Photo from city-data.com

Be careful of flooding in Barstow – In this weather, the rain can be quite a hassle in the desert regions.  There are currently reports of some major flooding on Jasper Road.  The National Weather Service has put the Barstow area on flash flood alert until 8 p.m. tonight (Dec. 20)

Most of my experience of floods has actually been near Barstow, in the Rodman Mountains.   Out of the three times I’ve been there, there’s been some serious flash flooding.  I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.

Though we were speaking from our personal experience (which is never a good way to determine truth), some of us are wondering if the prevalence of petroglyphs in the area are due to Native Americans thinking that there was a special significance to Rodman Mountains for its propensity to have rain.

Like I said, it was just an interesting conversation and I’m relatively sure there’s not much to it.  I’d actually to double check the records for rain in that area vs. other nearby geographic locations like the Black Mountain Wilderness.

But, as it happens, the next Desert Dog video is going to be about our latest adventure in the Rodman Mountains.  When it comes out, I hope you’re able to tune in and watch as we narrowly escape from the Rodman Mountains.

Image from www.servitokks.com

Forget Something?  No Problem! – One important, yet always undermined, thing about camping in the desert (or camping at all) is supplies. Every time I’ve visited the desert, there is always one important thing that is always left at home, which has the potential to change everyone’s collective feelings of the trip. For example, a person may forget to bring a knife, drastically hindering the ability to cut food and open containers, which may decrease the morale of the camping party . However, this change of feeling isn’t always a misfortune, rather, it is a chance to incorporate human ingenuity.

Of all the Real Desert Dogs, Dustin Dragotto is definitely the “MacGyver” of the group. Every time an important object or utensil is missing, he is the one who will make something work. When we went to Panamint City in the spring of 2009, we stayed in visitor maintained cabins, which seemed to be more of a shelter for rats than people.  Somehow Dustin managed to fix a sink that probably hasn’t worked in decades, and scrounge around for enough wood for a fire to last us throughout the night.

Dustin isn’t the only one who has tips and tricks for comfort in the desert (he’s just the best example). Andy learned how to make chopsticks out of two twigs he found after forgetting to bring eating utensils. Even I managed to construct a solar oven out of a used two-liter soda bottle in order to heat up an MRE after forgetting to bring the heaters (it worked great by the way). On our last trip in the Black Mountain Wilderness, I remember Ben, Andy, and I struggling to keep our supplies from getting wet by a sudden rain storm that we weren’t prepared for. For 15 minutes, we ran around the campsite covering our cooking food until we finally hunkered down in the vehicle for the last leg of the storm. Given the situation, we still had a great dinner and fun times.

Basically, forgetting things isn’t always a bad thing. From my experiences, the absence of a particular supply article is more of a blessing. Having less is more because it is left to your prior knowledge in order to make yourself happier in such a desolate looking place. It’s much like an investment – giving up things that would normally make you feel comfortable, but getting back ten times the satisfaction. To have the full experience of the desert is to not have the comfort expected or planned, but to make the comfort with what you’ve got.

Pinto Point, www.nps.gov

My name is Joe Perry, the “elder” of The Real Desert Dogs and I’ve been exploring the Mojave high desert region for well over thirty years.

My primary interest is in the prehistory and archeological evidence of the high desert and the protection of those resources.  Over the years, I have acquired a knack for locating the more ancient sites. In particular, I’m interested in the Silver Lake culture (ca. 9000 and 6000 BC); Lake Mohave culture (also 9000 to 6000 BC), and Pinto culture (8000 BC to 1 AD).

My Method

I am able to locate these sites often by flying in my “Google Earth” helocopter. I look for water sources (some of which are no longer active), wind protection, soil types and just plain “gut feelings”. I have noted high concentrations of these ancient sites west of Hwy 395, North of Hwy 58, and north of Barstow.

It appears that some of these sites may be related to ancient Lake Thompson. Data suggests that, during several periods of time, much of the Antelope Valley was covered by a large freshwater lake, named Lake Thompson by modern researchers. By about 8,000 years ago, Lake Thompson appears to have receded and split into Rosamond, Buckhorn, and Rogers Lakes.

Taking Geological Time Into Account

According to Kern County Planning Department, citing a source named “Price, et al 2008”, during the late Pleistocene Age, fossil evidence suggests that the Antelope Valley was inhabited by numerous large mammalian species including sloths, horses, bears, mammoth, bison, camels, as well as prong-horned antelope … Evidence suggests that the plant and animal communities that exist within the Antelope Valley today did not become established until after 4,300 years ago.

Success With the “Method”

Last year I located an apparently stratified Lake Mojave/Silver Lake site within the Black Mountain Wilderness North of Barstow. I say stratified because it appears the cultural artifacts are eroding out of the side of some ancient dunes and the erosion-exposed artifacts seem to be in several layers of various depths.

The site is relatively intact with perhaps some minor surface disturbance and some offroad vehicle tracks running through the center of it.  The site consists of several campsites which overlook an area that was suitable for hunting. I can’t say much more without possibly revealing the location. I have noted both Lake Mojave and Silver Lake projectile points, a variety of other stone tools, and grouping of fire fractured cobbles.

There is so much more to explore. I am glad that my son, Andrew and his friends (The Real Desert Dogs) are picking up where I will eventually leave off; HEY! I still have several good years of exploration ahead of me . PLEASE GUARD OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES.

Sources

Kern County Planning Department, Geological Survey, Cultural Section

And whoever “Price, et al 2008” is, of course!