an entry from G

Burro Schmidt’s Tunnel

The sky was still dark when we got the on the road. The truck headlights seemed to vanish on the asphalt pavement; the reflecting yellow road stripes on Garlock Road was the only evidence of being on track. Bandit and I were heading west on the foothills of El Paso Mountains. Our destination was a little known side trip to Burro Schmidt’s Tunnel. I wanted to get an early start on our day trip in this way we can make it back to Ridgecrest before nightfall. The road was empty and we could see no other headlights over the expanse of Garlock Canyon.

The western sky changed from black to a deep, dark blue as we passed over the eastern ridge of Red Rock Canyon. The barren mountain range came into focus along with the realization of the great expanses of emptiness. We stopped near a Joshua tree, got out of the truck and inhaled the crisp morning high desert air. Behind us some meandering set of headlights could be seen from a distant vehicles traversing highway 14. A brisk breeze brought the scent of salt from the dry lake bed south of us. We watched as the sky changed to lighter hues of blue as the sun approached the summit of El Paso Mountain range. The sunrise had displayed pastels, color changing hues and magnificence-it was truly amazing.

As the road reaches the valley floor, it starts to climb and meander among sagebrushes and lava rocks outcroppings. The road becomes stepper as it approaches the Copper Mountain. A pull-off at the top is worth the time to investigate. A climb up is worth the effort, as it reveals a panoramic view of evaporated lake bed of Garlock and surrounding mountains. Thermal energy from the valley far below will roar up over the saddle that creates the pass. Lava rocks protrude out of the landscape like the knife-like edges of black sword. All around us is a peaceful desolation of awe-inspiring scenery.

The road is now ready to descend into Burro Schmidt’s Tunnel. It winds down quickly to the side of the mountain. The road is always going down until we reached the cabin of the caretaker.

It was way back in 1989 when we first visited Burro Schmidt’s tunnel, a strange passageway burrowed through 2087 feet of solid rock. We were lucky because while we were there we got a chance to meet the caretaker and her helper. Together, they shed the light for me on the story of the tunnel.

According to the caretaker, the tunnel was built as a short-cut. However, she could not explained why Burro Schmidt spent more than 33 years of his life digging, single handedly, through a mountain reach an isolated ridge, over 4000 feet altitude. He used mostly hand tools and explosives in his excavation. Rubble was moved with wheelbarrow and sometimes carried it out on his back. Eventually, Schmidt installed rails for an ore car years later.

Schmidt has tuberculosis, and hoping to improve his health he moved to California desert from Rhode Island, where six of his siblings had died of the disease. The construction of the tunnel had begun in 1902; near the site he had staked a mining claim. Seemingly, his objective was to build a short-cut route through Cooper Mountain for transporting his ore to a smelter on the other side. But it doesn’t seem to be his purpose since the tunnel emerged on the high ledge, in the middle of nowhere.

Bandit and I walked the length of the tunnel, which is structurally sound, within about 30 minutes. And when we reached the end of the tunnel, we find the view from the ledge was breathtaking overlooking the Saltdale lake of Garlock and Garlock road. On clear day, the old mining town of Randsburg can be sighted perhaps 20 miles away just off highway 395.

If you are coming from Los Angeles, the tunnel can be reached perhaps nine miles dirt road that intersects highway 14 north of Red Rock Canyon. The site is now under the control of Bureau of Land Management since the caretaker had passed away years ago.

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Photo that came with it is a Metafile  meaning " wont reproduce in  AOL Blogs.." Don't know why..

Anyways, here is a brief message from the writer:

Hi Manong Vic:

This is from "G", the lost Filipino who is trying to find the treasure of the The Lost Frenchman out in the high desert.

This is for the Manaoaginians, this includes rain and a pinay.

Take care roger "G"

Thanks!..Is Rain from your hometown?..

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It is the other way around. I am from HER  hometown..Was born in Laoac  which was then a barrio of Manaoag, then my family moved to Asingan....