RED CLOUD MINE ROAD, CA

[field Naturalist]

From the field desk of KG6GIA

Not so long ago, I took a short stop-off at the Chuckawalla mountains to see the RED CLOUD.
I use to work an fly this area extensivly in the 1980's and 90's.
My dog was getting hyper so I told her to try her hand, "PAW", at driving.
Good thing she can't reach the peddles.

I let my dog try her hand, PAW, at driving but she can't reach the peddles.

Dog driving-RS.jpg (454.77 KiB) Viewed 5956 times

There are many trails and roads back in this area, so the use of GPS and a good paper map are a must.
Much of the area to the east of the old Kieser Mine railroad tracks are now a reserve and there are BLM marker
signs set up near or along the boundarys.

Example of more common new signs

BLM sign-RS.jpg (352.9 KiB) Viewed 5959 times

Old camps are found along the road as it heads east-south east into the hills.
Old cars and discarded cans and beds, stoves and spent ammo, are not uncommon.

TRAFFIC...If I wait long enough it will rust out of my way.

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This excavation is found along part of the eastern road going to the Red Cloud Mine site.
There are other mines and ruins throughout this area, some are only rock walls or rusty remains.

RED CLOUD MINE RUINS

Mine site-RS.jpg (545.33 KiB) Viewed 5955 times

The minerals found here are associated with Quartz viens containing various metals found now in the tailings.
Many of the holes are deep and unfenced; also the tunnels are caved in and unstable; KEEP OUT.

Stay away from this stuff, "CYANIDE", as it can kill or make you very sick.

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There are other dangers about in places like this area. Rare yet not too-strange, are these Chem tanks.
They were once used to process the mineral ores and then the waste was dumped into the wilderness...
yep, BAD STUFF.

This stuff kills simply by touching it. It's called CYANIDE.
If you see drums, or old pink color sand...stay away. In the old days , people were not as careful with the environment.

old cynide spill-RS.jpg (1.14 MiB) Viewed 5955 times

Lower down the canyon are wonderful outcrops of exposed, water polished boulders.
These used to be beach sand before it was reheated and altered by geologic forces.

Some of the WAY COOL Migmatite rocks and metamorphic out crops of geology in the canyon are worth the visit.

metamorph sand-RS.jpg (527.63 KiB) Viewed 5948 times

Nice Spiny stuff out there, Cactus of many kinds.

GREAT Ocotillos , should be blooming by late Feb. or March.

Ocotillo cactus-rs.jpg (488.84 KiB) Viewed 5947 times

On a final note, the road does get sandy half way up the canyon and there is Cell Phone service for the first part of the
backcountry next to Chucawalla Peak. After the canyon becomes narrow, the HF is the only thing that might get out;
however, the ridge to the west is eventually accessable near the last mine ruins, and would be a fun place to do some quality
DXing on field day. You can drive almost to the top and the end of the canyon far south-east of the mine.

WHAT PAINT ? hey it's a badge of courage... or NOT.

Tight fit-RS.jpg (421.56 KiB) Viewed 5947 times

[BlueFJ]

Nice write-up! Looks like an interesting area!

[gon2srf]

Nice write up, thanks. Love your trooper, one of my favorite past vehicles. Tons of storage and sleeping area and as reliable as any I have ever owned.

[big dave]

Sweet this is one of the places ive been planning to visit when i run around the Desert Center area this spring.

[cruiserlarry]

Nice write up.

It is amazing there is any wilderness left, when you look at the stuff we did to these areas before we knew better...well, before most of us knew better...

[OLLIE]

Late post... Great write-up. I need to chec that area out sometime. There are just soooooo many to see.