Posted by David A. Wright on August 29, 1999 at 19:08:51:
In Reply to: help posted by pat on August 29, 1999 at 16:59:20:
REPLY
There was a camp in Shepherd Canyon that archaeologists have recently been working on. It was a sizable camp, based around a stamp mill. I have not heard of the name associated with the camp.
One of the earliest roads serving the Coso area ran down the west side of the Argus Range and descended through the difficult passage of Shepherd Canyon. The road, built by John Shepherd in 1876, provided a route for produce from the Owens Valley to reach the mines further east. The road survived until 1909, when it was substantially destroyed in Shepherd Canyon by a flash flood. I've also read that Pete Aguereberry, of Harrisburg fame, drove the last stage down the canyon in 1912.
There was also a sizable camp at Arondo (or sometimes known as Orondo), which is farther south in the first canyon north of Homewood Canyon. Inyo County recognized the district very early in its history, a voter precinct was established there until early in this century.
Millspaugh was another small camp, founded by A.M. Millspaugh. It was situated just west of the Argus Range crest in Junction Valley. However, this is now within the boundaries of China Lake Naval Weapons Center.
All roads are most definitely 4x4 and possibly completely gone now due to recent flashflooding. I've heard that most Argus Range roads are now useless to anything with an engine and not connected to a winch.
A good link to some of the history and artifacts still found within China Lake Naval Weapons Center can be found on the Web at: http://www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/~epo/tar.html#TOP
You might also contact BLM in Ridgecrest at (760) 384-5400 as they have jurisdition on all the east side of the Argus Range outside of China Lake.