California Desert

Much further south on the Salton Sea is Bombay Beach. This pictures is taken from the top of the levee protecting the town from the sea.

Pelicans at Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea

This was one of four plaques along CA-62 that honored and described the WWII training bases that were in the area. This was for Iron Mountain Divisional Camp that was here from 1942 to 1944. The plaques were contributed by the organization e Clampus Vitus and were installed in cooperation with BLM. All four of the plaques have been ripped off, possibly by metal thieves. This original plaque can be seen at

Plaque for Camp Rice (see adjacent picture). Thankfully e Clampus Vitus has preserved the history of the area.

Site of Camp Rice, a training center during WW II. CA-62 is a primary route for people heading to the Colorado river for recreation -- few of whom probably know that they are traveling through an area that was once covered with tents and the equipment of those training for combat in WWII. A check of the map (satellite view) will show the lines of the original camp roads.

Apron (parking and maintenance area) of former Rice Army Airfield. Looking up the Rice airfield on the web reveals three interesting facts. One is that the airfield had been one of about a dozen airfields that had been used in the desert for training during WW II, and then abandoned. A second was that the airfield was much larger than one would guess just based on the immediately visible evidence from this viewpoint. The third was the reminder of how permanent is construction in the desert. A look at the satellite view (see map) will show this large concrete pad, plus some nearby abandoned buildings, plus the outline of very long runways that were asphalt (see adjacent picture). Though this and related pictures may look drab, I document these areas because of the importance of reflecting on what it was like to be here in the vast and empty desert, learning to fly and preparing for combat missions (and possible death) in WW II. Note that plans have been announced to convert the former airfield to a solar energy plant

Remaining flooring of some building that was relatively near the apron of the Rice Army Airfield (abandoned).

This may look boring, but it has historic importance. Quite a bit east of Twentynine Palms, on CA 62, is the former town of Rice. There are no remains of the actual town of Rice but there are remains of an airfield. Looking up the Rice airfield on the web revealed three interesting facts. One was that the airfield had been one of about a dozen airfields that had been used in the desert during WW II and then abandoned. A second was that the airfield was much larger than one would guess just based on the immediately visible evidence. The third was the reminder of how permanent is construction in the desert. Even though very much of the airfield was apparently unpaved, quite a bit of the unpaved structure remains visible -- particularly in the satellite view (see map). From the ground, the remainder of some of the buildings are visible and a large aircraft parking area on the north end. But if you compare other markings on the ground to recent satellite photos of the site, you can clearly still tell the location of various taxiways even though the airport was decommissioned at least 50 years before these pictures were taken. This picture is of the only visible paved area of the airport, a large pad with tie-down rings, on the north end. In the satellite photo, this is the white pad on the north end. Despite the featureless quality of these pictures, it is important to step back in time and reflect on what it was like to be here in the vast and empty desert, learning to fly and preparing for combat missions (and possible death) in WW II. This would have been the late afternoon view of many who were training for war. **** In January, 2013, plans were announced to convert the former airfield to a solar energy plant

You have to look close to see why this is important...One of the runways or taxiways at the former Rice Army Airfield. The airfield was abandoned 50 years ago, but runways are still visible. Though not readily evident in this picture, the pavement seen here is a total of about 30' wide. See description of the airfield in an adjacent picture.

On the upper, eastern edge of the basin that forms the Salton Sea, are the Coachella Canal and the Chocolate Mountains. For any who have read my webpages, you'll know that I have many mixed emotions about water and land use policy in the West. Seeing the irrigation of large parts of California (or any Western state) that are basically arid (less than 3 inches/year in Imperial County) so as to grow water-intensive crops seems exceedingly wasteful. But I temper the consequent frustration with the realization that the history of mankind has been one of tinkering with water in very improbable locations (e.g., Egypt and the Nile).

"Desire, Obtain, Cherish" On abandoned store / cafe near Corvina RV Park on Salton Sea.

Corvina RV Park on Salton Sea.

On the back side of an abandoned store near Corvina RV Park on Salton Sea.

Interesting metal cutout of a covered wagon, used as an address marker. In Daggett, population 200, which is typical of the mining/railroad/military boom and bust cycles of desert towns.