Ken Cooke
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- April 18, 2000
- Messages
- 1,364
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Riverside, California
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '03 Rubicon - Tomb Raider
Recent flood damage has heavily altered the Old Dale Mining District north of the Pinto Basin - east of Joshua Tree National Park. This will be our club's 2nd annual camping trip into these environs and while the getting's good, we've gotta 'wheel!
Some Highlights:
Black Eagle Mine - although the trail ends at private property, this trail has taken a serious beating. Sections of what used to be trail are now a rocky quagmire at the bottom of a canyon streambed. To get through, or not get through - that is the punishment! Class 3+ maybe Class 4??
O.K. Mine - a nice scenic trail with plenty of photographic opportunities, this trail is a class 2 which hugs the edge of a cliff for nearly half the way through. Other portions take the 4 wheeler through a rocky streambed which may or may not be passable at this time. Only time, patience and skill will get you through. Last time we took this trail it was a class 3 trail. With the recent flood damage, I'd say its definitely a solid 3+ or maybe worse. Class 3+
Brooklyn Mine Jeep Trail - From the end of the O.K. Mine trail which may or may not be passable to the Brooklyn Mine trail, you're treated with a taste of the rocky confusion this latest set of floods have dealt. Class 3 all the way to the trail, and 3+ all the way through until the end of this fun loop ride with a nicely preserved mine to boot! Class 3+
Golden Egg Mine - solid cliffhanger action will be in store for everyone camping on the night of November 1st. Secluded, quiet, and with a well-preserved mine to walk around in to search for rattlers, climb decaying wooden ladders, or just look around in. Class 1+
The Stairstep - Rick Horowitz made this section look easy in the Great Pumpkin back in '00. But, for the majority of us, this rocky staircase is plenty of fun, boulder-knocking action! Class 4
Carlysle Mine - yet to be explored
Iron Age Mine - yet to be explored
Lorman Mine - yet to be explored
We'll see y'all in November!
-Ken
Some Highlights:
Black Eagle Mine - although the trail ends at private property, this trail has taken a serious beating. Sections of what used to be trail are now a rocky quagmire at the bottom of a canyon streambed. To get through, or not get through - that is the punishment! Class 3+ maybe Class 4??
O.K. Mine - a nice scenic trail with plenty of photographic opportunities, this trail is a class 2 which hugs the edge of a cliff for nearly half the way through. Other portions take the 4 wheeler through a rocky streambed which may or may not be passable at this time. Only time, patience and skill will get you through. Last time we took this trail it was a class 3 trail. With the recent flood damage, I'd say its definitely a solid 3+ or maybe worse. Class 3+
Brooklyn Mine Jeep Trail - From the end of the O.K. Mine trail which may or may not be passable to the Brooklyn Mine trail, you're treated with a taste of the rocky confusion this latest set of floods have dealt. Class 3 all the way to the trail, and 3+ all the way through until the end of this fun loop ride with a nicely preserved mine to boot! Class 3+
Golden Egg Mine - solid cliffhanger action will be in store for everyone camping on the night of November 1st. Secluded, quiet, and with a well-preserved mine to walk around in to search for rattlers, climb decaying wooden ladders, or just look around in. Class 1+
The Stairstep - Rick Horowitz made this section look easy in the Great Pumpkin back in '00. But, for the majority of us, this rocky staircase is plenty of fun, boulder-knocking action! Class 4
Carlysle Mine - yet to be explored
Iron Age Mine - yet to be explored
Lorman Mine - yet to be explored
We'll see y'all in November!
-Ken
