Short Fuse Tour

Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: BOY, YOU TALK ABOUT THE WIDE OPEN SPACES.

THIS IS ABOUT AS WIDE AND ABOUT AS OPEN AS YOU CAN GET.

LOOK, IT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND.

I DON'T SEE A SINGLE SOUL, THERE'S NOT A CAR ON THIS HIGHWAY, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED, ISN'T IT, SHORT FUSE?

>> YOU BETCHA.

YOU BETCHA.

Huell: INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

I ALWAYS CALL YOU SHORT FUSE, BUT YOUR REAL NAME IS... >> BILL MANN.

Huell: BILL MANN, AND... >> CHUCK RADER.

Huell: NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

NOW, YOU'RE FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OUT HERE.

>> PART OF THE LUCERNE VALLEY MUSEUM ASSOCIATION.

Huell: OK, AND, SHORT FUSE, YOU'VE WRITTEN A LOT OF BOOKS ON THE DESERT AND WHAT'S OUT IN THE DESERT.

WE'VE DONE PROGRAMS TOGETHER BEFORE, BEEN ON ADVENTURES TOGETHER BEFORE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HAD A LOT OF FUN, AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN--GONNA HAVE A LOT OF FUN TODAY, AND IN THE FUTURE, TOO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT WE'RE DOIN' IS, WE'RE GONNA PROVE THAT WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT VERY BEATEN TODAY.

THERE'S NOBODY GOIN' UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.

>> KIND OF LONESOME.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY, BUT WHEN YOU HEAD DOWN THE ROAD IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, AND YOU JUST LEAVE THE ROAD, GET OFF THE ROAD, AND KIND OF START NOSIN' AROUND, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF NEAT, INTERESTING, HISTORIC, BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL...THERE'S JUST ALL KINDS OF STUFF TO SEE.

ISN'T THERE?

>> YOU BET, AND I SPENT 60 YEARS OF MY LIFE OUT HERE, RUNNIN' 'EM DOWN, AND THAT'S WHAT I PUT IN MY GUIDEBOOKS.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA GO SEE SOME OF 'EM TODAY.

Huell: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

WE'RE GONNA HEAD OUT ACROSS THE DESERT AND SEE WHAT THERE IS TO DISCOVER--THE BEAUTY, THE HIDDEN WONDERS.

WATCH OUT!

HERE COMES A CAR!

THAT'S THE FIRST ONE WE'VE SEEN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

BUT WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THIS MAIN THOROUGHFARE RIGHT HERE AND HEAD OFF INTO THE DESERT ON A TRUE DESERT ADVENTURE.

WE HAVE COME TO OUR FIRST DESTINATION HERE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LUCERNE VALLEY, AND, BOY, IT IS BEAUTIFUL, CHUCK, LOOKIN' BACK UP THERE.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKIN' AT BACK HERE?

THESE ARE THE SNOW-COVERED WHICH MOUNTAINS?

>> SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS.

JUST THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE IS BIG BEAR LAKE.

Huell: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.

OK, YOU BROUGHT US TO THE FIRST PLACE, AND I ASSUME THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT SOMETHING NATURAL TO THE DESERT.

NOW, TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, WALKIN' DOWN HERE, THERE'S ASPHALT, THERE'S GRAVEL, AND IT KIND OF CIRCLES AROUND, BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

WHERE HAVE YOU BROUGHT US?

>> WELL, THIS IS OUT IN ONE OF THE BOMBING TARGETS THAT WERE USED IN WORLD WAR II PRACTICE.

PROBABLY THE AIRPLANES MOSTLY OUT OF, UH, GEORGE AIR FORCE BASE OF OUT VICTORVILLE.

THESE ARE ASPHALT RINGS.

THIS IS THE OUTER RING OF A, UH, BIG TARGET.

THERE'S TWO MORE RINGS AND A CENTER POINT INSIDE.

Huell: A BOMBING TARGET.

Bill: YES, AERIAL BOMBING TARGET.

Huell: NOW, HOW DID THAT WORK?

DID THEY BRING 'EM OUT HERE JUST BECAUSE IT WAS SO DESERTED?

>> YES, BACK IN THE FORTIES, THERE WAS NOTHING OUT HERE.

NOTHING BUT OPEN DESERT, AND SO FOR THE SAFETY OF CIVILIANS AND STUFF, THEY BROUGHT 'EM TO A REMOTE AREA TO DROP THEIR BOMBS.

Huell: SO THEY WERE LITERALLY DROPPIN' BOMBS ALL AROUND THIS AREA.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THEY WERE AIMING, ACTUALLY, FOR THE MIDDLE, THE BULL'S-EYE.

Huell: IS THIS--ARE THESE BOMB-- ARE THESE BOMB FRAGMENTS RIGHT HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S THE TAIL OF ONE.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

60 YEARS IT'S BEEN LAYIN' OUT HERE.

Huell: NOT TOO GOOD A SHOT 'CAUSE THE CENTER'S OFF HERE SOMEWHERE.

Huell: BUT, LOOK, IT'S ALL--ALL OF THIS METAL OUT HERE, AND, SEE, TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT, YOU WOULD JUST THINK THAT THIS WAS...PART OF A, LIKE AN OLD TIN CAN OR SOMETHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, OVER HERE, THEY HAVE THE DETONATORS THAT, UH, UH... Huell: RIGHT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

THIS WOULD SET OFF A SMALL CHARGE, SO THAT--AND THEN THE BOMB WOULD HAVE LIKE POWDERED CHALK IN IT, AND THE CHARGE WOULD MAKE IT SO THE PILOTS COULD TELL WHERE THE BOMBS LANDED.

Huell: WOW.

SO THIS WHOLE CIRCLE, IT WAS A HUGE CIRCLE, WENT ALL AROUND OUT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S TWO MORE INSIDE IT.

Huell: SO IF WE WALK STRAIGHT IN HERE... >> WE'RE GONNA COME TO THE CENTER.

Huell: HERE'S THE SECOND CIRCLE, CLOSER TOWARD THE MIDDLE RIGHT HERE, AND WE'RE STILL SURROUNDED BY ALL OF THIS OLD METAL.

HERE IS THE SECOND CIRCLE.

ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT IT HAS SURVIVED ALL THESE YEARS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THROUGH ALL THE WINDSTORMS AND THE HEAT IN THE SUMMER.

IT'S AMAZING HOW LONG THINGS LIKE THIS WILL SHOW UP.

Huell: AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK STILL EVEN KNOW THAT THIS HAPPENED OR IS STILL OUT HERE?

>> NOT TOO MANY.

NOT TOO MANY.

UH, IT'S PRETTY REMOTE OUT HERE.

Huell: YEAH.

AND WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE UP IN THE SKY, LOOKIN' DOWN?

WOULD YOU-- YOU COULD STILL FIRMLY SEE THE CIRCLES, COULDN'T YOU?

>> BE A BULL'S-EYE.

JUST 3 RINGS AND A BULL'S-EYE.

Huell: WE HAVE REACHED THE BULL'S-EYE.

AND HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS THE BULL'S-EYE, CHUCK?

>> WELL, YOU SEE THIS WHITE ROCK HERE.

THEY SET A WHOLE PILE OF IT, PROBABLY, AND, UH, IT'S LIMESTONE, COMES FROM THE MOUNTAINS UP THERE, AND IT WOULD SHOW UP FROM THE AIR.

Huell: SO THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE AIMING FOR?

>> THAT WAS WHAT THEY WERE AIMING FOR.

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE HIT IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.

Huell: WELL, THERE'S SOME FRAGMENTS AROUND HERE, AND THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE AROUND HERE, SOMETHING YOU BROUGHT US.

IT'S KIND OF A PROP, BUT THIS IS HISTORIC 'CAUSE THIS IS AN ACTUAL BOMB.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE BOMBS.

I FOUND THAT YEARS AGO OUT IN THE DESERT IN A SAND WASH, AND, FOR SOME REASON, IT DIDN'T GET DAMAGED.

Huell: UH-HUH.

SO HOW MANY OF THESE BOMBING SITES WERE THERE RIGHT AROUND IN THIS AREA?

>> RIGHT IN HERE, THERE WAS 4.

THERE WAS ONE BACK OVER IN THIS DIRECTION, THIS ONE, ONE OVER IN THAT DIRECTION, AND ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE.

Huell: SO IF WE HAD BEEN OUT HERE DURING THE FORTIES DURING WORLD WAR II, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN PLANES GOING ALL IN AND OUT OF HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY HAD LOTS OF PLANES DROPPING LOTS OF BOMBS.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A GOOD IDEA TO BE STANDING HERE THEN.

Huell: BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN, HEADIN' DOWN ANOTHER DIRT ROAD HERE IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, AND LOOKIN' OUT OVER THE DESERT THERE OFF IN THE DISTANCE, SHORT FUSE TELLS US THOSE ARE THE COUGAR BUTTES OVER THERE WITH THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH THE SNOW ON 'EM.

WE'RE HEADIN' OUT ACROSS THE DESERT IN SEARCH OF DESTINATION NUMBER 2.

NOW THIS PLACE IS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND THE ROAD DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE GRADED, BUT I...I HAVE A FEELING NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE COME OUT THIS WAY.

DO THEY, SHORT FUSE?

>> THEY SURE DON'T.

JUST THE SERIOUS ROCK CLIMBERS AND NUTS LIKE US.

Huell: HA!

WELL SAID.

WE'RE ON TOP OF THE WORLD, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, IT WAS WORTH THE TRIP BECAUSE WE HAVE COME UP IN FRONT OF THIS AMAZING ROCK FORMATION, AND, CHUCK, HOW DO WE PUT THIS DIPLOMATICALLY?

WHAT WAS IT ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS SAID WHEN YOU BROUGHT HIM UP HERE?

>> WELL, IT'S KNOWN AS HERCULE'' FINGER, AND HE WAS TAKING A LOT OF PICTURES, AND WHEN HE GOT HOME AND DEVELOPED THEM, HE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE MOTHER NATURE WAS GIVIN' THE WORLD THE FINGER.

Huell: WELL, IT DOES KIND OF HAVE THAT LOOK ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, YEAH, IT KINDA DOES.

Huell: BUT THIS IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD AS A GREAT ROCK- CLIMBING PLACE, ISN'T IT?

>> OH, YEAH.

YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT HERE AND CLIMB ON IT.

IN FACT, THEY STILL GOT THOSE LITTLE PITONS OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT THAT THEY POUND IN THERE TO HANG ONTO.

THEY'RE STILL IN THERE.

Huell: DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THE LAST TIME YOU WERE UP HERE... >> YEAH, I COME BY, AND THERE WAS A GUY STANDING UP ON TOP OF IT.

Huell: ON THE VERY TOP?

>> ON THE VERY TOP.

IF IT WAS ME, I'D HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE ON MY BELLY, HANGIN' ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

Huell: WOW.

THAT'S A BIG ROCK FORMATION, SHORT FUSE.

>> YES, AND THOSE PITONS ARE STILL IN THERE, HUELL, AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO FROM ONE TO THE OTHER, AND THE FIRST THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE TOP.

Huell: HOW DID IT GET THE NAME HERCULES' FINGER?

>> WELL, THAT--IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG FINGER STICKIN' UP IN THE SKY, OR A THUMB MAYBE.

Huell: THAT'S IT?!

I THOUGHT THERE WAS GONNA BE SOME BIG LEGEND, SOME BIG PIECE OF LORE OR SOMETHING.

>> WELL, I'LL HAVE TO THINK UP SOMETHING.

I'M PRETTY GOOD AT COMIN' UP WITH AN INDIAN LEGEND.

I DO THINK IT'S A SACRED PLACE BECAUSE I FOUND SOME ROCK SHELTERS IN THE AREA THAT SHOW SIGNS OF HAVING PREHISTORIC MAN CAMPING UNDER 'EM IN THIS AREA.

I CAN'T SEE WHY THEY'D BE HERE UNLESS THEY CAME UP TO WORSHIP THIS ROCK FORMATION.

Huell: WELL, I GOTTA TELL YOU.

WHEN YOU ARE UP HERE AND YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY THIS FORMATION, WITH THE COLORS, WITH THE LIGHT HITTIN' IT LIKE IT'S HITTIN' IT RIGHT NOW, IT REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE A SACRED PLACE, DOESN'T IT?

Chuck: WELL, YOU'LL KNOW THAT EVERY TIME YOU FIND SOMETHING UNUSUAL LIKE THIS, THE INDIANS USUALLY HAD SOME SORT OF RELIGIOUS DEAL FOR IT.

Huell: YEAH.

>> UH, THEY KNEW 'EM ALL.

THEY KNEW 'EM ALL.

Huell: LOOKIN' BACK AT THE AREA THERE WHERE WE JUST VISITED HERCULES' FINGER, WE HAVE NOW TRAVELED ACROSS THE DESERT.

CHUCK, HOW FAR HAVE WE COME?

>> PROBABLY ABOUT 20 MILES BY ROAD.

Huell: BECAUSE I ALWAYS GET TOTALLY LOST OUT HERE.

YOU COULD MAKE A WRONG TURN AND BE IN TROUBLE OUT HERE, COULDN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

THEY MAY BE LOOKIN' FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE THAT.

Huell: AND THEY'RE STILL TRYIN' TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY?

>> THEY'RE STILL LOOKIN'.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OUT HERE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO VISIT THIS PLACE.

IT'S GOT A SIGN OUT HERE.

"UPPER JOHNSON VALLEY YUCCA RINGS PRESERVE--AN AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN."

SHORT FUSE, LET'S WALK OVER HERE AND TELL ME WHAT IT IS WE'RE LOOKIN' AT.

AND I'M GLAD THEY'VE GOT IT FENCED OFF BECAUSE IT PROTECTS IT AGAINST PEOPLE AND AGAINST ANIMALS AND... Bill: WILD BURROS.

Huell: WILD BURROS.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKIN' AT RIGHT HERE.

>> YOU'RE LOOKIN' AT A RING OF YUCCA PLANTS THAT STARTED FROM A SINGLE SEED 2,100 YEARS AGO, AND AS THE ROOTS WENT OUT AND THEY CAME UP, EACH ONE OF THOSE YUCCA PLANTS ARE IDENTICAL WITH THEIR DNA, AND, UH, MAKES A REALLY NICE RING.

Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.

THESE GO BACK 2,100 YEARS.

HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE THAT OLD?

>> WELL, THEY--THEY CAN DO IT BY FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH THEY GROW EACH YEAR AND HOW MUCH THEY TRAVEL.

THEY COMPUTED IT THAT WAY.

Huell: NOW, IS THIS HIGHLY UNUSUAL?

IS THAT THE BIG DEAL THAT THEY'RE SO OLD AND THAT THEY HAVE FORMED SUCH A PERFECT CIRCLE?

>> YES, IT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL THAT THEY WOULD DO IT LIKE THAT.

THERE'S YUCCA OUT HERE OVER THE DESERT, BUT FOR SOME REASON IN THIS AREA, THEY FORM CIRCLES LIKE THIS, AND IT'S QUITE RARE.

THAT'S WHY THEY FENCED IT.

Huell: NOW, ARE ALL OF THESE OTHER LITTLE CLUMPS OUT HERE, ARE THESE ALL YUCCA CIRCLES, OR IS THIS JUST THE ONLY ONE RIGHT HERE?

>> WELL, THIS IS THE BEST ONE, AND SOME OF THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL PLANTS WHERE THEY HAVEN'T STARTED TO TRAVEL, BUT, UH, THERE ARE SOME OTHER RINGS IN HERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT AS PERFECT AS THIS ONE.

Huell: AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING WAS YOU WERE TELLIN' ME THAT THE MAIN REASON THEY PUT UP THIS FENCE WAS NOT JUST TO KEEP HUMANS FROM VANDALIZING THIS AREA, BUT TO KEEP THESE THINGS FROM BEING EATEN.

>> THAT'S 10-4.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN A BURRO OR A CHIPMUNK OR SOMETHING GETS REAL HUNGRY, THEY WOULD CHEW ON THESE STALKS, AND THE BURROS ESPECIALLY.

YOU CAN SEE UP HIGH ON THE STALKS WHERE SOME OF 'EM ARE NIBBLED OFF.

Huell: WELL, THEY COULDN'T BE TOO TASTY.

>> WELL, I GUESS IF YOU'RE HUNGRY ENOUGH AND YOU'RE A BURRO, THAT MAKES A SALAD FOR YOU.

Huell: AND DRIVIN' OVER HERE IN THE CAR, YOU WERE TELLIN' ME A GREAT STORY ABOUT HOW THE NATIVE AMERICANS USED TO USE THESE.

>> OH, THE NATIVE AMERICANS USED ALMOST EVERYTHING HERE.

THE FIBERS IN THE--IN THE, UH, SPEARS, THEY WOULD POUND THOSE AND SEPARATE THE FIBERS FROM THE PULP, AND THEY'D USE THOSE FIBERS TO MAKE THEIR MOCCASINS AND BASKETS AND MATS.

I HAVE FOUND IN SOME OF THE ROCK SHELTERS OUT HERE FRAGMENTS OF THE MATS THAT THEY MADE.

THEY ALSO USED, UH, THE JUICE TO MAKE SOAP AND, UH, MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

THEY EVEN, UH, SOMETIMES WOULD TAKE THE SPEAR AND MAKE THE END FUZZY AND USE 'EM AS TOOTHBRUSHES.

Huell: WOW!

THEY DID USE EVERYTHING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN WHEN THE YUCCA DIES AND IS WELL MATURED, THEY USED 'EM FOR FIREWOOD IN THEIR LITTLE, UH, WICKIUPS BECAUSE THEY'RE REAL FIBROUS.

THEY BURN SLOW AND GLOW AND PUT OUT HEAT, UH, IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN THEY NEEDED IT.

SO THEY USED EVERYTHING.

Huell: HOW DID YOU FIND THIS OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?

>> WELL, I LED MUSEUM TRIPS FOR THE MOJAVE RIVER VALLEY MUSEUM FOR 25 OR 30 YEARS, AND WE USED TO HAVE, UH, TRIPS WITH LUCERNE VALLEY PEOPLE AND THE BIG BEAR PEOPLE, AND, UH, WE WOULD SHOW THEM SIGHTS IN THE BARSTOW AREA, AND THEY'D SHOW US SIGHTS IN THE LUCERNE VALLEY AND BIG BEAR AREA.

Huell: SO YOU'RE TRADIN' INFORMATION.

>> YES, WE'RE TRADING INFORMATION, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE SIGHTS THAT THEY SHOWED US.

Huell: ARE THERE STILL HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF SIGHTS LIKE THIS YET UNDISCOVERED OUT HERE, CHUCK?

>> I'M SURE THERE IS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT, UH, WE KNOW ABOUT THAT AREN'T VISITED THAT OFTEN, EITHER.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, THESE AREN'T EXACTLY ON THE BEATEN TRACK RIGHT HERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE STUFF LIKE THAT IS.

I WAS OUT HERE OVER 50 YEARS BEFORE IT WAS SHOWN TO ME, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HERE UNTIL THE PEOPLE IN THE LUCERNE VALLEY SHOWED IT TO ME.

Huell: WHAT, THIS YUCCA RING?

>> YES, UH-HUH.

Huell: WELL, LET'S JUST STAND HERE AND TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT IT.

THIS YUCCA RING, WHICH HAS BEEN OUT HERE--THE RING STARTED FROM A SINGLE YUCCA PLANT 2,100 YEARS AGO, AND TODAY, IT HAS GROWN INTO THIS PERFECT RING OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT.

THIS IS TRULY ONE OF THE TREASURES--HIDDEN TREASURES OF OUR DESERT.

>> NOW, PEOPLE KID CHUCK AND I ABOUT OUR AGE, BUT I WANTED FOR THE RECORD TO SAY THAT CHUCK AND I, NEITHER ONE OF US PLANTED THIS ONE SEED 2,100 YEARS AGO.

Huell: HA!

ALL RIGHT.

YOU'VE COVERED YOURSELF, SHORT FUSE.

>> OK. Huell: LOOK AT THIS ROAD HERE.

NOW WE FOUND OUT FIRST-HAND HOW SHORT FUSE HAS FOUND ALL OF THESE PLACES ALL THESE YEARS.

WE WERE DRIVIN' DOWN THE ROAD AND LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE DESERT, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A PIECE OF SCULPTURE OUT THERE.

>> WELL, IT IS SORT OF MOTHER NATURE'S SCULPTURE.

Huell: I KNOW, BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

YOU'D NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

>> NO, I HAVEN'T.

THE CAMERAMAN WAS THE ONE THAT FIRST SPOTTED IT.

Huell: RIGHT, OUR CAMERAMAN SAW IT 'CAUSE HE'S LOOKIN' FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO NAME THAT THE CAMERON TUCKER JOSHUA TREE.

Huell: WHAT IS IT?

IT'S JUST A TREE, ISN'T IT?

Chuck: IT'S AN OLD JOSHUA TREE.

Huell: BUT LOOK HOW IT'S SHAPED.

>> THEY COME UP WITH SOME PRETTY WEIRD SHAPES SOMETIMES.

Huell: THAT IS AN AMAZING... Bill: YES.

Huell: LOOK!

NOW, SEE, YOU COULD HAVE PUT THAT IN YOUR BOOK.

>> I SURE COULD HAVE.

Huell: I MEAN, THIS IS... >> I'LL HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE NEXT EDITION.

Huell: THIS IS SOMETHING RIGHT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, AND NOW THIS REALLY SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH THERE IS OUT HERE IF YOU JUST OPEN YOUR EYES.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ALL AROUND EVERY HILL OR OVER EVERY HILL, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT'S REALLY NEAT.

Huell: THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IT PROBABLY WON'T BE STANDING TOO MANY MORE YEARS 'CAUSE IT LOOKS DEAD.

>> YES, THAT COULD BE STANDING 100 YEARS FROM NOW.

Huell: REALLY?

>> YES.

THE WAY THEY DRY OUT, AND THEY GROW REAL SLOWLY.

SOME OF THESE JOSHUA TREES ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD.

Huell: OUR NEXT STOP--NOW, WHAT DID YOU CALL THIS, CHUCK?

>> OH, ITS KIND OF A DESERT STONEHENGE, I THINK.

Huell: THE DESERT STONEHENGE.

AND, SHORT FUSE, YOU'VE BEEN IN THE MINING BUSINESS ALL OF YOUR LIFE, SO THIS IS RIGHT DOWN YOUR ALLEY RIGHT HERE.

THIS GETS YOU EXCITED.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE WALKIN' UP TOWARD RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE WALKING UP TO A GRANITE QUARRY THAT THEY OPERATED IN MAYBE THE TWENTIES AND THIRTIES, AND A LITTLE BIT SINCE WORLD WAR II.

THEY WOULD TAKE THESE BIG BLOCKS OF GRANITE AND SEND THEM INTO L.A. OR SOMEPLACE AND SLICE THEM UP INTO THE PIECES THAT THEY WANT TO, UH, FACE THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY HALL OF LOS ANGELES.

AND ALSO TO MAKE GRAVESTONES AND VARIOUS THINGS LIKE THAT.

Huell: SO THIS WAS A HUGE QUARRY OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

WHY DID THEY CHOOSE THIS PLACE?

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THE ROCK WAS HERE, BUT HOW DID THEY OPEN UP AN OPERATION OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?

>> JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY PROSPECTED, OR THEY HIRED PROSPECTORS TO HUNT FOR CERTAIN MINERALS OR CERTAIN KINDS OF ROCK, WHICH I'VE DONE FOR MANY YEARS, UH, HUNTED UP MINERALS THAT, UH, OR ROCK THAT THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES WOULD WANT.

Huell: GETTIN' CHOKED UP HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DUST UP HERE IN THE DESERT TODAY.

>> YEAH, 10-4.

Huell: [COUGHS] LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS!

>> THIS WAS DONE WITH PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLS, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO DRILL HOLES LIKE THAT IN ROCK AS HARD AS THIS.

THIS IS THE WASTE ROCK, THE ROCK THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT.

Huell: AND THEY WOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN IT RIGHT OUT OF THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN OVER HERE.

>> YES, AND THEY HAD...

THEY TOOK IT IN BLOCKS, SQUARE BLOCKS, AND THEN THEY WOULD TAKE IT DOWN TO SOMEPLACE AND PUT IT ON LIKE A WIRE WITH CARBORUNDUM DUST AND SLICE IT INTO THE SIZES THAT THEY WANTED.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS STILL PERFECTLY GOOD STONE RIGHT HERE.

>> OH, YES.

YES.

Huell: IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTIN' IT OUT OF HERE AND DOI'' SOMETHIN' WITH IT.

>> WELL, YES, AND THEY COULD WORK IT UP AND, ACTUALLY, YOU CAN CRUSH THIS, AND THE OFF-STUFF, THE OFF-SIZE STUFF, THEY CAN CRUSH AND USE IT IN AGGREGATES LIKE IN LIGHT POLES IN LOS ANGELES OR WATER FOUNTAINS OR, UH, BUILDINGS, UH, EXPOSED AGGREGATE.

Huell: BUT IT'S JUST BASICALLY SITTIN' OUT HERE NOW.

>> YEAH, AND EVEN THE FINE-- THEY USE IT FOR, IN, UH...FOR CHICKEN GRIT AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR THE CHICKENS TO LAY EGGS.

Huell: NOW, DID YOU SAY THIS WAS GRANITE?

>> THIS IS GRANITE, THE BASING-- THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE EARTH'S CRUST.

Huell: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THESE CUT BLOCKS.

HOW MANY TONS ARE WE TALKIN' ABOUT HERE?

>> OH, I'M--THEY MUST BE 20 TONS APIECE, MAYBE MORE.

Huell: AND WE'RE STANDIN' HERE.

WE ARE DWARFED BY THESE BEAUTIFUL, BIG, CUT STONES, JUST SITTIN' OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.

>> YES, YES.

Huell: THIS IS SURREAL.

LOOK AT THIS OVER HERE.

THIS IS...THIS IS LIKE AN ANCIENT, FORGOTTEN CITY.

>> YES.

Huell: THE RUINS OF SOME PREHISTORIC, WONDERFUL CITY OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.

>> WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THEY WENT TO ALL THIS WORK TO GET THESE OUT IN BLOCKS, BIG BLOCKS LIKE THIS, AND THEN WENT OFF AND LEFT THEM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

ONE OF ANOTHER MYSTERIES OF DESERT.

Huell: BOY, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK IN BETWEEN THE QUARRY HERE WITH ALL THIS QUARRIED ROCK, AND THEN LOOKIN' OUT AT THE MOUNTAINS.

IT REALLY LAYERS IT ALL UP FOR YOU, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT SURE DOES.

Huell: PUTS IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF...A LOT OF WORK WENT IN HERE.

Huell: OK, WE ARE FOLLOWING CHUCK'S CAR BECAUSE, AS WE REACH OUR LAST DESTINATION, SHORT FUSE, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT AS BEAUTIFUL AND AS WONDROUS AS OUR DESERT IS, IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE RESPECT FOR, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT CAN BE VERY, VERY BRUTAL OUT HERE IF YOU COME OUT HERE IN A SINGLE VEHICLE AND BREAK DOWN AND DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER, UH, AND YOU SHOULD BE WELL-PREPARED WHEN YOU COME HERE AND ENJOY IT, AND YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH IT, BUT YOU BETTER RESPECT IT BECAUSE IT CAN BE LETHAL IF YOU DON'T.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WE RESPECT IT.

THAT CLOUD OF DUST RIGHT UP IN FRONT OF US IS OUR LEAD CAR.

CHUCK'S IN THE LEAD CAR, AND HE IS TAKING US TO OUR LAST DESTINATION ON THIS WONDERFUL DESERT ADVENTURE WE'VE BEEN ON TODAY.

WELL, WE ARE LITERALLY AT THE END OF THE ROAD.

WE HAVE DRIVEN RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE OF THE HILLS HERE BECAUSE, SHORT FUSE, YOU ALL WANTED TO BRING US TO THIS PLACE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH, UH, MINING LORE, THE GOLD MINING LORE OF THIS PART OF THE DESERT.

>> YES.

JIM HILL WAS A GOLD MINER, A GOLD PROSPECTOR, AND HE LIVED RIGHT OVER THE HILL OVER HERE.

IN FACT, YOU CAN SEE ONE OF HIS HOLES OVER HERE TO THE RIGHT.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND, UH, HE'S JUST ONE OF MANY, BUT HE WAS A REAL RUGGED INDIVIDUAL, AND NOT TOO WELL LIKED.

HE USED TO BRAG ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY HE HAD, AND HE'D WON THE SWEEPSTAKES AND HAD GOLD FROM HIS GOLD MINE, AND, UH, HE KEPT TELLIN' PEOPLE THAT HE'D STASHED IT OUT.

Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, STASHED IT OUT?

>> HE BURIED IT IN A CHEST, A TREASURE CHEST, AND, UH, HE CAME IN THE STORE AND WOULD BRAG ABOUT IT, AND, UH, UH... Huell: WHERE ARE WE GOIN', BY THE WAY?

>> IT'S UP OVER HERE.

Huell: OK. GO AHEAD WITH THE STORY.

>> OK, AND FACT IS, JUST 2 WEEKS BEFORE HE DIED, HE CAME INTO THE MARKET, BRAGGIN' ABOUT HIS TREASURE CHEST, AND, UH, THEN HE DIED SUDDENLY... Huell: AND MYSTERIOUSLY.

>> MYSTERIOUSLY AND WITH NO KNOWN HEIRS, AND, UH, SO PEOPLE HUNTED FOR HIS TREASURE CHEST, AND HUNTED AND HUNTED.

THEY DID HUNT FOR IT.

SO, UH...BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIND IT.

HE HAD A GOLD MINE, TOO, BUT IT WAS FARTHER OFF THIS WAY, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, FINALLY, 4 MEN ONE DAY DISCOVERED THE CHEST OUT HERE, AND, UH, HAD A TERRIBLE TIME GETTING INTO IT.

HE HAD 2 BIG LOCKS WELDED ON IT, AND WHEN THEY BROKE IT OPEN, GOT INTO IT, IT HAD A LOCKED WOODEN BOX INSIDE OF IT, AND THEY BROKE INTO THAT, AND THEY WERE ALL REAL HAPPY, THEY WERE GONNA DIVIDE THE TREASURE 4 WAYS.

Huell: THEY HAD FOUND JIM HILL'S TREASURE CHEST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YES, THIS IS EXACTLY HOW HE DESCRIBED IT, BUT, UH, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT NOW, AND... Huell: YOU MEAN THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKIN' FOR?

>> YES.

WE HAVE FOUND JIM HILL'S TREASURE CHEST.

Huell: THAT'S IT.

>> THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.

Huell: OH, MY-- >> YOU CAN SEE WHERE HE HAD THE 2 LOCKS ON IT, ONE ON EACH SIDE, VERY HARD TO GET IN.

THEY HAD TO WORK REAL HARD TO GET INTO IT.

Huell: OH, MY GOSH!

>> THOSE 4 GUYS WERE ALL READY, ABOUT READY TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.

Huell: CAN WE OPEN THIS UP?

IS THERE A SNAKE IN THERE?

>> OH, I DON'T THINK SO.

Chuck: DON'T HEAR HIM.

Huell: YOU CAN HEAR HIM?

OH... OH, MY GOSH.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S JUST A BIG OL' EMPTY METAL BOX.

>> SO WE DON'T KNOW IF, UH...

IF HE HID HIS TREASURE SOMEPLACE ELSE, OR WHETHER HE NEVER HAD ANY MONEY, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MYSTERIES OF THE DESERT.

IF HE DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING REAL VALUABLE, WHY WOULD HE GO TO ALL THIS TROUBLE TO MAKE THIS STEEL CHEST AND ANCHOR IT IN CONCRETE, TOO?

Huell: THIS IS...NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PERFECT STORIES OF DESERT LORE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF THOSE LOST MINE KIND OF THINGS, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO TRY AND CHASE 'EM DOWN.

Huell: WELL, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S STILL BURIED--THAT HE BURIED IT SOMEWHERE, AND HE JUST MAYBE LEFT THIS ONE EMPTY TO THROW PEOPLE OFF, THINKIN' THEY HAD FOUND HIS TREASURE CHEST, AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT, BUT THERE'S ONE THAT DOES HAVE SOMETHING IN IT SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> WELL, WHO KNOWS?

NEVER CAN TELL.

NOW, HE DID HAVE AN OPERATING GOLD MINE.

HE DID HAVE A MINE THAT HAS GOLD IN IT.

WHAT DID HE DO WITH IT?

HE LIVED REAL SPARSE, AND SO IT MAKES A GOOD STORY ANYWAY.

Huell: WOW!

AND, BOY, THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JUST COMIN' ACROSS SOMETHIN' THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IN THE WORLD THIS WAS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND YET IT'S GOT THIS GREAT CALIFORNIA GOLD MINE TREASURE STORY CONNECTED WITH IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS COULD BE CALIFORNIA GOLD RIGHT HERE.

Huell: [LAUGHING] YEAH!

TOO BAD IT'S EMPTY.

>> YEAH.

Huell: WELL, WE HAVE DONE IT.

WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR OFF-THE-MAIN- HIGHWAY DESERT ADVENTURE, LOOKING FOR THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF OUR CALIFORNIA DESERT.

SHORT FUSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU BET, HUELL.

Huell: CHUCK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NO PROBLEM.

Huell: I KNOW WE'VE JUST SCRAPED THE SURFACE BECAUSE, SHORT FUSE, I KNOW YOU'VE WRITTEN AT LEAST 5 BOOKS.

>> 5 BOOKS WITH AT LEAST 50 SIGHTS IN EACH BOOK ON WONDERFUL OFF-ROAD, HIDDEN ADVENTURES OUT HERE IN THE DESERT.

Huell: AND WE'VE JUST BEEN TO 5 OF 'EM TODAY, SO WE HAVE LITERALLY JUST SCRAPED THE SURFACE, BUT I THINK WE PROVED OUR POINT, THAT IF YOU'LL GET OFF THE MAIN ROAD, AND START HAVIN'--START LOOKIN' AND HAVE JUST HALFWAY OF AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR, YOU CAN HAVE A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE OUT HERE IN THESE WIDE OPEN SPACES.

WE'RE 2 HOURS FROM DOWNTOWN L.A.

RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND, UH, I'VE GOT 60 YEARS OF EXPLORING THE DESERT IN MY 5 BOOKS, AND I STILL KEEP FINDING SIGHTS OUT HERE.

Huell: THAT'S IT.

THAT'S OUR CALIFORNIA DESERT.

LOOK AT IT OUT HERE.

LOOK AT THIS PLACE WE HAVE BEEN TODAY.

JUST NOSIN' AROUND AND FINDIN' ALL THE THINGS WE FOUND TODAY, PLUS MANY, MANY, MANY MORE THAT ARE STILL OUT HERE THAT WE HAVEN'T DISCOVERED YET.

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS CALIFORNIA DESERT THAT HOLDS SO MANY SURPRISES AND SO MANY SECRETS JUST WAITIN' FOR ALL OF US TO GET OUT AND DISCOVER.

WE'VE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL DAY IN THE DESERT.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] IT'S SO QUIET.

Bill: YES, ISN'T IT STILL?

JUST LIKE YOU SAY, YOU'RE ONLY 2 HOURS FROM DOWNTOWN L.A. Huell: IT'S SO QUIET.

>> YES, YES.

I JUST LOVE IT.

YOU CAN COME OUT HERE AND GATHER UP YOUR MARBLES.

Huell: WOW!

>> WELL, AT NIGHT, YOU HEAR THE COYOTES.

THEY'RE KINDA NICE.

Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...