We had a wonderful field trip to the Whittier claim and Mule Canyon about 10 minutes from Barstow California. The North Orange County club sponsored the joint Field Trip with the Monterey Park, Puente, and Whittier Clubs. The NOC and other clubs camped at the RV park right next to Calico Ghost Town. The RV Camp has 261 Tent, RV Sites, Cabins and a Bunkhouse. Others camped at the Whittier Claim and at the Paul Bunyon sites.

Friday, October 22nd.

     The weather was fantastic when I arrived. Being the first one there, I had to wait for the field trip leader, Don Eschbach, to find out where to pitch my tent. It was to be next to his RV. Boy was that a task, it took 5 people to figure out how the tent went together. On friday afternoon, we enjoyed a fun day at the Calico Ghost Town. Admission is $6 and free to those registered at the RV site. We went through many shops, an old mine shaft, and enjoyed a shootout between two bad guys and a sheriff.

     Friday night, Robert Hilburn - a Paleonotologist and President of the Mojave River Valley Museum in Barstow - presented a slide show on the geology of the Calico/Mule Canyon area, desert animals, and desert flowers. Then we enjoyed a nice camp fire. Campers arriving late at night made it hard to sleep.

Saturday, October 23rd.

     The group and Robert met at the entrance to Calico Ghost town. We were led to the Whittier claim by Jay Valle who had a key to the gate. Robert again gave a lecture to the group on the Calico/Mule Canyon area. Then, the group searched through the claim for Honey Onyx. Bill Burns honked the horn three times, and we went on to an other area to look for jasper. We had lunch about 11:30, and decided to go on to Mule Canyon. It was perfect weather for rockhounding, no wind, clean air, and moderate temperature.

     When we arrived at the entrance to Mule Canyon, large portions of the road was washed out by the previous rain storm. The pasengers in one car that did not have 4-weel drive loaded into another car and off we went. As we stopped along the way, Robert described the geology of the Canyon. We stopped at the entrance of the old borax mine. We ventured up the gully leading to the borax mine. There was an abundance of minerals to collect. We saw a rock foundation for a railroad crossing built by Chinese Coolies in the 1800rds. Further along, we saw Elephant foot prints on the side of the mountain.

     On the other side of Mule Canyon, we searched the area near the Early Man site for Agate and Petrified Palm Wood. The day ended with a Pot-Luck Dinner Get-Together in the Calico RV area. Don Warthern strummed the guitar and we joined in signing.

Sunday, October 24th.

     We met up with members of the Whittier Club at 9 am and went to one of Bill Burns favorite sites for rockhounding. After collecting in his favorite area, it was time to return home.

     For myself and the group, I would like thank Don & Kathy Eschbach for leading a wonderful field trip.