On we went to the
high point of the Dunes. It is a former "county park" but the BLM traded land
with Imperial County to obtain this "in holding". In reality, it is a paved 100
yard long area where first-come first served RVers perch themselves for the
weekend. Greg told us that on a holiday weekend, it is impossible for any
passenger vehicle to squeeze in for a view from the top. The buggy enthusiasts
are protecting its development into a day use area, in spite of their having
1000's of acres of unlimited camping currently. It is estimated the average
dune use family has about $100,000 tied up in their motorhome, trailer and
multiple RVs. In contrast with the 25,000 people using the approved recreation
area over the Thanksgiving weekend, we guessed that perhaps 25-100 people hiked
into the 22,767 acre North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Study Area north of
Highway 78. This WSA protects the Flat Tailed Horned Lizard, the Silver-Leafed
Dune Sunflower and Pierson's Loco Weed and a nice assortment of Dunes. It is
closed to vehicle use. Next stop was the Mesquite Gold Nine. This is a leech
pit operation & the 2nd largest gold mine in the state. Greg has been
instrumental in helping build an interpretive trail to the top of a ridge (.8
mile) overlooking the operation. It is due to open to the public Nov. 2 but he
had gotten special permission and the gate was unlocked for us. This
Canadian/Japanese owned operation appears to be fairly environmentally
conscious. They have invested in hi-tech equipment, including an impressive
metal dome visible for miles, that almost eliminates dust from the crushing
process. They are also committed to report any animal deaths from the covered
and enclosed cyanide pits and have fenced their acreage with Desert Tortoise
awareness signs. This is more than other mining operations have done that we
have seen.
Further on down the road we stopped at a highway marker
designating the area as a pre-Columbian Indian trail. There was a 200' stretch
used as a foot path in years gone by. We found some shade in the nearby wash
for our lunch spot. The temperature was over 100, but pleasant in the shade of
the Ironwoods. Tunco, (Trumbull United Mining Company), was our next stop. This
abandoned town, once home of 2500 people is soon to be redeveloped as an open
pit mining site. We saw the remnants of home foundations, the 100-stamp mi11
and the cemetery. Next was the 100 yard long remnants of the old plank road
near Gray's well on I-8. It was used by desert travelers to cross the dunes
during the 1920's. It was actually established as a result of a race
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