Tecopa Springs 2003 Ride Season

The Tecopa Hot Springs ride on December 7 is the first true ride of the 2003 season in the west. The Silver State ride the previous weekend bridges the past ride season and the one to come by one day. Tecopa is a new ride in the desert near Death Valley put on by Steve and Michele Shaw. It's starting small with a combined 32 riders in the LD and 50 mile ride.

On the way to the ride I'm reminded that highways in the West always have interesting signs. There's "Win a free trip to Greece" at the Mad Greek Cafe with the world's best Gyros 40 miles ahead. Then there's Peggy Sue's 50s diner to consider. Everything out in the desert area of the west seems like it hasn't changed in many years - and will be the same 20 years from now. There's no homes, just RVs, trailers, and gas stops. Once you get off the Interstate, the roads are lonely with only an occasional RV or pickup on the road going straight off to the distant horizon and the blue mountains at dusk.

Ridecamp is in the town of Tecopa at a hot springs resort. There's good parking with RV hookups, hot showers, and the hot springs. At the ride meeting, Steve has the local BLM staff tell us about the endangered species with specific instructions about the Desert Tortoise. He describes the local animals and birds which live in the area. The area is unique with hot springs and a stream where date palms and alfalfa can be grown at nearby China Ranch. Other speakers talk about how the area came to be when oases of water and greenery like China Ranch became cut off from each other, like islands of life in a sea of barren desert. In some places unique types of plants and animals evolved and adapted to the circumstances of their particular "island." These oases also became important stop over points, and sometime destinations, for many species of migratory birds. At China Ranch more than 225 species have been logged, some coming from as far away as Central and South America. The ranch is also home to a large variety of other desert animals, including gray and kit foxes, bobcats, kangaroo rats and pack rats, coyotes, and cotton tail and jack rabbits. In all - the ranch we will ride thru the next day is not your normal desert.

The ride starts at the civilized hour of 7 AM with a loop of 7 miles out, around, and back thru camp for a trot by. Then it's out to one vet check at 38 miles and back to camp. We pass thru the vet check twice even though we only have to vet once. It gives us a chance to rest the horses before the 18 mile loop back to the same point. It's relatively flat in the valley with high hills around us which we don't get into much during the ride. We pass a lot history on this ride - from the China Ranch to the Tonopah & Tidewater railroad to the Old Spanish Trail to the old abandoned mines that made the town grow - then fade as the lodes played out. The only recent mining, for gypsum, finally left in the 1980's.

The trail takes us along a steep walled road with abandoned mines to the China Ranch. It's a family owned and operated small farm, a lush piece of greenery in the forbidding Mojave Desert of Southern Death Valley. There's towering cottonwoods and willows by a wandering stream, date palms and abundant wildlife, all hidden away in some of the most spectacular scenery the desert has to offer. The dates grown here will provide us with our completion awards in the form of date bread and assorted kinds of dates.

The trail is rocky at times - sandy at others. It's moderate in difficulty. The abandoned rail tracks had steep washouts at times where we pick our way carefully. Occasionally we can see other riders far across the desert - more by the dust rising from the horses trotting than from seeing the riders themselves. In most places - there's excellent water except for the one 18 mile loop in the middle. We pass the old gypsum veins running thru the clay hills and see many of the old wooden structures used in mining in the past.

On the way into camp near the end of the ride - we pass the "wild" hot spring which is open to anyone who wants to drive out and use it. There are several old battered pickups parked there and as we pass - I see a head visible above the waters sporting a cowboy hat. Steve mentioned at the ride meeting that we might see some naked people out at the wild spring but I'm just as happy that all we see is the cowboy hat this time...

After the ride - there's a potluck dinner with great barbecued chicken and ribs provided by ride management. There's a nice large fire for everyone to gather around for the awards. I've always liked this but most places in California are too dry to risk one in the summer. Our completion awards are the dates and date bread from China Ranch. The first and second place riders were Cheryl Dell and Linda Morelli with Linda's horse taking BC.

After the awards dinner - the hot springs were a very nice way to relax and loosen up some of the kinks in tired muscles from the ride. The family in the next tub had scented candles floating on the water when all five went in.

This first ride was one to convince the BLM staff that a 50 mile event could take place in their area safely and without damage to the environment. It went well and the ride managers plan to put the ride on again next year with a varied set of trails.

Driving back home I pass Zzyxz Road and wonder whether it's a sign of humor in the desert or something real. It turns out to be real and a fellow named Doc Springer chose the name Zzyxz for his resort on Soda Lake. The resort is now a research lab for Cal State University. Even out here in the desert with no one for miles there's always something to catch your eye along the road.

Steve and Michele - this was a nice first ride and a good start for the 2003 ride season. I plan to see you again next year in this unique setting.

Mike