Our EXPLORATION to Bickel Camp, Mojave Desert

Описание: During our Christmas Break we headed out to the Desert close to Ridgecrest, Ca where we Explored Bickel Camp!

Bickel Camp was founded in the early 1930’s by Walt Bickel, a heavy equipment mechanic and machinist in search of some solitude. Walt prospected the surrounding canyons which are heavily mineralized due to the Garlock Fault. He became versed in geology, mining, botany and Indian affairs in order to survive the long desert days and nights. During World War II, Walt invented tools to assist soldiers in battle, and received military decoration for his efforts. In the early 1980’s the BLM began a crackdown on squatters and drug labs that littered the Mojave Desert. Overwhelming public support was effective in saving Walt’s camp from demise, but Walt suffered a stroke that hospitalized him to nearby Ridgecrest until his death in 1996. Walt’s son in law assumed occupation of the camp, and became somewhat a success at mining himself, but he eventually returned to his family in Hesperia in 2004. Bickel Camp has since been protected and occupied by a handful of volunteer caretakers and the founding of “The Friends of Last Chance Canyon”.