Ruark

Thanks, I'll post on Randy's forum later today or this evening.

It's still there; the bottom half was solid concrete. It's been there since near the turn of the century. Thanks, Ruark

This is just north of Silver Lake. You have Highway 127 going north from Baker, which is at 127/I15. You just go up 127 about 25 miles and on the right is Riggs Road, which appears to be little more than a dirt path through the desert. After about 4 miles it crosses CR 20554. If you'll look at that intersection in Satellite View, you'll see the old railroad bed and a couple of structures. One of these is Riggs Section House. Here it is in Google Maps: http://tinyurl.com/66mnzrr http://tinyurl.com/5uc3l8z I hope this clarifies where I'm trying to go. I don't want to hassle anybody, though. If nobody can make it, I'll just visit Jack's grave at the cemetery. Thanks, stay cool.

Hey there you guys! It's been a long time since I was here. If you do a search for "Ruark" you'll find the single thread a year or so back about finding Owl Hole Springs and Riggs Section house. It tells the story of my Uncle Bonnie McCullough, who was stranded with his wife and two babies when their Model T slipped off the timbers and stuck in the sand. He staggered through the desert and into Riggs Section House, where he passed out. Death Valley Jack Nickerson was there and was able to bring him around and rescue his family. This was in 1923. We tried to get somebody to take us out there, but my mother just couldn't take it. She was almost 90 years old. We put some stones on Jack's grave at Silver Lake Cemetery, but that was it, it was just too hot for her. Mother died last summer in an auto accident. The reason I'm bringing this up is that I will be back in Vegas July 11th through the 15th. I'm going to revisit the cemetery, and I'm wondering if Riggs Road is passable with a 2WD vehicle - I'll be renting something like a Corolla - up to the Riggs Section House where Riggs Road intersects with CR 20554. If not, is it possible I could find somebody to run me up there? I would pay them for gas and lunch. Just checking in, talk to you guys later. -Ruark

Is that grade the "CR 20554" that intersects it on Google Maps? You're right, a 4x4 would be called for - but I'd like to pay somebody that is familiar with the area to take us there. We'll gladly pay for his/her time and gas. The main mystery is, what route did they take after leaving Owl Hole Springs, and where did they go off the road? All we know (remember, this was back in 1923) is that it was a stretch where there were railroad ties laid lengthwise down the road. They slipped off of them and were stuck in the sand. This was in July, by the way. They stayed with the car for 3 days, and when his wife and babies (3 months and 18 months) became unconcious, he dragged them to a "nearby shack" and left for help. The only other thing we know is that it was nighttime when he staggered into the Riggs Section House and passed out on the floor. I don't know if he walked only at night, or what. In any case, I don't think he went off the road near Owl Hole Springs - that would have been WAY too far from the section house. Nobody in his condition could have walked that far. I'm guessing he was walking on or near 127 (which hadn't been paved at that time), saw a light at the section house in the distance, and headed for it. Thanks a bunch, Ruark

I wonder if it's the two buildings (one is the Riggs house) just to the left of Riggs Road's intersection with CR 20554: http://tinyurl.com/ych4nkl CR20554 looks like it could be along a railroad bed or something. I don't see anything else out there. Thanks, Ruark

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your joining in this conversation. In all fairness, it's not Owl Springs I'm trying to find; it's Riggs Section House. It IS out there somewhere. Apparently a LOT of people went through there in T's back in the 20's. I'm not sure what route they took, but it was apparently not uncommon. Uncle Bonnie ran into some spot where the railroad ties were laid LENGTHWISE on the road, just enough for the tires to roll over, and they slipped off of them. They waited there for THREE DAYS and were almost dead when he finally decided to try to go for help. His wife and the babies were unconcious when he dragged them to a nearby shack. They all spent 3 weeks in a hospital recovering. All I know is that it was that night when he staggered into the Riggs Section House and collapsed on the floor. As I said, when you do Google search for "riggs section house" you get ONE link, and it's here on the forum, from 2007. Here is a cut and paste of that post. Maybe somebody will know the spot he's talking about: -Thanks VERY much - Ruark ************************************************* (quoted message) When your headed to the North pole from camp, going through the flats, just keep going about another couple hundred yards past the north pole. You will come across a road that goes right off into the distance. You can's miss the road as it runs right beside the no offraod signs. follow that raod for @17 miles and you will be at the mines.(/quote) That's Riggs. Named after one of the owners of the mines if I remember correctly. The road you are talking about is the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad grade. It was built by Borax Smith in the early 1900's to get his borax out Death Valley. Valjean is about 10 miles south of Dumont before you got there. If you followed the grade a little ways south of the sort of valley containing the mines you came to the Riggs section house. Although it like the Sperry version was adobe the shorter walls of the Riggs version were cement so there is more left of it. Riggs like Sperry stored water in a cistern and it remains as well.

I'm new here, posting from Texas. I'm not a dune rider (but it looks like fun!), but I seriously need some help in locating something in the Dumont area from you guys. Let me explain: In 1923, my mother's uncle, "Uncle Bonnie" left Langsford with his wife, daughter and her two small babies. Heading east, they passed Leach's Point and Owl Hole Springs. This was in the hottest part of the summer, with no food or water. They didn't anticipate any problems (rolls eyes). At some point after passing Owl Hole Springs, they encountered a stretch of road that was surfaced with railroad ties, as some were back then to help people cross a sandy spot. Their car, probably a Model T (1923, remember), slipped off the edge of the ties and got hopelessly stuck in the sand. Uncle Bonnie got out of the car and it was so hot, he passed out and fell to the ground in a couple of seconds, and couldn't get back up. Finally he prayed for help, and the Lord must have heard him, because he then got up and started walking for help. The others walked over to an abandoned shack to get out of the sun and wait. It was after dark when Uncle Bonnie staggered through the front door of the Riggs Section House and collapsed on the floor, almost dead. "Death Valley Jack" Nickerson (who is buried in Silver Lake cemetery) was there. Nickerson held his ear down to Bonnie's lips. A few seconds later, he was speeding into the desert. All were saved, but they barely made it. Those two babies are in their 80's today. This March, my mother and I (she's 86, but tough as shoe leather) will be in Las Vegas visiting my father, and we want to make a side trip to that area. We want to try to reconstruct the route Bonnie took after leaving Owl Hole Springs, and if possible, find the place where he went off the road. I'm sure he went down what is now known as Saratoga Springs Road, but it's hard to tell. 1923 was a long time ago. Highway 127 was there, but hadn't been paved yet. But one thing WAS there: "Riggs Section House." I did a Google search for it, and ONE single link came up: a post on this forum, back in 2007, from a guy named "Duneshredder." I understand it had a lot of concrete in the walls and much of it is still standing. Obviously, it would be fantastic to find it. Can somebody here please help me locate exactly where it is, preferably on a map? Is it visible in Google Satellite View? I'm also checking around for somebody who could take us to Owl Springs. The roads to there are supposed to be well maintained, but we'll be in rented passenger car and it's never a good idea to take chances in the desert. I sincerely apologize for coming in here, not being a dune rider, but you guys are my ONLY hope to find that place. Thanks very much, Ron Morgan