Burro Schmidt Tunnel LbNA #6301
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 1, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ridgecrest |
| County: | Kern |
| State: | California |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | PenGwen  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | CA Breakfast Burritos |
| Last found: | May 17, 2022 |
| Status: | FFFFFaaFFFF |
| Last edited: | Nov 1, 2003 |
1/3/2009 Replaced.
After driving along Route 14 on the way the Kernville for 20 years and seeing the sign for this tunnel we finally took the little dirt road turn off and paid a visit to this unusual attraction. We hope you won’t wait as long to visit as we did. The tunnel walk is free and is about a ½ mile long over level ground. No strollers but we did see a dog on a leash as we were exiting. The tunnel height is around 6 feet so tall folks will need to watch their clearance. BRING FLASHLIGHTS and water. The view from the parking area is wonderful but don’t expect any amenities; picnic in your car.
Note: Off road vehicle enthusiasts have enjoyed this area for years. 4X4 isn't required but high clearance (pick up trucks) would be best. Some weekends during the Winter months this area is very busy with off roading enthusiasts. If that is the case, please take your time when looking for the letterbox or when returning it to its hiding place. Use stealth.
History:
The tunnel was started in 1906 by William Henry "Burro" Schmidt, a fellow who came to the area from Rhode Island for his health. He became a gold miner but figured he needed a way to get his ore to the processing center below the mountain. We don’t know how successful a miner he was but apparently he became fixated on burrowing through Copper Mountain near the Red Rock Canyon area in the Paso Mountains. He worked alone for 38 years, first by using pick axes, shovels and wheel barrow, then he made a tram system and blasted his way through the rock in later years. Money was tight and he was known for using short fuses and was injured several times by his own blasts, not quite making a clean exit from the tunnel while the fuse ignited the dynamite. He got his nickname from two burros he kept. The story goes that he worked in Kernville as a ranch hand during some summers to earn money to live on during the rest of the year when he would work on the tunnel. After the tunnel was complete he (at age 68) essentially walked away from it. He never did use it to deliver ore to the other side of the mountain.
Directions: Heading north from Mojave drive about 35 miles on Highway 14 passing through Red Rock Canyon. Look for a small sign on right side of road at the entrance to dirt road, ”Burro Schmidt Tunnel” 9 miles. This is directly in the middle of 4 billboards, two on each side of Hwy 14. If you get to the big billboard for Kern River Valley you have driven too far. The dirt road is OK for 2 wheel vehicles or at least it was ok when we were there.
Heading south from Junction 178 (from Kernville and Walker Pass) on Highway 14 set your odometer and drive 7.4 miles to the dirt road on your left. You will not see the sign until you complete the turn onto the dirt road. Follow the signs to the tunnel.. There is NO restroom.
Clues:
1.Walk through tunnel to the end.About 1/2 mile.
2.Once outside turn right toward the white and orange rock outcropping that is nearly directly north. Do not walk there but use that rock as a location rock. The letterbox is lower on the hillside nearly directly below that rock.
3.Walk 40 steps along path that goes downhill at 315 degrees from the landing outside of the exit.
4.Look slightly uphill toward the multicolored rock about 6 feet above the trail you are now on. There should be a small pile of grey rocks on the left side of the multicolored rock. The letterbox is under those rocks.
5.Please re-hide the box carefully. Now let me fully explain the rehiding procedure. Do not rehide the box in another location, merely rehide the box in the location where you found it. We do not get out to this location regularly. The last time it went missing it took us two years to finally replace it.
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Please contact placer directly or through the LBNA chat list regarding status rather than unofficial data bases. Up to date status can only be ascertained from placer as other information services will not have current data. Listing information about this letterbox on unauthorized information services is not appreciated by the placer.
After driving along Route 14 on the way the Kernville for 20 years and seeing the sign for this tunnel we finally took the little dirt road turn off and paid a visit to this unusual attraction. We hope you won’t wait as long to visit as we did. The tunnel walk is free and is about a ½ mile long over level ground. No strollers but we did see a dog on a leash as we were exiting. The tunnel height is around 6 feet so tall folks will need to watch their clearance. BRING FLASHLIGHTS and water. The view from the parking area is wonderful but don’t expect any amenities; picnic in your car.
Note: Off road vehicle enthusiasts have enjoyed this area for years. 4X4 isn't required but high clearance (pick up trucks) would be best. Some weekends during the Winter months this area is very busy with off roading enthusiasts. If that is the case, please take your time when looking for the letterbox or when returning it to its hiding place. Use stealth.
History:
The tunnel was started in 1906 by William Henry "Burro" Schmidt, a fellow who came to the area from Rhode Island for his health. He became a gold miner but figured he needed a way to get his ore to the processing center below the mountain. We don’t know how successful a miner he was but apparently he became fixated on burrowing through Copper Mountain near the Red Rock Canyon area in the Paso Mountains. He worked alone for 38 years, first by using pick axes, shovels and wheel barrow, then he made a tram system and blasted his way through the rock in later years. Money was tight and he was known for using short fuses and was injured several times by his own blasts, not quite making a clean exit from the tunnel while the fuse ignited the dynamite. He got his nickname from two burros he kept. The story goes that he worked in Kernville as a ranch hand during some summers to earn money to live on during the rest of the year when he would work on the tunnel. After the tunnel was complete he (at age 68) essentially walked away from it. He never did use it to deliver ore to the other side of the mountain.
Directions: Heading north from Mojave drive about 35 miles on Highway 14 passing through Red Rock Canyon. Look for a small sign on right side of road at the entrance to dirt road, ”Burro Schmidt Tunnel” 9 miles. This is directly in the middle of 4 billboards, two on each side of Hwy 14. If you get to the big billboard for Kern River Valley you have driven too far. The dirt road is OK for 2 wheel vehicles or at least it was ok when we were there.
Heading south from Junction 178 (from Kernville and Walker Pass) on Highway 14 set your odometer and drive 7.4 miles to the dirt road on your left. You will not see the sign until you complete the turn onto the dirt road. Follow the signs to the tunnel.. There is NO restroom.
Clues:
1.Walk through tunnel to the end.About 1/2 mile.
2.Once outside turn right toward the white and orange rock outcropping that is nearly directly north. Do not walk there but use that rock as a location rock. The letterbox is lower on the hillside nearly directly below that rock.
3.Walk 40 steps along path that goes downhill at 315 degrees from the landing outside of the exit.
4.Look slightly uphill toward the multicolored rock about 6 feet above the trail you are now on. There should be a small pile of grey rocks on the left side of the multicolored rock. The letterbox is under those rocks.
5.Please re-hide the box carefully. Now let me fully explain the rehiding procedure. Do not rehide the box in another location, merely rehide the box in the location where you found it. We do not get out to this location regularly. The last time it went missing it took us two years to finally replace it.
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Please contact placer directly or through the LBNA chat list regarding status rather than unofficial data bases. Up to date status can only be ascertained from placer as other information services will not have current data. Listing information about this letterbox on unauthorized information services is not appreciated by the placer.