Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley–Photo Richard Elliott

A new study of Death Valley’s Ubehebe (You-bee Hee-bee) Crater presents two bold conclusions.  The first deduction places the crater’s age between 800-1,200 years old.  Traditionally accepted estimates placed the crater around 2,000 to 6,000 years old.  The second resolution claims that with this younger geological date, Ubehebe may possibly explode again, with the proper conditions of groundwater and magma mixing.

The research team, based at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observation, released their study in the January 18, 2012 issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a publication of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).  The paper (letters) was titled, “Do phreatomagmatic eruptions at Ubehebe Crater (Death Valley, California) relate to wetter than present hydro-climate?”  The presentation was authored by Peri Sasnet, Brent M. Goehring, Nichols Christie-Blick, and Joerg M. Schafer. 

According to the article, “A volcanic explosion crater may have future potential,” by the web site Watts Up With That?–The world’s most viewed Site on Global Warming and Climate Change (http://wattsupwiththat.com), the team of scientists, lead by Brent Goehring (now at Purdue University) and Professor Nicholas Christie-Blick of Lamont-Doherty, went on a field trip to Death Valley and Ubehebe Crater, with National Park approval, to collect rock samples to study the crater. 

Back in the lab, Goehring and geochemist Joerg Schaefer “applied recent advances in the analysis of beryllium isotopes..so they could pinpoint when the stones were unearthed,” reported Watts Up.

The resulting paper from the rock study, besides dating Ubehebe Crater between 800-1,200 years old, also believes there may still be enough groundwater and magma around, for possibly creating another eruption in the crater area.  The observed levels of springs and groundwater levels put the water-table about 500 feet below the crater floor.  Based upon the researchers’ calculations, “it would take a spherical magma chamber as small as 300 feet across and an even smaller pocket of water to produce a Ubehebe-sized incident.”

Wired Science at http://www.wired.com/wiredscience, says there are a couple problems with the way this news is being reported: “However, there are no signs that any new magma is anywhere near Ubehebe, making a new eruption a little trickier.”

Secondly, Wired says the estimated ages in the Geophysical Research Letters, “are Beryllium-10 exposure ages–notoriously tricky.”  Wired went on to say, “Now we just need to follow up with other techniques and studies to support these new ages for Ubehebe Crater.”

Ubehebe Crater was created from the mixing of magma and groundwater, resulting in what is called a phreatomagmatic explosion.  The explosion sent out super heated steam, volcanic ash, and deadly gases.  An informative plaque at the crater says, “The explosion spewed shattered rock over a six-square-mile area, in some places to depths of 150 feet.”  The crater is a half-mile across and 500 feet deep.

Not to worry.  More than likely, a surprise eruption will not occur.  Scientists say, “Any reactivation of the crater would almost certainly be presaged by warning signs, such as shallow earthquakes and opening of steam vents; this could go on for years, before anything bigger happens.”  So, geologically speaking, we will more than likely miss this explosive event.

Mural in Lone Pine, CA--Photo Richard Elliott

Art tells a story.  Sometimes viewers do not understand the purpose behind an artwork.   The Wedding of the Waters mural, in Lone Pine, CA, tells a majestic story.  The mural is an exacting portrayal of the 1937, three-day pageant, celebrating the completion of the highway linking Lone Pine to Death Valley–the State’s highest point, Mount Whitney, 14,495 feet, to the lowest spot, Badwater, 282 feet below sea level.   Father John Crowley felt that the highway’s momentous completion called for an equally unique pageant of celebration.  

The stylish spectacle featured the transport of a large water-filled gourd, from Lake Tulainyo, near Mount Whitney, to Badwater, using each historical mode of transportation in the State, from foot-to-flight, and ending with the dumping of the gourd’s contents into the waters of Badwater, slightly over 100 miles distant.  Many big-named luminaries of the time, from Governor Frank Merriam to Western movie star William Boyd (Hopalong  Cassidy) participated in the spectacle, along with many other historical representatives attending, in period costumes.

The October 29, 30 and 31 pageant began with the gourd being carried on foot by an Indian runner, taking it to a waiting Pony Express rider, on day one.  The next day, the water was delivered to a prospector with his mule, who took it to a 20-Mule Team wagon, which transported the gourd to an old stagecoach, taking it onward to a steam train bound for Keeler, CA.  On Day 3, the water continued its journey, carried in a new 1938 Lincoln Zepher car to an airplane waiting in PanamintValley.  The plane flew the gourd over Telescope Peak, to Death Valley and Badwater, where the water ceremoniously ”rained” from the heavens to the surface waters of Badwater.  Thus, a successful ending for the Wedding of the Waters pageant.

So everyone along the route, from Lone Pine to Badwater, would know the waters were successfully merged, signal fires were sent rising toward the skies from Badwater, Dante’s View, Telescope Peak, Cerro Gordo and Mount Whitney.  With The Wedding of the Waters completed, it was time for a joyous wedding reception, in Lone Pine.

Also on Day 3, the official ribbon cutting and dedication occured  near Darwin Road, about mid-way along the route.  Here was the newly completed 18-mile section of highway, linking Lone Pine and Death Valley.  At 11:30 AM, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a signal, via telegraph, to open the highway.  In true Wild West fashion guns were fired and three bullets split the blue ribbon.  The highway officially opened.   

According to Kathleen New of the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, the Wedding of the Waters mural was painted two years ago. 

“Local artist Kerry Powell coordinated the (mural) project, along with several local artists contributing their talents,” New said.

Although October marks the 75th anniversary of the Wedding of the Waters pageant, “There are no celebration plans for 2012,” New said.

To learn more about the Wedding of the Waters pageant and Father Crowley’s devoted services to the people of the Mojave Desert, read the book Desert Padre–The Life and Writings of Father John J. Crowley 1891-1940, by Joan Brooks, Mesquite Press, 2008.

On your next visit to Lone Pine, take time to view the mural and absorb its story behind the Wedding of the Waters.

Marta Becket Looks Toward Retirement, Photo Richard Elliott

Marta Becket, 87, the dancing legend of the Mojave Desert is scheduled to perform her final stage show at the Amargosa Opera House , in Death Valley Junction, CA, February 12, 2012.  Becket celebrates 45 years of entertaining the public, introducing them to the art of theatrical dance.  As a ballerina, Becket could dance en pointe up to age 83, until a hip injury ended her dancing career.  Undaunted, Becket decided to continue entertaining the public, creating her “Sitting-Down Show,” pleasing audiences with song and autobiographical story. 

“Marta has decided to retire from performing and focus more on her art and the business,” reports the Amargosa Opera House website (http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/schedule.htm).

Adorning all the walls of the opera house are the beautiful, colorful murals, which Becket painted herself, back in the early 1960s.  Before her popularity grew at the Opera House, she would perform to a painted crowd of peasants, royalty, bull fighters, Native Americans and other illustrated people.  After four years of painting the wall murals, Becket turned to painting the ceiling, taking two years to finish that colorful project, exhibiting her masterful skill as an artist.

Fellow painter and noted comedian Red Skelton had attended three of Becket’s dancing shows over the years.  During each visit, Skelton lodged in room 22 of the Amargosa Hotel.  In honor of his visits, Becket painted murals in the room, dedicated to Skelton.  It is one of the most requested hotel rooms by guests.

The Amargosa Hotel and Opera House was originally built between 1923-1925, by the Pacific Coast Borax Company to house their employees.  Becket came to Death Valley Junction in 1967, seeking the repair of a flat tire.  While the tire was being fixed, Becket explored the property and peered through a crack into the dusty and neglected interior of what was an auditorium, called Corkhill Hall.  Becket envisioned this as a fine place to perform her ballet dancing, and so her dream began.  Having been on a dancing tour from New York City, she decided to settle at Death Valley Junction, setting roots and becoming the beautiful flower of the Mojave Desert–a dancing queen!

Tickets to Becket’s mid-afternoon final show, February 12, are $15.  It is sure to be a sell-out.  Contact the Amargosa Hotel and Opera House for tickets and reservations at (760) 852-4441, or email at e-mail: reservations@amargosa-opera-house.com.

Richard Regnell, Marta’s manager, told the Pahrump Valley Times, January 13, 2012, that since Becket’s decision to leave the stage, she has been in good spirits and her appetite has returned.  “She’s ready for this,” Regnell said. “It’s time.”