A drive through Sperry Wash turns up amazing formations. Huge boulders that weigh many hundreds or even thousands of pounds are held up by columns of "fanglomerate". This, too, is an ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern). In this portion of the canyon we had been advised that petrified wood and fossilized plants have been found as far back as the 1950s. Although we looked, we were not so fortunate.
The Amargosa River travels underground for over 100 miles and here in the Amargosa Canyon comes to the surface. We understand that this water is to be found year round. It is not a seasonal happening. There were nine river crossings this day.
Naturally the boys had to play! And the gals, of course, had a great time too.
The Tonopah & Tidewater RR once passed through Amargosa Canyon for a distance of twelve miles. The road down Sperry Wash from the Western Talc mine to the siding was 10 miles. The road was paved when the railroad ceased operation in 1941 as the trucking distance to the then nearest siding increased to 80 miles.
The building of those 12 miles of rail is a story in itself. The first 76 miles went smoothly as the workers built their way north. Amargosa Canyon proved to be much more challenging. Trestles had to be built, cuts dug and long fills made. Bankruptcy claimed the contractor. The summer heat took its toll on the workers. Many worked only a few days. A crew of 100 Japanese worked just a few weeks to be replaced by Mexicans who were off the job in a month. With the advent of cooler weather, and a year after work in the canyon began, the 12 miles was completed in May of 1907.
Flash floods have washed away most of the asphalt roadway; vandals have burned the trestles and ties while sand and gravel have buried any other remnants. All that remains today is the raised railbed.
The desert trumpet again. Prior to this day I've not seen any so large as these. It's easy now to see why they were used as tobacco pipes except, if they were dried, why didn't the pipe burn as well as the tobacco? Did the Indians soak them first? Or coat them with something? Another mystery to solve....
