January 4, 2011 ~ THE DESERT-MOHAVE NAT'L PRESERVE
About 50 miles northwest of Needles California in the Mohave National Preserve is the underground cave system of Mitchell Caverns. The history of the stalactite and stalagmite formations begins millions of years ago, and is an interesting story. Visit www.mitchell-caverns.com if you’d like to learn more. Discovered by Jack Mitchell while out prospecting for silver, the Cavern’s have been turned over to the California State Park system. Mitchell’s home, an old rock abode that blends perfectly with its surroundings, is now the visitor center. It isn’t as big as Arizona’s Kartchner Caverns, but is still worth visiting. Tours are only offered on weekends, and with the Saturday tour sold out when we arrived, we were fortunate to be invited to join a friendly, considerate family for a private tour. As I tried to photograph the challenging underground scenery, I trailed behind the group and was disciplined by the park ranger for not keeping up. Hence, I wasn’t able to get the photos I wanted. Our visit is pictured in the “Mohave National Preserve” album. Just north of the Caverns also in the National Preserve, we discovered ‘Hole-in-the-Wall’, an area of unusual rock formations. During millions of years of volcanic eruptions, uneven cooling and gases created holes in the layers of lava and ash. Erosion enlarged the holes, and over time, wind and rain transformed the landscape into its present condition. The caverns and narrow canyons between these rock walls are a fun place to explore, and with the help of metal rings mounted in the rocks on the Rings Trail, it’s possible to ascend down into the canyon for a walk along its floor. See you in a bit for more desert fun!
Comments