Burro Schmidt’s Tunnel and Bickle Camp

Burro Schmidt’s Tunnel and Bickle Camp:

Last month we had set out to see a particular mining tunnel but had to abandon the plan because we went ill prepared. The rough dirt road required a four wheel drive which we didn’t take that day. This week both kids were home and I bargained with them to do this trip which they were not inherently interested in. We set out by 7:30 am today. The route through the Tehachapi mountains and Mojave desert has become so frequent lately that probably the trees and rocks along the way must have started recognizing me! 

Taking the Redrock Randsburg road off State Highway 14 we drove past Saltdale to Mesquite Canyon Road. Here began the 7 mile stretch of unpaved road. I was behind the wheel all the time and besides watching the million rocks, pebbles and ditches I was also fending off the zillion doubts and whining comments from the family for choosing this destination that was in the middle of nowhere. Someone was worried about the damage that would happen to the car, another one worried we would be in deep trouble if we got a flat tire, a third person’s concern was nobody would find us if anything went wrong as we had no phone service to call for help. Despite these additional woes I “managed“ them skillfully and brought them faithfully to the doorstep of the tunnel. There were 2 cars parked in from of the tunnel entrance and 3 men were getting ready to enter the site. We exchanged hello-s . They were on their way ahead of us while we got our helmets on and flashlights before locking our car and proceeding into the tunnel.

The entrance was tiny and we had to bend to enter inside. Once inside however there was enough room to stand or walk without bending. It is a 6 feet high and 10 feet wide tunnel that runs half mile deep. It is pitch dark inside. The flashlights illuminated the walkway for us. It was remarkably clean ( no rubbish/ trash thrown around) except for the natural dust and rocks. Solid granite rock of the El Paso mountain formed the wall and roof of this tunnel. In the mid part we came across a rail track that was installed to haul gold ore. At the other end the tunnel opened to a high ledger on the mountain that offered breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the Koehn Dry Lake in the distance. 

Now here’s the bit that makes this tunnel special. A gold prospector by the name of William “Burro “ Schmidt had a claim on this mining land and dug this tunnel single-handedly using hand tools !! It took him 38 years to dig it from one end to the other. So persistent was he in carrying out this mission that at the end of it he had lost interest in mining gold. The tunnel had become his passion and obsession. The Bureau of Land Management owns this land today and has designated it as a place of Historical Importance, dedicating it to William Schmidt for his extraordinary perseverance. 

After enjoying family time walking through the tunnel and the view at the end of it, we walked back into the open where our car was. The earlier group of men had already left the place. There were 2 new vehicles parked in the place and 2 couples were unpacking their lunch there. One family was visiting from Texas and the other was from Bakersfield. They had noticed the license plate on our car earlier and struck up a conversation. I was intrigued by their All Terrain Vehicles( ATVs) and was asking them questions about it. One of the ladies was so kind she offered me to put on her helmet and take pictures riding the vehicle!! How nice was that !! We chatted for a while before taking leave.

On the way out we stopped to take a look at another place of Historical Importance called the Bickle Camp. This was established by another gold prospector who made it his home for 50 years. This too was to be taken over by the BLM but friends and supporters of Walter Bickle persuaded to let it remain as a museum and allow a caretaker to remain on the property. The place tells the story of a man who was very resourceful, mechanically inclined and loved nature.

The sites were truly interesting and the landscape simply gorgeous. Which is why, despite the rough drive in and out of the place, the family at the end of the day voted it to be a day well spent. 

Saree is an oft repeated customized Ajrakh print on Vidarbha Karvati kinar tussar( you can tell it is a favorite because I wear it so often).