Category: Destination4x4

Hanna Flats Campground

Posted on by

Hanna Flats Campground is located near Big Bear Lake is located in the San Bernardino mountains of California about 90 miles east of Los Angeles in southern California.  The area is a full four season resort which offers great skiing in the winter.  Back country 4×4 trails offer a variety of opportunities from the daily driver to a purpose built 4×4. Hiking, biking, boating and camping are great activities in the spring, summer and fall.

Hanna Flats Campground is an established campground located on Coxey Truck Trail – 3N14 in Big Bear, San Bernardino California. The campground features eighty five campsites and is located in a pine forest. Big Bear is a fantastic destination for those interested in outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, fishing, boating, horseback riding, skiing, bouldering, star-gazing, flowers and wildlife viewing. There are many historic sites in Big Bear.

Recreation

A number of hiking and biking trails are nearby, including 3.5-mile Gray’s Peak Trail that connects to Hanna Flat Trail, and 10 miles of unmarked trails that lead to Coxcomb Creek.

Fishing and boating at nearby Big Bear Lake are popular activities. Anglers can look forward to a catch of trout, bluegill, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass. Because of cold water temperatures and the presence of underwater obstacles near the shorelines, swimming at the lake is often discouraged.

Campground Map

Campground Summary

NameHanna Flats Campground
LocationBig Bear, San Bernardino, California
Number of Sites85
Elvation7,115 feet
AmenitiesPicnic table, fire ring, – no hook-ups, Vault toilets, tap water, campfire circle

References

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Posted on by

The Coyote (Canis latrans), commonly known as the prairie wolf, brush wolf, or American jackal, is a highly adaptable medium-sized canid native to North America.

Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park - Photo by James L Rathbun
Coyote (Canis latrans) enduring a snow storm in Joshua Tree National Park – Photo by James L Rathbun

The binomial name Canis latrans translates to “barking dog,” reflecting its vocal nature. It belongs to the genus Canis, which includes wolves, dogs, and jackals. Approximately 19 subspecies are recognized, with variations in size and coloration across regions (e.g., larger northeastern forms often show some historical hybridization with wolves).

Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Genus:Canis
Species:C. latrans

Physical Description

Coyotes are smaller and more lightly built than gray wolves (Canis lupus), but larger than most foxes. Adults typically stand about 60 cm (24 inches) at the shoulder, measure 1–1.3 meters (3.3–4.3 feet) in total length (including a 30–40 cm bushy tail), and weigh 9–23 kg (20–50 pounds), with eastern populations often heavier.

The fur is long and coarse, usually grizzled buff, grayish-brown, or yellowish-gray on the upper parts, with whitish underparts, reddish tones on the legs, and a black-tipped tail. There is considerable variation; some individuals appear silver-gray or nearly black (melanistic forms are rare). Coyotes have pointed, erect ears, a slender muzzle, and a drooping bushy tail when running. They resemble a lean German Shepherd or collie but are distinguished by their narrower build and pointed features.

Behavior

Coyotes are highly intelligent, opportunistic, and adaptable. They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), though daytime activity occurs where undisturbed. They can reach speeds up to 65 km/h (40 mph) and jump distances of 4 meters.

Social organization varies: many live solitarily or in pairs, while others form small family groups (often a mated pair and pups). They maintain territories, especially during denning season. Coyotes are famous for their vocalizations, including yips, barks, howls, and “serenades” at night for communication, territory defense, or coordination.

As efficient hunters and omnivores, they primarily prey on small mammals (e.g., rodents, rabbits, hares), but also take larger prey like white-tailed deer (especially in winter or packs), birds, insects, and carrion. They readily consume fruits, berries, and vegetation when animal prey is scarce. Hunting often occurs alone or in pairs, though packs form seasonally for larger prey. Keen senses of smell, hearing, and vision aid in locating food.

Range and Distribution

Historically centered in the western Great Plains and arid regions of North America, coyotes have dramatically expanded since the early 20th century. Today, they occupy a vast range from northern Alaska and most of Canada southward through the United States, Mexico, and into Central America (at least to Panama and parts of Costa Rica). They are found coast-to-coast in the U.S. and Canada, absent only from the northernmost tundra and some extreme southern peninsulas.

This expansion includes forests, urban areas, agricultural lands, deserts, and riparian zones, making the coyote one of the most widespread carnivores in the Americas. Highest densities occur in the Great Plains and south-central U.S. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its adaptability and stable/increasing populations.

The coyote’s success stems from its behavioral flexibility, omnivorous diet, and ability to thrive alongside human activity, making it a classic example of ecological resilience in modern landscapes.

Warner Elmore Scott

Posted on by

Warner Elmore Scott (1865–1950) was a Kentucky native from a horse farming family who became entangled in his brother Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott’s infamous 1906 staged “Battle” of Wingate Pass, a hoax to deceive gold mine investors.

Early Life

Warner Elmore Scott was born in 1865 in Cynthiana, Kentucky, into a family deeply rooted in the region’s horse farming and harness racing traditions. He was the son of George E. Scott, a horse breeder, and Anna Calhoun (though some records list his mother as Elizabeth Perry, likely due to genealogical discrepancies). Warner was one of at least six children in the Scott family, which included his younger brother Walter Edward Perry Scott (born September 20, 1872), who would later become famously known as “Death Valley Scotty.” Other siblings included brothers Bill (possibly William), Lynn, and George, making Walter the youngest. The family traveled extensively along the harness racing circuit during Warner’s childhood, exposing him to a nomadic lifestyle from an early age.

As a young man, Warner ventured west to seek opportunities in the American frontier. By the early 1880s, he had settled in Nevada, where he worked as a cowhand on the ranch of John Sparks, a prominent cattleman who later became the governor of Nevada (serving from 1903 to 1908). Warner’s brother Bill joined him there, and the two established themselves in the rugged ranching life near Wells, Nevada. This move westward was emblematic of the era’s migration patterns, driven by the promise of land, work, and adventure in the expanding American West. In 1883, at the age of 11, their youngest brother Walter ran away from home in Kentucky to join them, marking the beginning of a lifelong, albeit tumultuous, familial bond. Walter’s arrival led to his first job as a water boy for a survey party on the California-Nevada border, but the brothers’ shared experiences in Nevada laid the foundation for their future entanglements.

Warner’s early career focused on ranching and related labor, including stints as a teamster hauling goods across the arid landscapes of Nevada and California. These roles honed his skills in survival and horsemanship, qualities that would later prove useful in the harsh environment of Death Valley. Little is documented about Warner’s personal life during this period, such as any marriages or children, suggesting he led a relatively private existence compared to his more flamboyant brother. Historical records portray him as a steady, if opportunistic, figure who occasionally collaborated with Walter on ventures that blurred the lines between legitimate prospecting and outright schemes.

Involvement with Death Valley Scotty and the Mining Schemes

Warner’s life became inextricably linked to his brother’s rising notoriety in the early 20th century. Walter Scott, after years as a performer in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show and various odd jobs, reinvented himself as “Death Valley Scotty,” a charismatic prospector who claimed to have discovered a fabulously rich gold mine in California’s Death Valley. This persona was largely a fabrication, designed to attract investors through tall tales and publicity stunts. Warner, with his Western experience, became involved in these escapades, serving as both a supporter and, at times, a reluctant participant.

By 1905, Walter had secured investments from prominent figures, including Chicago millionaire Albert Mussey Johnson and banker Edward A. Shedd, who contributed $2,500 for a stake in the supposed mine. When suspicions arose due to the lack of returns, the investors demanded an inspection. Walter, fearing exposure, orchestrated an elaborate hoax to deter them: a staged “ambush” in the remote Wingate Pass area of Death Valley. Warner played a key role in this plan, ostensibly working for Walter but secretly spying for the investors’ side, providing intelligence on the expedition’s progress.

The infamous “Battle of Wingate Pass” unfolded on February 25, 1906, near the California-Nevada border. Walter’s party, which included Warner, mining engineer Daniel E. Owen (representing the investors), Albert Johnson, and others, set out from Daggett, California, with wagons, mules, and supplies. Walter had arranged for accomplices— including Bill Keys, Jack Brody, and Bob Belt—to simulate an attack by “claim jumpers” to scare off the inspectors and preserve the myth of the mine’s dangers. As the group approached Wingate Pass, shots rang out from behind stone breastworks on a nearby cliff. Chaos ensued when Bob Belt, reportedly intoxicated, fired errantly and struck Warner in the groin (some accounts also mention a shoulder wound). The injury was severe, causing significant bleeding and pain.

Walter, in a panic, galloped toward the “ambushers” yelling for them to cease fire, inadvertently revealing the stunt’s fraudulent nature to Owen and the others. The party hastily retreated to Lone Willow Spring and then Daggett, where Warner received initial medical attention before being transported by train to Los Angeles on March 1, 1906, for further treatment under Dr. C.W. Lawton. Remarkably, Warner survived the ordeal, though the wound left him with lasting physical consequences.

The incident had immediate repercussions. Investor Daniel Owen reported the “attack” to the San Bernardino County sheriff, leading to arrest warrants for Walter, Bill Keys, and Jack Brody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Walter evaded serious prosecution by cleverly exploiting a jurisdictional loophole: he had secretly moved the Inyo-San Bernardino county boundary marker six miles south, placing the site in Inyo County, where authorities showed little interest in pursuing the case. Walter spent several months in jail on related charges but ultimately confessed to fraud in a 1912 Los Angeles courtroom.

Warner’s response to the shooting further strained family ties. On April 7, 1906, he filed a $152,000 damage suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Walter, Bill Scott, Bill Keys, A.Y. Pearl, and an unnamed “John Doe.” He later dropped the suit on the condition that Walter cover his medical bills, which exceeded $1,000. Walter agreed but failed to pay, resulting in a court judgment against him that went unenforced due to his lack of assets.

Later Life and Legacy

After the Wingate Pass fiasco, Warner largely faded from public view, returning to a quieter existence. Historical records suggest he remained in the Western United States, possibly continuing ranching or other labor in Nevada or California, but details are sparse. Unlike his brother, who continued to captivate the public with stunts—like his record-breaking 1905 train ride from Los Angeles to Chicago funded by ill-gotten gains—Warner avoided the spotlight. He outlived much of the drama surrounding Death Valley Scotty’s legends, passing away in 1950 at the age of 85. His burial details are not well-documented, though family memorials link him to the Scott lineage.

Warner’s legacy is primarily preserved through his association with Death Valley Scotty. The Wingate Pass incident became a cornerstone of Scotty’s mythology, illustrating the lengths to which the brothers went in their cons. It also highlighted the era’s Wild West ethos, where fraud, gunplay, and frontier justice intertwined. Interestingly, some historical newspaper accounts from the time refer to him as “Warren Scott,” likely a typographical error or variant spelling, as seen in a 1906 Carson Daily Appeal report. This discrepancy underscores the challenges in documenting lesser-known figures from the period.

Despite his limited fame, Warner Elmore Scott embodies the supporting cast in the grand tale of American prospecting lore. His life reflects the hardships and opportunism of the late 19th and early 20th-century West, forever tied to the enigmatic figure of Death Valley Scotty and the enduring allure of hidden gold in the desert.

Alexander Zachariah Borden

Posted on by

Alexander Zachariah Borden, affectionately known as “Shorty,” was a quintessential Death Valley prospector whose life embodied the rugged spirit of the American West’s mining era. Standing small in stature but immense in endurance, Shorty became a legendary figure in Death Valley National Park through his relentless pursuit of gold, remarkable survival stories, and contributions to the region’s infrastructure. Though he never struck it rich, his discoveries, such as Shorty’s Well, and his hand-built roads left a lasting mark on the arid landscape. Shorty’s hospitality, storytelling prowess, and deep knowledge of Death Valley made him a beloved “last of the old timers” among locals and visitors alike.

Early Life and Military Service

Details about Shorty Borden’s early life are sparse, with no confirmed birth date available in historical records. Based on accounts from the 1930s, when he was reportedly 65 years old while building a road in Hanaupah Canyon, he is estimated to have been born around 1867, likely in the United States. Little is known about his family background or upbringing, but his later life suggests a hardy, adventurous disposition shaped by the frontier.

Before fully committing to prospecting, Shorty served in the U.S. Cavalry during World War I, including duty on the Mexican border. This military experience honed his resilience and survival skills, qualities that would prove invaluable in the unforgiving Death Valley environment. After his service, he transitioned into mining, drawn by tales of riches in the California deserts.

Arrival in Death Valley and Early Prospecting

Shorty first arrived in Death Valley in 1887, enticed by the promise of gold during the late 19th-century mining booms. At a time when the region was sparsely populated and notoriously harsh—with extreme temperatures, scarce water, and treacherous terrain—Shorty roamed the surrounding mountains, including the Panamint Range, in search of strikes. He found several minor gold deposits scattered across the area, but none yielded the fortune he sought. These early efforts gave him an intimate knowledge of Death Valley’s geography, from hidden canyons to remote springs.

In the early years, Shorty partnered with fellow prospector Bud Saylor, whom he met in San Francisco. Together, they explored areas near Anvil Spring and Butte Valley, always hunting for a “mother lode.” Their partnership highlighted Shorty’s collaborative nature, as he often teamed up with others to share the burdens of desert life.

One of Shorty’s notable explorations was in Hanaupah Canyon, where he discovered a secluded valley with a perennial brook, watercress, cottonwood trees, and grass suitable for mules. Nearby Indian caves added to the site’s mystique. He even considered developing it as a tourist attraction, showcasing his entrepreneurial side beyond pure mining.

Survival Stories and Desert Ordeals

Shorty’s life was punctuated by dramatic near-death experiences that underscored his toughness. In one harrowing incident in Hanaupah Canyon, a sudden flash flood destroyed his camp, sweeping away supplies and leaving him stranded. Barefoot and hatless, he trudged through mud and debris toward Furnace Creek, battling dehydration and heat exhaustion. Delirious from thirst, he hallucinated pools of water before being rescued by Monroe Wagnon, a local who found him collapsed near the road.

Undeterred but not fully recovered, Shorty soon attempted another grueling trek to Anvil Spring to check on Bud Saylor. Underestimating his weakened state, he collapsed near the Eagle Borax mill, surviving only because Wagnon discovered him again, hidden among mesquite bushes. Nursed back to health at Anvil Springs, these episodes earned Shorty a reputation as a “durable walker,” capable of traversing dozens of miles despite his peculiar shuffling gait.

Later Mining Ventures and Infrastructure Contributions

By the 1920s and 1930s, Shorty focused his efforts in the Panamint, Emigrant, and Goldbelt Spring regions. In the late 1920s or early 1930s, he discovered promising silver-lead outcroppings in the South Fork of Hanaupah Canyon. Encouraged by positive assays, he single-handedly constructed a nine-mile road from the Death Valley floor to his mine site at Hanaupah Spring, starting in September 1932 and completing it six months later—at the reported age of 65. Using only basic tools like a pick, crowbar, shovel, dynamite, and burro power, this feat demonstrated his extraordinary determination.

During the road-building process, Shorty dug a well at the junction of West Side Road and Hanaupah Canyon Road, which became known as “Shorty’s Well.” This water source, vital in the water-scarce desert, cemented his legacy and appeared on maps as a key landmark.

Shorty partnered with Bill Price on the Hanaupah mine, but the venture failed when ore shipping costs exceeded its value. Despite this, he continued prospecting. In 1942, he relocated original claims with a partner named Thompson, and in 1943, he located additional claims with Bev Hunter, Roy Hunter, and Hellen Kraft—properties later owned by Victor Materials Company.

Personal Characteristics and Later Years

Shorty was renowned for his hospitality and friendliness, often sharing stories of Death Valley’s history with anyone who visited. Described as a “toughened desert veteran,” he possessed a wealth of regional knowledge, from hidden water sources to ancient Native American sites. His small frame belied his endurance, and his slight twisting gait became part of his endearing persona.

In his later years, Shorty lived as one of the last surviving old-time prospectors. A 1958 newspaper article noted him as still alive, residing in a rest home in San Bernardino, California. He eventually passed away in that rest home, though the exact death date remains undocumented in available records. Historical accounts confirm his death occurred after 1958, following a life of quiet perseverance.

Legacy

Shorty Borden’s legacy endures in Death Valley National Park through tangible landmarks like Shorty’s Well, Shorty’s Road, and his mine workings in Hanaupah Canyon. These sites attract hikers, historians, and adventurers, serving as reminders of the prospectors who shaped the region. Though he never achieved wealth, Shorty’s stories of survival and exploration inspire tales of the desert’s harsh beauty. As a symbol of the era’s gritty individualism, he is remembered in park histories, books, and oral traditions as a hospitable guardian of Death Valley’s secrets.

Website Overhaul

Posted on by

In the past few weeks, the Destination4x4.com website was overhauled to better comport itself to a higher standard. At its core, Destination4x4.com is a list of places that I have been, researched and / or places I want to go. These places are places that interest me, for whatever reason. I have found many of them from family, browsing the web or searching google earth.

The website is going over an overhaul at the moment and work is happening in the following ways.

Resources

Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps - By Stanley W. Paher
Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps – By Stanley W. Paher

Recently, I was on a fellow explorers website researching a site and he / she was lamenting that they were tired of people copying from their website. They made the statement something along the lines of quit “copying my content” and “do what I did and google it”.

At first I felt rather guilty. I was on another website and learning about a site with the intention of writing my own article. Then, I became annoyed as I was simply doing what they did and I found their website. This person is complaining about something that he/she never did. Give Credit where Credit is due.

In an effort to be as honest and informative as I can, I then and there decided that I was going to “do it better”. I am currently in process of adding resource links back to the source material for every page I publish were it is referenced. For example, the definitive research tome in Nevada for ghost towns is “Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps” by Stanley W. Paher. Much of his work serves as the backbone to Wikipedia and all of those who ghost town in Nevada owe him a lot.

Overtime I will add more book reviews, resources, useful websites, research,etc… to the website from my library. It will take a while.

Trail and Area Maps

Google Earth View of Destination4x4 during Website Overhaul
Google Earth View of Destination4x4

When I first considered Destination4x4 as a website, it was based around the concept of interactive trail maps. At the time, Google offered their mapping API essentially for free for smaller websites. At first, this allowed me to build maps with Google Earth and then save a KML file which I could then use to produce an online map.

About two years ago, Google decided to charge for this service and started watermarking my maps with “For developer use only”. To date, Destination4x4 is a loss and does not make any money, so it is difficult to justify spending anything on Google.

Over the past two years, I have search for various plugins for WordPress which allowed for free mapping. They all would do somethings well, but not others. I finally stumpled upon WordPress OpenStreetMap Plugin. This is a free open source wordpress plugin which allows me to publish KML file maps. Thank you!

Trail Lists

Additionally, I have done some polishing and clean up my lists on the website. Prior to this update, a list of locations would just contain a title and link to the page. Now, the lists will contain a featured image thumbnail, the title and a description. Essentially this is a little tweak which makes the site look and feel nicer.

Server Upgrades

Destination4x4 runs on a Dell poweredge server installed next to my desk. It runs on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Linux and features an 8 core processes, 32 GB of RAM and 3.2 Terabytes of Storage on a RAID 5 drive.

WordPress was complaining about running on an older version of PHP 5 and really wanted to run on PHP 7. So about two weeks ago, I made that happen and supposedly the site is supposed to be faster.

Additionally, the server is minifying and caching better, so hopefully the web server and web site are faster for all.