Jan. 14 – Clark Lake

We took a hike from the camper up Rockhouse Canyon Road to Clark Lake. It is a dry lake bed or playa as we know them in Oregon. We started to cross the lake bed which still had a little moisture here and there from rains in December.

Bushes grow along a straight path of disturbance on the playa surface.

Bushes grow along a straight path of disturbance on the playa surface.

We veered east on the playa towards a distant structure we couldn’t make out, even with binoculars. On the way we spotted several small artifacts that gave us a clue what the structure might be.

The now familiar .50 caliber bullet casing, circa 1942. We found two.

The now familiar .50 caliber bullet casing, circa 1942. We found two.

Robert & Mav approach the concrete bombing/strafing target.

Robert & Mav approach the concrete bombing/strafing target. Another target structure was further to the north.

I found little information on the internet about the use of this area for WWII pilot & gunnery training, but the Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields site had interesting maps and info. On the San Diego Reader site Desert Maneuvers there is more info. and a description of the ‘bombing targets’.

 

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