I lived in nearby Ridgecrest in the late 70's for a few years. Randsburg has an old Salon that we visited a few times. Suspect the two spent time in the Salon and dropped the women off at the motel after it closed before their ill advised adventure. It can be real cold in that area this time of the year, especially if the wind is blowing.
Also seams like I recall the adjacent city of Red Mountain was notorious for its cat houses in the old mining days. Some existed until the 1950's I've been told.
It sounds like a very interesting place. It also sounds like a location that is less than forgiving to people who don’t know it (like the cold, wind, ravines etc...).