Jupiter 2000 Launch Party Photo Feature--Red Rock Canyon

Five dusty off-road vehicles sat in the parking lot outside the Ridgecrest Pizza Hut. Its operators sat inside, recharging their brain cells and empty stomachs. . .

Preparing for Red Rock Canyon

Ridgecrest, California. 1:00 PM Sat. Oct. 14, 2000.
Fred provided much of the background information necessary to understanding Red Rock Canyon. He informed us that this area is also popular for many sci-fi, western, and action-adventure productions. In fact, the TV series Airwolf (starring bad-boy Jan Michael-Vincent) was predominately filmed in the same area where the Lost in Space exterior scenes were shot.

After everyone’s “full” light came on at the Pizza Hut, we paid the bill and made our way back to our respective vehicles, out in the warm California desert afternoon. The skies were perfectly clear, and a gentle breeze kept the heat from getting oppressive. We were already working together like a team, sharing the same objectives, with actions both purposeful and deliberate. Each off-road vehicle filed back onto the highway. CB radios were turned on, and Red Rock Canyon beckoned us.

Traveling to Red Rock Canyon

The Launch Party convoy headed west on Highway178 west into the northern Mohave Desert then turned left onto Highway 14 and headed south. The scenery here is different than Trona Pinnacles, the mountains and valleys are larger and more expansive. From the highway, everything is less busy, less cluttered. The highway is smooth and contains many long, moderate grades. Heading south on 14, we coasted downhill to the park entrance, applying the brakes to scrub off speed and make the sharp right hand turn that enters the Red Rock Canyon State Park.

Arriving at Red Rock Canyon
Site 5

Unlike the washboard road that confronted us at Trona Pinnacles, Red Rock Canyon offers smooth, graded gravel. At Red Rock Canyon, you can drive through the park and stay inside your vehicle if you so choose. We did not. Our intrepid Launch Party members piled out their vehicles with the eagerness of Boy Scouts revved up on sugar and puppy love.

Exploring Red Rock Canyon – The Wall

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A popular backdrop for the Cyclops, Chariot, and Jet Pack scenes.

The "Valley of the Giants."

You can almost feel the heat just by looking at the picture of the sun-baked rocks that make up the landscape. See Site 7.

The author could not resist the temptation to swing a boulder above his head, as the Cyclops did when approached by the Chariot.

If you don’t instantly recognize the features of the huge canyon wall when you enter the park, it’s time to go back and study your Lost in Space videotapes. Like Trona Pinnacles, the rocky features and contours at Red Rock Canyon looked like home to our band of Lost in Space travelers. This is the land where the Cyclops lived, and where numerous Jet pack and Chariot scenes were filmed against the crimson-speckled canyon background.

We explored the base rocks, copiously photographing the view from varying angles. In a matter of moments we were absorbed in the environment, oblivious to highway in the distance behind us.

Red Rock Canyon is located in the southern El Paso Mountains. It is aptly named for its red sandstone, white clay, and pink volcanic cliffs. It stands in defiant contrast to the surrounding geography, which is gray or mottled brown. The features of the red sandstone layers between white clay layers create accordion-like folds in the cliff faces, which are capped by black basaltic rock or by sedimentary layers laid down millions of years ago. Their presence exists only because geologic faults have thrust them upwards. In this “Valley of the Giants”, as John Robinson referred to them, dinosaur bones can still be found.

This also appears to be the area where the Cyclops scenes were filmed, but it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where. As you recall, the Cyclops is filmed predominately with the sun at his back, standing atop and in front of a steep cliff. This is in keeping with the layout at Red Rock Canyon, where most of the canyon walls face southeast or east, leaving the camera's no choice but to shoot upwards with the sun in the background.

Based on the scenery, it appears that the Chariot drove along the base of the first canyon wall you see off the road. As well, backdrops for John’s Jet Pack scenes used this area, which were most likely filmed by helicopter in 1964 as part of the production for the unseen pilot. Like Trona Pinnacles, there is a timeless quality to this area, facilitating its "other-worldly" quality.

The winds are stronger at Red Rock Canyon than at Trona Pinnacles, possibly because of the range of height from the bottom to the top of the canyon. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph at the top of the canyon are common. The altitude is 700 feet higher at Red Rock canyon than Trona Pinnacles; the base of the canyon stands at 2495 feet above sea level.

Red Rock Canyon is also a more habitable place for life than Trona Pinnacles. We spotted our only desert wildlife here—Mona pointed out a small iguana in the grass at the base of the canyon. In comparison, Trona Pinnacles is a harsher, less habitable place for wildlife. If you travel to Red Rock Canyon, be aware that rattlesnakes, sidewinders, Mojave rattlesnakes, and other non-poisonous snakes call this home. Beautiful, yet dangerous, just like Priplanus.

Exploring Red Rock Canyon - The Ricardo Site
Site 8

Unfortunately, when a natural area is this beautiful, the stuffed shirts can't resist trying to “civilize’” it. Red Rock Canyon is in the process of becoming such a victim. A 50-space campground has been established, albeit crude, with water, pit toilets, and fire rings. Thankfully, there are no hook-ups available here, but give it time . . .

A visitor center has also been constructed, offering displays, books, maps and trail information. The topographic maps identify this area as the old stage station of Ricardo’s, in honor of the son of an early pioneer to the cliffs. The road winds its way around the perimeter of the large clearing, at the base of the canyon walls that stand perpendicular to the ground.

To the author, this part of Red Rock Canyon left me feeling like we were driving through the cartoon town of Bedrock. After I commented on this to the others in our group, I was mildly surprised to hear Fred confirm that a portion of the Flintstones movie was shot in this area. Later, I discovered that the beginning sequence in Jurassic Park was also filmed here, in addition to many commercials and documentaries.

The canyon wall is made largely of sandstone, and it makes a hollow sound when you walk on it. The tall canyon wall offers welcome shade from the blazing midday sun. With a camera, it’s hard to take a poor shot here.

This is another Jet Pack area, due to its highly photogenic backdrop. It also appears to be the location where John and Don are climbing the rocks to the far weather station and come face to face with the Cyclops. I doubt that the Chariot ever drove through this site.

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Mike McCormick standing between the Jupiter 2 and the canyon wall.

You don't have to go very far to get a view that is virtually out of this world.

The Pinnacles stand in stark contrast to the surrounding sky.

As we took a break at one of the locations, Mike could no longer resist the urge to show off his LiS collectibles. He returned from his truck with a hard black plastic case containing his most valuable LiS possessions. Included in the case were numerous books, Innovation comics, a 16” Jupiter 2 model, and other smaller Lost in Space items. Everyone gathered around to look at his enviable assortment of collectibles.

By this time, the afternoon sun was casting longer shadows, and the temperature began to come down. In spite of the many bottles of water and Gatorade that we had brought along with us, we were all starting to feel as dusty and dry as our off-road vehicles. It was time to head back to Ridgecrest and get cleaned up before dinner.

Trona Pinnacles
Topographic Map
& Site Legend

Click on the map to see the full-size version, which is magnified and cropped to show the Trona Pinnacles only. This map also displays:

Site Numbers referred to in this feature
Driving Directions

Exploring Trona Pinnacles – The Jet Pack Pinnacle
Site 2

We continued on our easterly route, then the road headed northeast, and we followed it for another ¼ mile. Mike pulled his Jeep off the right side of the road and we followed, unaware that we were about to make one of our biggest discoveries.

Mike produced an image of John Robinson’s stunt-double flying the jet pack around a forty-foot tall rectangular stone (see second image, left side, below.) Facing due north, he held the image up against the surrounding landscape, and we all realized that we’d found the location where this jet pack scene was filmed. Moving slightly forward/backward and left/right, Mike was able to pinpoint the exact position where the film camera had been located. All the details fit perfectly. This was definitely it, our first clearly identifiable landmark where the original footage was shot in 1964, 36 years ago.

Click on any image to see the full-size version


	John Robinson takes off with the Jet Pack to find Penny.		Our far shot of the famous landscape where the Jet Pack was used. From the gravel road, look straight north to see Site 2.

	Image captures from Episode 4 There were Giants in the Earth, pictured John Robinson (actually a stunt-double for Guy Williams) flying around this pinnacle.		Our medium shot, which closely resembles the Lost in Space Jet pack image to your left. If we had stood further to the left, the far right pinnacle would be tucked in tighter, like the image to your left. It also appears that the Lost in Space film crew either used a camera crane closer up, or a powerful telephoto lens further back.

	John Robinson's stunt-double flew around the pinnacle before heading off to find Penny.		Our close-up of the pinnacle. Yes, it's the same one as in the original Lost in Space.

Exploring Trona Pinnacles – The Chariot's Path
Site 3

The Chariot is seen traveling at this particular site during two Lost in Space episodes; the pilot No Place to Hide and the fourth episode There were Giants in the Earth. There's also a scene where the Jet Pack flies in this site.

Below on your left are two images that feature the Chariot traveling along a flat surface with a large, V-notched rock behind it, and a smaller pinnacle just to its left. Below on your right is an image of this same area (the image is approximately one year old). In spite of these combined visual aids, it was still very challenging for us to find the correct location.

Our quest to find this location was based entirely on scouting out every v-notched rock that we could find. Although we discovered many of these, we kept returning to a location where the rocks looked similar, but not identical. The most bewildering aspect of our discovery was the incredible difference in the shape of the v-notch at the peak of the tallest rock. All of our pictures on hand showed a crisp, well-defined "V" shape, while the rock we were at looked rounded out, more like a "U" shape. We confirmed that this was the right location after we had returned from the Trona Pinnacles and were able to compare our newly developed photos against the images we already had. Yes, this is indeed a match.

When you've finished comparing the images below, read the text that follows for a possible explanation of why it was so difficult for us to find this location . . .

Click on any image to see the full-size version


	The Chariot enters from the left in the scene that follows our intrepid crew's harrowing whirlpool drive through the Hungry Sea.	This is a shot taken last year at the same location. There is no full-size version of this image.

	Another image of the Chariot driving past the V-notched peak and exiting to the right.	Unfortunately, this was our only shot that turned out at this location. The photographs that we really wanted were taken much further to the right and would have enabled an easier comparison to the Lost in Space originals. Notice how the V-shape has eroded over the last year; now it is more of a U-shape.

Click on the image above to see the full-size image and read a detailed comparison of the "now and then" composite image.

Some of the pinnacles are composed of sandy, loose rock that doesn't stand up well to violent weather. As a result, some of the landscape is subject to erosion over time. Fred Wynne is extremely fortunate to work atop a mountain that looks down upon the Trona Pinnacles, and he offered the following information about an incredible 1999 storm that hit the area:

"The storm took place in the Spring of 1999, around April or May. It was very localized and I was able to watch it build up and charge across Searles Lake then slam into the Pinnacles area. The storm path was NNW to SSE. It consisted of 75 mph winds, with 100+ mph gusts, and approximately six inches of rainfall. All this in about a 60 minute time period. The rain lasted for about forty minutes while the wind-storm portion continued for about three hours. This was reported by ground crews in the area.

I did some additional research and found out that between the time of the location shots and the 1999 storm, there had been four other storms in the area, of a similar nature."

We're pleased to show you that we have at least one photograph to prove that we found the correct location; the image with the Jeep Cherokee and Mercury Mountaineer in the foreground. Sadly, this is the only photo of this area that turned out. Although I took pictures of the rock from an angle that more closely resembled the Lost in Space scene, these were at the start of a new roll of film, and they did not turn out.

Exploring Trona Pinnacles – The far Pinnacles
Site 4

If you make the effort to visit Trona Pinnacles, be sure to visit the far Pinnacles located at Site 4. We didn't try to find any matching locations here, but we're not ruling out the possibility that some of the Lost in Space exterior scenes were shot here. Regardless, it's interesting to explore this area. The landscape reminds me as something that may have inspired the set designs for The Anti-Matter Man or The Time Merchant episodes. The pinnacles are sparser and stubbier, and depending on which way you're facing, the flat desert background extends to taller, jagged mountain peaks at the edge of the horizon. The location would be perfect for exterior scenes, should Lost in Space return to the big or small screen.

	Click on any image to see the full-size version

Exploring Trona Pinnacles – A retrospective

Since returning from the Launch Party trip, I have spent considerable time reviewing the Promised Planet’s library of black and white video captures from the pilot episode and Episode 4 There were Giants in the Earth. There are many more scenes depicted in these episodes than we documented during our trip. I am confident that the great majority of them can be mapped to either Trona Pinnacles or Red Rock Canyon. In other words, the exploration is not complete. The Pinnacles and Red Rock Canyon wait to be discovered, photographed and documented. As carefully as we reviewed the information we had on hand, there are still many uncharted areas begging to be explored in subsequent expeditions. Will you be the next explorer?

In all, we made three separate trips to the Trona Pinnacles: Saturday morning, the early dark hours of Sunday morning, and on Sunday morning after sunrise. We'll be back with more information and pictures...

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