Change in plans-- is there anything of numismatic interest near Ft. Irwin, CA?

Longacre

In a previous post, I inquired whether there is anything of numismatic interest in Monterey, CA. Many people answered, and graciously offered to meet up for dinner, golf, and some coin chat. I had visions of playing Pebble wtih Notwilight, Spyglass with SanctionII, Poppy Hills with WTCG, and taking some of Fletcher's cash on any other golf course in the area. My reason for being in CA involved my brother in law, a JAG officer in the Army, who was going on assignment there.

Unfortunately, things have changed and he will now be assigned to Ft. Irwin, CA. I did a Yahoo map search and it looks like there is NOTHING for hundreds of miles around the base. I attached a link below (hopefully it works). It looks like it is in the middle of the desert, and at least 200 miles from Las Vegas. Does anyone know of anything of numismatic interest in that area? Any golf, or am I out of luck?




Map

Ft. Irwin

WTCG

Fort Irwin is in the middle of the Northern Mojave Desert, and there is almost no civilization within a 100 mile or so radius, much less with anything of numismatic interest. Your closest towns are Barstow and Ridgecrest/ Inyokern. Barstow is basically an overgrown truck stop/ meth production center halfway between L.A. and Las Vegas. Ridgecrest/ Inyokern is so remote that probably only a handful of California or Nevada residents have ever been there.

There is no golf in that area as the area as a whole is one of the poorest and dryest regions of California, although there may be a few Indian Casinos scattered around. There isn't much water around either. An interesting fact...because of military activity all commercial flights between San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose and Las Vegas fly around the area (mostly in a north route) even though Edwards AFB/ Fort Irwin/ China Lake sits directly between the two areas. Commercial aircraft communications are even handled by Edwards AFB control for a short time before being handed off to Los Angeles ARTCC Center.

Fort Irwin really is in the middle of nowhere, and you are a bit out of luck. Hope you get a rental car as that's pretty much your only escape.

ziggy29

There isn't much of anything of *any* interest near Fort Irwin. Sorry.

Elcontador

The closest thing worth visiting is Death Valley, and I wouldn't recommend a visit in December or January.

numisma

Actually, you guys are incorrect. Heritage just opened a branch office right in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Longacre, you should stop by and view some auction lots. It is easy to find: turn right at the cactus, past 3 cattle skulls, then a sharp left at the buzzard.

Preussen

Fort Irwin is a true garden spot, and I recall Barstow being a hotbed of activity, too. I spent three weeks playing soldier there during the summer of 1978 - Preussen

Longacre

Bummer! Although the Heritage pic is pretty funny.

notwilight

<< <i>The closest thing worth visiting is Death Valley, and I wouldn't recommend a visit in December or January. >>



I rode my motorcycle up to death valley and camped out last christmas. I remember sunrise was beautiful. The weather wasn't bad in the daytime--about freezing at night. Also, the drive up 395 is very scenic offering views of the rugged eastern sierra. You can drive up several roads to trailheads and hike around or get as adventurous as you want, again, not best in wintertime. The Alabama hills above Lone Pine are covered with very familiar looking wagon trails--this is where all the old westerns were filmed.

There is one plain vanilla golf course in Lone Pine that I know of.

--Jerry

LindeDad

A lot of the tank crews in the big sand box, learned how to play the game out there. And BTW a lot of it is still a live fire range. You really want to stay out of that sand trap.

SanctionII

Actually, I am one of the few Californians (though I am a transplant from 28 years ago and not a native) who has been to Ridgecrest/InyoKern.

It is not as remote and unpopulated as you think. Lots of wide open spaces, but plenty of human presence, including China Lakes NAS. In July, 2005 my oldest son and I took a road trip from the SF Bay area to Ridgecrest and down south to Victorville. Took three days. The reason I went was to help some elderly clients of mine who inherited land in the Ridgecrest and Victorville areas from parents who had acauired same in the 1950's (the parents had a choice to invest in land in Ridgecrest and Victorville or Laguna Beach. They chose Ridgecrest and Victorville; OOPS, bad move on their part).

In any event my son and I took off from the Bay Area drove east through the Central Valley up into Yosemite, over Tioga Pass and down the eastern side of the Sierras to US 395 and Mono Lake. From there we headed South and passed through many towns along 395 until we got to Ridgcrest. On the way down 395 we passed through a town with a coin shop on the main street (my son refused to let me look and snoop unless I let him snoop around for card shops and video games). Alas I passed, but I regret doing so and vow to one day return. We stayed in Ridgecrest and the next day went to Victorville. Ridgecrest is bigger than I thought and Victorville is friggin huge (I understand the western edge of the high desert is growing by leaps and bounds and has over a million people living there). No doubt there are coin shops in Victorville. I do not know how fars Fort Irwin is from Victorville, but I would guess at least 150 miles.


Tell your brother to convince his superiors to reassign him to Monterey. Much more fun.

morgansforever

Ft. Irwin, CA is one ugly place, was stationed there, hope you like sand and heat. There is nothing there but Barstow, which is just a truck stop, and a store. Death Valley is a nice place for the whole family to visit, highs can reach 125 degrees F. In the field we actually fried eggs in a pan, on the hood of a HUMVEE. Have fun, watch out for the clear scorpions, they'll kill ya.

Konahead

<< <i>In a previous post, I inquired whether there is anything of numismatic interest in Monterey, CA. Many people answered, and graciously offered to meet up for dinner, golf, and some coin chat. I had visions of playing Pebble wtih Notwilight, Spyglass with SanctionII, Poppy Hills with WTCG, and taking some of Fletcher's cash on any other golf course in the area. My reason for being in CA involved my brother in law, a JAG officer in the Army, who was going on assignment there.

Unfortunately, things have changed and he will now be assigned to Ft. Irwin, CA. I did a Yahoo map search and it looks like there is NOTHING for hundreds of miles around the base. I attached a link below (hopefully it works). It looks like it is in the middle of the desert, and at least 200 miles from Las Vegas. Does anyone know of anything of numismatic interest in that area? Any golf, or am I out of luck?


The only thing out there is DIRT, lots of dirt!




Map

Ft. Irwin >>

skier07

I live in Southern Calfornia and am familiar, somewhat, with the Ft. Irwin area. It's ugly and you're right smack, dab
in the middle of the desert. Death Valley is probably around 150 miles away. This is actually a good time of the
year to visit, next to spring with the flowers blooming. There's a five star luxury resort in Death Valley with great golfing
and a nice spa. I think it's called the Furnace Creek Resort. In the summer it's way to hot to do anything outside in the
Mojave Desert. There aren't any Indian Casinos in the area . The closest casino is a small dump in Bishop.

Ridgecrest is actually a bigger town than most people think. The population of the surrounding area is probably
around 25,000 people.

If you ride up 395 you'll ride through the eastern Sierra's. There's too much snow and it's too cold to fish or hike and most
of the rodes are closed already. Mammoth Mountain, a ski resort, is around three hours away. Along 395 you'lll
go through multiple small towns with antique shops. I know in Bishop there is a pawn shop that sells coins, though
I have never stopped.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Bruce

shirohniichan

Gee, I guess I am the only one on this forum who likes the Fort Irwin area. I go out there a couple times a year to go shooting off Copper City Rd (on the way to Ft. Irwin from Barstow off Ft. Irwin Rd.). You won't find much coin collecting going on, but I've collected lots of 50 cal. and 20 mm shells and links from the 1940's when the Superior Lake bed was used as a strafing ground. There are also some cool Indian petroglyphs out there, too.

The Barstow train depot and Harvey House have been restored, in case you're into railroad nostalgia. That's on the way to Ft. Irwin Rd.

Even though I like the area, Monterey would have been a much nicer assignment.

SanctionII

Speaking of Barstow, in 1981 friends of mine from law school and I went to a Vegas wedding from So. Cal. On the way back we stopped in the Barstow area and visited the neighboring coummunity of Calico. It has some old mines nearby and is sort of a tourist trap. Well my friend and roomate, after looking around Calico and seeing masses of people who looked like the bad guys in the Mad Max movies, observed that in his opinion Calico looks like the playground of Barstow's effluent. Considering that Barstow is Barstow, you can imagine what its effluent denizens look like and how much fun they must have hanging out at Calico.

A definite place to avoid IMHO.

BlindedByEgo

Sorry to hear about the redeployment orders. I grew up and live in the soCal area, and Fort Irwin would not be in my top ten choices... But if you have lemons... Take a drive out the 58 to the town of Tehachapi - golf at Stallion Springs, Horsetheif is the name of the golf course - has an incredible par 5 with a split fairway. Dirtbike riding at Dove Springs or Jawbone Canyon, and incredible fishing up the 395 in the Eastern Sierra.

Watch out for the meth labs.

WTCG

I'll take credit for being the first person to point out the shortcomings of the town of Barstow. Barstow is a town that is reluctantly familiar to anybody who has driven between Southern California and Las Vegas. Unless you're stopping for a refill of gasoline or crystal meth there isn't a good reason to make a stop there.

Death Valley National Park is definitely worth visiting although it is wise to check the weather forecasts before doing so.

JapanJohn

OMG!! I spent three years at 29 Palms Marine Base and in Yucca Valley and Fort Irwin and Barstow make 29 Stumps look like the mecca of culture and civilization. Tell your brother to refuse his anthrax shot or something and try to get out of there.

John

RegistryCoin

Break out the trusty metal detector and hop along the Old Spanish Trail.