TRONA TIDBITS
Early in their DPS rambling days, all climbers get to know this place-and after a few trips will neglect mentioning its distinctive odor. A southerly entry into this chemical-producing Searles Lake area begins a few miles before reaching it in Salt Wells Canyon, which sports an exposed double pipeline along the highway. This is Trona's domestic water supply and comes in from Indian Wells Valley to the west. Shortly, a string of covered hopper cars generally looms up as they stand awaiting loading or shipping, in the South Trona yards of the Trona Railway. Incidentally, this rail facility connects with the same trackage we bounce over every tine we make the swing out of Mojave and proceed eastward on Highway 14 toward Ovens Valley. Several seconds later, Point of Rocks greets us and then the mighty sight of Trona is ours. It is especially thrilling as a right spectacle with its many lights-reminiscent of a giant fun zone with roller coasters and high rides. Soon, producing Westend Works is passed with its now-still and cold lengthy rotary kiln bordering the highway. The heavy machinery formerly produced carbon dioxide, wing dolomite rock trucked in from the shadow of Maturango Peak. This plant was a child of F M Borax Smith, for whom our Smith Mtn reveres. The village of Argus comes next with its friendly Chinese restaurant and another track bounce lands us in main Trona, with its imposing lofty plant structures.
Unfortunately, our old standby Circle K store has been recently shut down-apparently for good and last month the windows were plywooded over and gas pumps removed. But we are still pleased to know that there is 24-hr gasoline at Pioneer Point Market, in the northern outskirts.
I Luv TronaIf you want to be a town booster, drop in the Senior Center at an opportune hour and pick up your free "I Luv Trona" button-just west of DPSer Dr Marlin Clark's office and facing the main highway.
If you have never seen Valley Wells, please do! It is worth your while to see their gigantic swimming pool and focal point of outdoor park activities, amid its giant cottonwood trees. Their water is from the same source as that used for the chemical processes of North American Chemical Company-current owner of this large-scale desert operation.
One of my favorite DPS views occurs above Trona at Slate Range Crossing, where the paved highway spills down into imposing Panamint Valley.
Our Panamint Butte; Telescope, Sentinel and Porter Peaks all line up to the north and east-a sight not easi1y forgotten, especial1y during snow-capped times. Here the old dirt road comes up from Panamint Valley and intersects the paved highway from the east. Take a break now and walk about an eighth of a mile on this old trail(still navigable with high center vehicles), and keep drinking in the views. Here you will be amazed to see the still older Nadeau Road-dug thru heavy basalt on a mighty steep gradient, which served early Panamint mining camps. One wonders how mule-power ever made it either way! Follow down the incline ten minutes to the first plateau and you will be surprised to be in the ruins of a century-plus old camp where Chinese road builders lived it out. There are no less than twenty various rock cluster patterns indicating former human presence.
This first Crossing view has aided interest, too, as it was from about here that William Manly, in his Death Valley exodus, is thought to have sighted Searles Lake, before walking in vain to the saline sink. Read his Death Valley in '49 account for a better picture!
My question. Is it true that Searles Lake residents are known as Tronese?

Bob Greenawalt
Dec 1992 Bob
 
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