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RECONNOITERING
IN THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA & GREAT BASIN |
Coso
Range Petroglyphs: China Lake Naval Weapons Center
January
22, 2000 / March 4, 2000
On January 22, 2000, I had the pleasant opportunity to go into China Lake Naval Weapons Center to view the fabled Renegade Canyon petroglyphs. I had been invited to go by Lonnie C., a workmate at IMC Chemicals in Trona, who is a licensed guide and able to take groups of 12 people. Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest also takes tours, but their groups are large and generally booked well in advance. Lonnie's tour was very special as we were a small group, we were able to go at our pace and Lonnie is a first class guide. A buddy from Ridgecrest, Rod H., went along with me in my truck, following Lonnie along with a couple other vehicles.
The route to the petroglyphs traverses paved and bladed dirt roads across the northern Indian Wells Valley along the eastern side of China Lake, up Mountain Springs Canyon, traversing the crest of the Argus Range into Etcherren Valley, then west over a pass into Wild Horse Flat to Renegade Canyon. The canyon cuts a shallow swath southwest before suddenly dropping off steeply down the southern face of the Coso Range into Indian Wells Valley.
After the trip, Howard G., a buddy from Bishop, heard of my trip and wanted to go to Renegade Canyon also. So during the next month, Howard coordinated a tour consisting of myself, himself and his friends from Bishop and the Los Angeles area. I coordinated with Lonnie to lead our group back into the Coso Range. On March 4, we all met at Denny's in Ridgecrest. Lonnie then took us to the main gate at the Naval Weapons Center, logged us in, and then we grouped up in several of our cars and trucks and took the 50 mile trip north, then west to Renegade Canyon. It was a cool day and a storm was advancing over the Sierra. Snow melt left behind a stream of water in the narrows of the canyon and we had passed through left over snow to get there. It was a beautiful trip.
Below are photos of my two trips. My photos can in no way replicate these Native American works of art.
Note: Due to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, trips into the Navy base had been curtailed. However, trips into the petroglyph site has been resumed. Call Maturango Museum at (760) 375-6900 for information.
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©2002, 2004,
2005, 2006 D.A. Wright
All Rights Reserved
Revised:
