One Man Castle Built Under Massive Boulders 

The summer of 2006 I was part of a crew that rehabilitated this structure. After decades of abandonment, the stone walls were starting to fall apart, and the pack rats had made nests almost everywhere, so Joshua Tree NP hired our crew to do some preservation work. We were based out of Tumacacori National Historical Park in Southern AZ, and our leader Dave was one of the leading experts of preservation of structures in the Southwest. The newer cement-based mortar you saw is our work. And I hate to confess this, but those sun glasses might mine, I vaguely remember breaking my safety glasses. Working on that "cabin" is one of my great experiences. We had to hike in with all of our tools and gear in the middle of summer (we were a seasonal crew made up by mostly college-aged guys on summer break), our leader and one of the other full-time NPS employees in our crew flew in on a tiny helicopter from Indio, and brought the cement and water for mixing with them (although we still had to bring the water for our own consumption). The job took a couple days of work, so we had to camp out next to the cabin. I remember the temperature dropping quite a bit and it being extremely windy. But the sky was amazing, and you could see all the flights going into LAX. Thank you for sharing this, it brought back a lot of great memories, and it is great to see that it still looks almost exactly like we left it (with the pack rats reclaiming it a bit).

I'm 87 yrs old, you take me to places I can't get to anymore. Thnx 😊

Yeah, thanks for the video. I grew up in this environment and as early as 9 years old I was climbing those boulders every single day starting early in the morning. How my parents allowed me to do that, I can't figure but they did and I did. the key was to know every foot hold in each boulder as you climb and to know every hand grip on the boulder. I didn't have one single item of rope or anything to protect from a fall. Also, we raced desert tortoises in the races and I raised them. I taught them to kiss and to allow a head pat. the boulders were the same size and the area was exact. It was Joshua Tree National Monument out in the middle of the Mojave Desert. We had about 4 Neighbours. So, great to see the boulders again I'm almost 72 yrs. now. All the best- VCG

I bet that cabin is somewhat temperature controlled being built under the massive boulder. Probably a little cooler than your average brick and mortar type. Smart miner, hope he struck it big.

The ingenuity of the guy that built the cabin was fantastic.. over 300 sq feet of living space, with a roof of giant boulders... i like your broad brimmed hat, very useful in the sun baked desert.. thanks for the explore.. 👍👍

I appreciate your respect for this old mining camp. You very carefully inspected the old artifacts and then very carefully placed them back in the same position that you found them in. If everyone would do the same then many years from now young explorers will be enjoying the same camp. A true explorer !

This is when you take "Living between a rock and a hard place" not just in a literal sense but TO THE MAX!

In Coober Pedy, South Australia people who mine Opal still live in houses like this. They're called Dugouts and cut out of Sandstone

I bet that was a tidy cabin when in use, you can tell a lot of effort went in to it.

I really appreciate the way he looked at everything put it back right where it was and be so respectful of the original owner

I believe that is the coolest abandoned place I've ever seen,thank you!!

You need to carry a large mirror to reflect sunlight to look down shafts etc. Thar drum you saw with "rails" around was actually a tumbler for grinding ore. It was probably partially filled with metal rods that rattled around as it rolled thusly busting the rocks.

It boggles the mind…. I’m in awe of the “stuff” those brave, resilient souls were made of. This is what helped to make America the great country it was. Wonder if there is any possible way to figure out who the amazing person was who did all that. Just Incredible. How I hope this place remains untouched…humans have such a propensity for not leaving things as they found them.

Really cool. I’m shocked it hasn’t been vandalized. Thanks for the vid

How cool is that!!!! Wish we could hear that cabin tell some stories!! I'm so grateful to have your channel pop up on my feed! Thank you for the awesome field trip!!! Can't wait to watch more videos! God Bless You, stay safe, have fun!!! 🙏❤️🙏

Great video! I wasn’t going to comment but after seeing you around the mine shaft I have to. I’m a native Nevadan - explored more than my share of old excavation sites. NEVER, EVER EVER EVER trust the metal grates or ANY shaft covers! They have been out in the elements for decades- they will and DO fail. Again, cool video and thank you.

Next level explore my friend. Once in a lifetime find with that cabin. You never disappoint.

The ingenuity of some people is incredible. Thanks for the tour. I’d love that as an escape spot to hang out in.

That cabin built like that was extremely cool - thanks for sharing that trip with us !!

Watching this really makes me miss my time living in the southwest and all the exploring I used to do ! Thanks for the vid.

That was really cool! Glad you didn't meet any rattle snakes up there.

The funny looking barrels were for mercury. They were so heavy they had to be rolled. Hence the steel rings around the sides.

Pretty awesome shrine to the man who built and lived there.

Really neat adventure! The picture quality is really enjoyable. Thanks for taking us all along with you!

That turtle was lunch! I bet it was cool in there during a hot Mojave desert day! Thank you for sharing this...cool stuff!

Amazing shack dude. Thank you for taking me there!

In London that would be "Bijou fully furnished apartment. £5,000 a month"

Thanks for showing me that place I spent like a week sleeping in there with nothing yet a case of water

You seem to amaze me with the artifacts you find good job.

That cabin has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen. Thank you for the video.

So glad I found you. I do much the same here in AZ. Totally get the excitement of the hunt! You do a good job and show respect to all aspects. Best wishes.

Thanks for showing us all your adventure!

Just a wonderful life this man must have had in one of the coolest dwellings I've seen in my State. Thanks for sharing!

Awesome find and Awesome video.your work and efforts come through in your video. Keep up the great job. 😎

That was awesome! I really enjoyed seeing and learning about the cabin. Thank you for sharing.😊

Awesome video and explore Jerith! That cabin was amazing! And I loved the 2nd natural cave that you found with the 'built in shelves'. Was really hoping you would find some kind of signs that humans had been there and used it. Bummer on the mine itself, but I am sure you will find some more great mines to explore.

I'm a forest person. Deserts are something to drive through to get to the trees on the other side. Desertscapes are beautiful, for sure. I've seen them in bloom and ice. But, I can't handle the heat and dryness. Thanks for sharing. new subscriber

I've got two acres of mountain in MT and up at the back of my land are some "diggins." Looks like maybe a couple of guys working a 10 by 10 small pit sometime in the 1960's based upon what I found in terms of trash. I got a couple pieces and a railroad spike sharpened in the garage. It's kind of neat...

That was a cool cabin and neat artifacts. Beautiful place out there

Excellent... Thanks for the really cool video... You were very respectful of the Boulder cabin ...

Hello wow what an adventure you have really found a hidden GEM the cabin in the rocks .and all the unique rock formations you are so fortunate as well to have so many people tag along to see what you found in the vast 🏜️ aways looking forward to more p.s. Ps trying to look at past videos but hard to do 🏆🤔🇺🇸Take care

“Gly”: Very nice find! I’m guessing the ammunition can was a geocache? The barrel with the two big iron bands around it is a mercury barrel. Mercury, especially when transported in a barrel of that size is very heavy and to move it around it was rolled on its side on those iron bands. The iron bands also helped maintain the barrel’s structural integrity. The age of that barrel is approximately 1905 - 1920 and many were repurposed throughout the 1920’s and 30’s for many different things.

That was a sweet adventure we went on.

Very Cool Hide-Out & Great Journey !

That's really cool. I love the desert and old mining sites like this. Thanks for posting.

Awesome job, I just finished watching this and commend you for a job well done.. Thank you for leaving it the way you found it, and your respect for it. And for that I respect you… Not to many people like that nowadays.. I look forward to seeing more and more videos from you in the future. And I hope that you always let people or family know when and where you’re going and travel with atleast one if not more people.. Keep up the great work!!!

It amazes me that you can get down those steep and craggy rocks!

Thank you for being so careful and sympathetic to the environment and what was. I had a great time between the age of 12 and 27 walking many many miles through the Mojave back country. Now I take my son with me. He is just as inspired and just as fascinated as you. Smashed the thumb and Sub'd 😊 Thank you. David

Thank you for taking me on your journey. @ minute 12: 00, the E thing was part of a electric transformer core. and, thank you for the respect you gave to the site.👍👍👍👍👍

Thanks as always love your vlogs

Thanks for the adventure ❤️🙌

What are those secret compartments in that huge boulder!? Hammer and chisel my man. A perfect spot to put your keys and a bottle and phone!!

Fanstastic video. I enjoyed watching it a lot. Thumb up, subbed, and shared. I can't wait to see more of your content.

Amigo,esos eran hombres de mucho valor,sin miedo a la Soledad ni al fracaso ,aventureros y decididos ,te felicito excelente aventura , saludos desde Monterrey México

I enjoyed this vid. I will say though, I was holding my breath every step you made into these house and through brush thinking some big ole snake was going to strike out, and you being so far out in the wilderness!

Now that is a very cool cabin. thanks for showing.

Great find brother. Awesome cabin. Thanks for sharing.

That cabin is just flat out amazing. Extraordinary! Great video. Thank you.

awesome videos man, keep it up. im so glad I stumbled upon this gem of a channel!

That was amazing, watching from Australia

This was fascinating. Thank you for sharing

Thanks for the video! That's a pretty scenic canyon. It looks really popular for hikers based on all of the footprints in the sand at 5:18

I Enjoyed & Subbed, I really Dig Exploration! This was Cool! I can't do it anymore, so Thanx for sharing this great footage! NZ., ✌❤🙂☀️🔥🌡🌅

If you look on the bottom of older Coke bottles, they stamp the location where it was bottled. Nice stuff. Thanks for bringing us along.

Thanks !!! I Totally enjoyed this trip 👍

great video! thanks for making this. I enjoyed it so much.

Thanks for posting and sharing.

Anyone who can build a shelter in the Mojave, is quite a survivor! Great video, just subscribed. I love the American South West!💕🇺🇸

Wow amazing, a hard difficult way of living but its unique of seing old stuff. Thanks for showing US

Very cool. Thanks for the tour. Hope you tell people where you are going. A little slip and a broken leg could be a big problem.

Great video mate. Well done from the UK.

Wow such a massive effort 👌 to create this living space under those huge bolders ❤❤❤

Very good home sweet cave. Really nice find.

You're on a pretty good roll lately, Jerith. Congratulations!👍

That is awesome....would love to live like that!!!

Always check the pockets LOL :D

I think i'm gonna pick you up. Keep doing these videos, bro! 🤜🤛

I think piece with most history there is that bucket at 14:44. Anyone can take look at that bucket and see it's been worked, hard. The top is busted and bent as well the bottom, various dents on sides. That bucket looks like its been attached to a belt or person by rope and dragged. It probably hauled all the mix to build the homestead. I wouldn't be surprised if that bucket held whatever he found mining inside the makeshift shafts. Today we would probably use a nice tough well built backpack but but then that was not a option. And looking at this scene the builder wasn't a person that could afford mining tracks and carts. And that bucket is hung up sturdy right by the door. I am gonna guess that bucket was center piece behind this operation X amount of years ago.

Awesome! I grew up & spent the first 17 years of my life in the Mojave Desert. I have lived in Hinkley, Barstow & Blythe, CA. Bullhead City Arizona & before moving to Southern Illinois, .. I lived in Needles California. Bullhead City, Blythe & needles get extremely hot in the summertime! I like the beautiful mysterious desert. The desert is unlike any place on Earth! You never know what type of strangeness you may come across? You might Find find a body or, some treasure, a Cryptid, something Supernatural or, maybe even some UFOs? Be careful and be prepared for anyting ,..if you decide to go exploring in the Mojave Desert!👍🇺🇸

Cool show. Thanks for the tour.

Love the pictures!

Thanks for Sharing your video! 👍

Don't tell anyone where this is at. People ruin everything

I still use an egg beater like that one. Got a collection of them. Probably about 8 different ones.

That was really cool! Thank you!

When you said "lets go check out the mineshaft" I looked the the remaining time of the video and was surprised it was so little time left. I understood why when I saw the ladder down the shaft.. lol

That's so freaking awesome!

It is literally a museum ❤

That would be a nice Bugout location. Great video 👍

That barrel @ 5:54 is a Mercury barrel. The beefy ribs were because Mercury is very heavy. Cool find.

This video is like a love letter to the wanderers, the explorers, and the adventurers

Reminds me of many years ago, my friend and I went desert exploring, so we drove out across Johnson Valley until we had to park the truck, and proceeded to hike down a rocky valley. We hiked a great while until the valley below opened up into view, and we spotted small white rectangles at intervals along the desert floor. When we got close enough, we found they were warning posts advising that we were entering the 29 palms Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center bombing range. We dispensed with curiously picking up the metal fragments we had been finding, and headed back up the gorge lol. The strangest thing along the voyage though, was discovering a mine shaft a good bit down the grade, with an old sedan driven in and wedged between the walls. The rear window was smashed as I assume that was the drivers only means of exiting. The trunk was still closed. We considered prying it open, but being that far out in the desert and in its predicament, perhaps there wasn't anything we wanted to discover. We let it be. That was way back around 1990. Wonder what ever became of it...

Hiked there twice in 06, almost didn’t make it back the first time, well worth the visit.

Best light you can have to look into a tight space is a vehicle mirror, as big as practical. Nothing beats the sun.

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

So those drums, when full, weigh about 500 lbs. Can you imagine the effort to haul them all the way up there?

Those caves looked like "The Flintstone's house. 😊

I found some rock shelters outside Joshua Tree....I can’t wait to return

Thank you for taking us along on your adventure. Very i teresting. As a Canadian from the Grest White North, all i could think about is, " there must be rattlesnakes everywhere". I'd be paranoid about them being behind evey rock ans sagebrush. So cool.

Man! Great vid. Just subscribed. Looking forward...