I’ll go ahead and tag this as one of those Fearvana posts. After all, ya gotta do something that scares you every week if ya really wanna live. And this is one of those places where you may not live, if visiting at the wrong time. I was there at the right time.
Stand at the right spot along the canal road near the Fountain of Youth, squint your eyes, and look far into the Chocolate Mountain Bombing Range. You may see what looks like a small village in the distance.
It is a village, of sorts. And I have always wanted to run out there to get a closer look. But you wouldn’t want to be there if anyone else was. Because the only other people you might find there would be heavily armed.
It turns out that glimpse of white in the distance is a target in the shape of the truck. The structures are used for training by the military. We are often putting ourselves into creepy situations, but this was rather disturbing to think I was standing in the the exact place where at other times a fierce firefight may have been going on – with many bullets zipping through the same space my body was holding.
But hey, as I’ve said, comfort is overrated.
You guys found it! The no trespassing signs always deterred us from going any further. It looks cool (when it’s empty)!
For the record I think he is completely insane for heading that far into the shootout area. I went last year and once I saw the shrapnel I headed the other direction. He’s a nut!
That is eerie! Something that happens to us frequently while boondocking is coming across dispersed campgrounds in state parks (especially in the west and southwest) with spent rounds from locals who come out to the region to shoot. It’s unnerving to think that they could come back and mess around at any time, and we could be in their path!
No kidding, unnerving is one word for it. Been there, done that, no thanks!
Bryan we see that a lot too. And if you think that’s scary, you should check out the time another camper started shooting in the campground at Black Gap. Fun times.