Ogilby Road, California

What better way than at the "Center of the World" to start off Road Trip #34 the first of 2021.

Boondocking with Per and Susanne off Ogilby Road

Ogilby had been a small town of workers for the American Girl Mine and a loading area for the Southern Pacific Railroad. All that remains of Ogilby is the foundation of the school house and the cemetery established in 1878.

American Girl Mine

American Boy Mine

Pasadena Mine

Guadalupe Mine

Cargo Mine

Graffiti Hill

Unlike regular graffiti, at Valley of Names messages are spelled out by carefully arranging rocks and small boulders in the hard-packed white sand.

The sheer isolation could begin to explain why so many people over the years have left their marks there. Across the bone-dry hills are hundreds of examples of rock graffiti—black stones laid out to form names, dates and other details. Perhaps it’s a way for visitors to prove they survived the 100-plus-degree temps and rugged terrain that define the region. No one knows for sure how the markings began, although a common theory is that it all started when General George S. Patton set up Camp Young, the headquarters for the Desert Training Center, in the early 1940s. It was there that he prepared soldiers for battle as part of the North Africa campaigns of World War II, gearing them up for desert warfare.

Per and Susanne surprised us with one they had done a few years ago.

The Narrows

This canyon in the desert is referred to as Unnamed Stream. Locals call it The Narrows.

There are several walking only slot canyons off of Unnamed Stream.

We made arrangement for a Jeep run with Gary & Mary who winter at Sunbeam Lake. They also brought their friends, Ken & Sherri, a couple of locals to show us the points of interest. 

Ancient Indian Sleeping Circle

 A circular formation of larger rocks in midst of small ones, which anthropologists say were foundations for shelters built by prehistoric Indians.

Indian water hole called " Tenaja"

Kane's Copper Mine

 In and around 1920-1940 Kane went out and started mining copper.  Kane built all the road in and out of his mines by himself.

He carved out these caves for living in.

We made a big loop to 5 of Desert Wildlife’s animal drinkers.

Drinkers are systems that catch and store water from rain and to be utilized by wildlife in dry periods. These supplemental water catchments can help keep wildlife in the general vicinity and healthier throughout the year, especially in the hot summer months.

Arrowweed Drinker

Horny Owl Drinker

Indian Pass Arches

On the western edge of the Picacho Peak Wilderness is a trio of arches called the Indian Pass Arches which can be accessed in a day hike from Indian Pass Road. This hike will take 2-3 hours and the arches are located at about 1200' elevation.

Celebrating Per's 55th Birthday today

Our first ever cake break.  We were treated to Drømmekage.

Translation: Danish Dream Cake

The large boulder was used as an anchor for the cable.