THIS PARK IS A VALLEY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE SHOSHONE NATIVES LIVED SINCE THE LAST ICE AGE. THERE WERE MANY MINING CAMPS AND TOWNS THAT HARVESTED MINERALS AND DEVELOPED THE VALLEY FOR TOURISM.
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE WAS 134 DEGREES IN 1913. THE VALLEY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS TWENTY MULE TEAMS IN 1881. THESE MINERS DUG FOR BORAX A MINERAL THAT WAS USED FREQUENTLY IN HISTORIC TIMES FOR MAKING SOAP, KEEPING MILK SWEET, MAKING CERAMICS, AS A WATER SOFTENER, AND FOR CURING EPILEPSY!
THERE IS AN 11,000 FOOT HIGH PEAK. MY FAMILY DROVE THROUGH DEATH VALLEY DURING THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND OUR AIR CONDITIONER OVERHEATED SO WE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY HOT TRAVELS THERE. THE SAND WAS SO HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY BREATHE IN ONE SMALL TOWN. LUCKILY WE HAD PLENTY OF WATER. WE WENT ON A SHORT HIKE AND COULD HARDLY BEAR THE HEAT- VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE HEAT IN PHOENIX.
WHEN I WORKED FOR THE FOREST SERVICE OUR GROUP HAD A MEETING IN DEATH VALLEY AND I CAME DOWN WITH MY SON'S ILLNESS. WE EXPLORED THE TOWN OF RHYOLITE WHICH WAS BUILT @ 1902 FOR MINING RHYOLITE AS WELL AS GOLD. AT ONE TIME IT HAD ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE THERE. THERE WERE TWO RAILROADS BUILT TO THE TOWN AS WELL AND THEY PROBABLY SHIPPED THE MINERALS OUT TO LARGER CITIES.TODAY IT IS JUST A RUINS IN THE DESERT.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment