Bickel Camp Caretaker

Bickel Camp and its cabin is a historic 1930's era mining camp close to Ridgecrest, California, in the El Paso Mountains. Thanks to the Garlock fault, geothermal action, and other geological events, the El Paso Mountains are a picturesque, colorful, and mineralized area. Ancient Indians revered Black Mountain, the highest elevation within the El Paso range at just over 5000 feet. The Indians left an abundance of petroglyphs, tool chippings and house rock rings in the area.

Follow this Link for Map, travel suggestions, and road condition information before venturing to see the camp.

The current caretaker duties at Bickel Camp consists of simply becoming familiar with the life of Walt, and explaining to those visitors to the camp the work and interests of Walt that are so evident at the camp. The camp offers a unique area to observe the fauna and flora of the High Mojave desert. At 3500 feet it's generally cooler than surrounding valley areas. Running water though is not present, so numerous containers and trailers with a support group of volunteers are used to keep drinking and bathing water available. There is an older RV onsite for the caretaker to use, and a generator for power. The salary for the caretaker is unfortunately limited at this time, at $200 a month it's basically only enough to pay for gas into Ridgecrest once a week for supplies. Cell phone coverage is spotty within the area. Different carriers have varying capabilities. Propane is used for heating in the winter. Outdoor latrine usage is also necessary in this remote environment.

The BLM and the camp overseers (Friends of Last Chance Canyon - a recently founded non profit corporation 501(c)3), have a unique agreement to preserve and protect the antiquities at this site. It is anticapated that further caretakers will be needed both to suppliment the Bicked Camp and to establish another caretaker at Burro Schmidt's Tunnel ( see website links) which is located nearby. Additional funding for the caretaker position is actively being pursued by our members.

If you'd like to help in watching over and learning about this unique mining camp, please contact Chuck at info@burroschmidttunnel.org Thanks!