Ridgecrest, CA - "My Home Sweet Hometown"
First I would like to introduce a website run by a fellow desert rat. HIGH DESERT MEMORIES
is a great website that is all inclusive of Ridgecrest, both past and
present. There is a wealth of information, photos and recollections of
the Ridgecrest area. There is also a page of specific sites to visit
when in the area. If your planning on a visit to our great little
desert city or even if you live in the area, I highly recommend it for
all. Check it out!!!
Where is Ridgecrest located?
Ridgecrest
is the southern portion of the Indian Wells Valley and in what is
called the high desert area of the Mojave Desert of Southern
California. The area is surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra
Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the
east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately 80
miles from the Lancaster/Palmdale metro area and approximately 125
miles from both Bakersfield to the west and San Bernardino to the
south, the three nearest major urban centers.
What's it like in Ridgecrest, CA?
The
meteorology in the Indian Wells Valley is predominantly influenced by
its high desert location, with the elevation of the valley floor at
approximately 2280 feet above sea level. The climate is characterized
by hot days and cool nights, with extreme arid conditions prevailing
throughout the summer months. The mean annual temperature for the
Ridgecrest area is 65º F. There are wide annual temperature
fluctuations that occur from a maximum of 118º F to a minimum of 0
degrees F. Summer daytime highs average around 105º-110º F while winter
night lows commonly dip below freezing into the low 10'sº F.
What is the business environment like?Ridgecrest, incorporated in 1963, is located in the
northeast corner of Kern County in the Northern Mojave Desert. Prior to the
establishment of the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at Inyokern in 1941,
Ridgecrest, then "Crumville," consisted of a few scattered farms and homesteads.
Ridgecrest evolved during the 1950's and 1960's as a support community, vital to
the mission of NOTS, by providing housing and services for Federal employees and
contractors.
NOTS, later named the Naval Weapons Center (NWC)
and now the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) home to the Naval Air
Warfare Center (NAWC) Weapons Division, continues to be the major source of
employment for Ridgecrest residents. At the same time, NAWS depends increasingly
upon Ridgecrest for support services. The economic stability Ridgecrest has
enjoyed as a service community for the NAWS has been essential to its successful
emergence as a community in its own right.
Today
there are several fine hotels and motels in the area catering to the
visitor to the area. Dining runs the full array of typical fare, fast
food to fine dining. A fully equipped hospital and medical clinics are
available just in case you try to exceed your capabilities or fail to
disprove the effects of gravity. Several name brand gas stations are
available as well as off brand stations to feed your vehicle, no matter
you preferences. I recommend a visit to the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce for information prior to visitng the area to make your stay enjoyable.
If I visit, what's interesting and fun to do around the area?
If
you like to explore the great outdoors, there are a variety of
destinations all within a hour or two of Ridgecrest. These range from
the day hikes into the open desert and alpine mountain meadows to white
water rafting on the Kern River west of Ridgecrest to overnight camping
in the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Your
interests and the time of year you might be visiting will dictate what
area and events will be available for your enjoyment. If your travels bring you to the
area, I highly recommend a visit to the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest. The Museum
contains information about and examples of local flora and fauna and
displays about the history of the area. There is something there for
everyone. Except for a couple of short periods during the middle of
summer and the middle of winter, the Museum sponsors field trips to a
view ancient Indian Petroglyphs. I volunteer at the museum as a
certified escort for the field trips. Arrangements for the field trips
can be made through the museum. Who knows maybe I'll meet you there. Click here to see some of my photos of the petroglyphs.
Within a short drive of Ridgecrest
are two particularly interesting locations. These two spots, while each
a natural wonder in their own right, combined make a even more
spectacular observation. Located approximately 2 hours northeast of Ridgecrest lies the lowest point on the North American continent, Badwater in the Death Valley National Park. Badwater is 282 feet below sea level. Approximately 1.5 hours north of
Ridgecrest on Hwy 395 (130 miles to the northwest of Badwater) sits the
highest peak within the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney at 14,494 feet
above sea level.
  Badwater,
Death Valley, CA
Mt. Whitney,
Lone Pine, CA
If
you are interested in seeing a series of photos done by Cathy Powell, a
good friend and one of the local artists, visit her online gallery at CALEPO Webshot site. She has many fine photos taken of the local area and California in general.
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