1 1/2 years ago someone had shot paint balls at everything and really messed it up, but this trip someone had painted white paint over all of the buildings and spent alot of time cleaning the place up. There is 4 buildings and a row of garages, and a ore hopper hanging over the side of a hill. This must have been a neat place 40 -50 years ago. Next I headed west to look for the Santa Fe Mine. I can't figure out what kind of mine this was. This was a major operation with 6 levels of equipment foundations and hoppers going up the side of the hill. I never did get to the top level. I've never seen hoppers like these and there must have been hundreds of yards of concrete used. I looked up the canyon to see if I could spot the Blackhawk Mine but it looked like a long, steep, narrow trail and I thought I'd better leave it for another trip when I have someone else with me. I zig zagged over to Santa Fe Fire Road and continued north to Hwy 247 about 5 mile west of where I started. In the 5 hours that I was out I did not see one person or vehicle. And I never was more than 7 or 8 miles from Hwy 247. There are so many awesome things to see out here! Thanks for checking my reports.

Mitch

Old rock quarry


Silver Reef Mining Camp


Silver Reef Mines



A little mine that I saw on my Topo!


This is a 2 room sleeping cave that somebody dug out


Lester/Dale Mine


Lester/Dale Mining Camp



Ore hopper


Secret Tunnel at the spring


Santa Fe Mine



Check out these hoppers / The back row is 20 feet deep


I found a little Rock Garden to play in

[RAT]

Hey Mitch,
I live in Long Beach, close to the hospital. If there is anything I can do for you, take your dad something, just let me know, I'd be glad to. Anytime.

Kurt

[Borregowrangler]

Nice report and great pictures. Sorry to hear about your father. There's a few areas I love heading out to solo now and then to explore.

[Roger]

Mitch,

I was out at the Lester/Dale Mining Camp in about March of this year and it was a mess, so all the work done has been since March. I would be nice to find out who is cleaning up the site and thank them. It's great to see a historical site restored rather than destroyed.

I remember the day I was driving home from work and saw the wrecking crew demolishing the Box S Ranch house. The first structure in Lucerne Valley. I was bummed and pissed. Some Flat-lander bought the place and tore it down to build a mobile home park, then he found out the county wouldn't let him, but too late the damage was done.

[womb raider 940]

awesome pics bro

[flatpoint]

You are correct, Mitch. I gotta check this place out! Thanks for the pics!

[Willard]

Man, I envy your desert wheeling, simply awesome!

[ECV Jeep]

Gonna give it a go

Mitch-

As I told you on the phone the other day, looks like I gonna give this little trip a go tomorrow. Looks like a nice relaxing afternoon exploring the desert. Keep up the good trip postings.

-Brian

[Roger]

Mitch-

As I told you on the phone the other day, looks like I gonna give this little trip a go tomorrow. Looks like a nice relaxing afternoon exploring the desert. Keep up the good trip postings.

-Brian

Brian,
I've been tearing my place apart looking for your phone number! I may be free to go tomorrow if you want some company! You still have my numbers? Dude, call me.

Roger

[ECV Jeep]

As Advertised

Well, I made this run today with the help of a local guide...............It was everybit as good a run as Mitch had said. Thank you to Roger for being my guide.....I will run trails with you whenever you would have me.

[Roger]

Runnin' With Brian is great!

Well, I made this run today with the help of a local guide...............It was everybit as good a run as Mitch had said. Thank you to Roger for being my guide.....I will run trails with you whenever you would have me.

It was great to meet up with Brian, he's one of those guys that as soon as you meet him you feel like you've been life long friends, just like Mitch!

Yes, I agree with him yesterday was a great day. First of all, we had quite a bit of cloud cover all afternoon. It was great! It was just enough of a break to make it pleasent. We only saw two other parties, an older Suburban with three people and a camper, that's it!

On the loop we took a couple of spurs that go up the side of the mountains. On a few of them, the roads were washed out or landslides and completly impassable except for hiking. The canyon to the wast of Blackhawk mine was especially interesting and would be well worth the hike past the landslide.

One trail took us up to to about 5,200 ft. and we discovered an old pill bottle with a legal description of "Cushenberry Mining Claim #30". the paper was dated 1955 but the pill bottle was dated 2001. I did see evidence of an old rotted out pill box and I assume it was replaced in 2001. Too bad we weren't geo-cashers because I'd bet it would have been a geocasher's dream spot!

Anyway, It's getting a little hot to be exploring the desert, I think I'll head up to the San Bernardino's for my next run. . . if anyone is interested, let me know!