Return from the Mojave Trail March '08

[Tbars4]

....This is dedicated to Brian1 whose planning lead to this run....he was in a 139 car pileup just west of flagstaff with his folks...They are alright but his rig could not make the trip...here is a link to that thread with info starting at post #88
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206814&page=5

...i am curently at the calico ghost mines camping...will post pics a.s.a.p. as i have limited service...

 

[Tbars4]

Trip Report

...This trip is a must do on any offroader's or campers list...i knew people who did this trail when i was a kid and i finally got to do it myself...not overly exciting but yet an adventure which has been on my list for quite some time...

...This is about a 130mi. trek across the desert...we started about a mile inside the nevada state line and there is no signage marking the trail until you are on it...we did the trail in 1 1/2 days and did some site seeing along the way...A gps, wood, lots of water, spare cans of fuel, and spare tires are something you should definately bring as you are quite a ways from help and the road is not always marked...
...the first half of the trail is rough with cactus and joshua trees and you will have to keep an eye out for pumpkin busters and tire cutters the whole trip as they pop up when you least expect them...
...the last half of the trip, pretty boring stuff...30-40 miles of nothing but wash with soda lake in the middle...you could probably run it at 50-60 mph pretty easy except at soda lake as it is part of the preserve... but who would want to drive that fast for that many miles...:scratch:...:

Gas Prices
...these were the lowest prices i could find
home = 3.39
barstow= 3.38
needles= 4.07
az. 7 mi from needles= 3.28
Bullhead city= 3.17
laughlin= 3.58
got home= 3.39

Attendee's
Brian1 (Detoured)
Thunderhorse
Joel (son w/jeep)
Tbars

..the vehicles that attended this run at the avi casino...

...and this is at the very beginning of the trail...

...this sign is about 1/3 the way thru by the cima store..

...and the jeep started the trail with a leaky water pump...he made it all the way to the end of the trail before he got a code lite but i believe he made it home all the way...his dad followed him home..

 

[Tbars4]

...one of my favorite pics of the trip...when in california, you got to do the twist...

...fort paiute and some random pics..

...Cima store and it was open...this is where we discovered i had lost my shackle...

...the rock house...

...this is our first stop and the only place we really got run off of...

 

[Tbars4]

...the schoolbus marker..

...the site of the last gunfight in this valley...

...the empty water trough...

...an old indian work rock???

some random...

 

[Tbars4]

...at the halfway, sign in post...

...ye old camp site at the 3 cinders...

...for dinner we had some of the biggest juicest steaks i've had in a long time , followed by some protein bars for desert...For breakfast, we heated up some choriso and egg burrito's..

 

[Tbars4]

...heading out to soda lake...

..traveller's rock pile...

 

[cybergasm]

lol I like the plaque in that last pic

 

[Tbars4]

...and the desert is blooming...my guess would be full bloom within the next 2 weeks...i would also recommend death valley for those who like to see the desert in full bloom..

 

[Tbars4]

...and some more scenic shots...

 

[Tbars4]

...and we explored one of the mines...

...and yes, there were a few water crossings at the end...

 

[Tbars4]

...i am sure thunderhorse and his son will have some more pics to post up later...

 

[Brian1]

Im really bummed. Looks like it was a good time. How was the road & lake bed, any problems from the weather?

You should take that pic of the rockpile plaque down, its supposed to be a secret that only those who have driven the road are supposed to know.

 

[Stic-o]

Just put a censored tag on it:


Looks like you guys had a great time, what was the total distance?

 

[Sojourner]

Dagnabbit! Now you got me wanting to go and I don't even have a 4 wheeler!!!

Those pics are awesome, tbars! What kind of camera did you use?

Oh! And I am feeling better, by the way!

 

[JeepMaster]

I posted a few pics (224) of them on my website last night.
You can see them at http://www.gijoel.net/?q=node/1011

The camera I used for the shots was a Nikon D40 DSLR with a 18-55 AF Zoom lens with 2 or three pics taken using a 55-200 AF Zoom Lens.

The Jeep finished the trail and got me home. We (Thunderhorse and I) stopped and filled the overflow bottle in Barstow and then again at the break check area. We made it home safely and had a wonderful time.

Will definitely look forward to doing it again.

Thanks again to tbars for the good time.

Joel

 

[thunderhorse]

This is a very easy run 4 wheel drive is not needed but for the sand washes, which could suck you down to a stop. But for as easy as the run is it is very scenic.
The weather was just great no wind and temps in the 70s. I would suggest that everyone do this road at least once, and just think about the people way back in the day, coming across in that desert.

 

[Sojourner]

Those are great pictures, JeepMaster! I have a Nikon CoolPix 4 and a Canon Powershot SX100 IS. I get pretty good pictures with both and, after I get used to the Canon that I have now, I am thinking of stepping up to the SLR next. Thank you for sharing those! They left me wanting more!

 

[Tbars4]

Dagnabbit! Now you got me wanting to go and I don't even have a 4 wheeler!!!

Those pics are awesome, tbars! What kind of camera did you use?

Oh! And I am feeling better, by the way!

...glad to hear you are better from your trapese accident...i told you, just stay away from those little people...:...btw, my camera is an old beatup olympus d-550...

...joel, thanks for the link to your great pictures...i added a couple more in the above threads...

...brian1, i really didn't want to post the weather info but since you asked, it was perfect...the wind died down the first couple miles onto the trail and the temp was perfect...the night was cool, not cold, but at the end of the trail at the mine, it must have got into the 80's...driving home on the highway i had the same 40 mph plus winds i had when i headed out...

...it was really a gorgeous trip and we definately were bummed you missed this trip...

 

[Sojourner]

...glad to hear you are better from your trapese accident...i told you, just stay away from those little people...:...btw, my camera is an old beatup olympus d-550...

Yeah... the circus life just isn't what it used to be! I guess it's the age setting in! Do you think maybe I should look for another profession?

By the way, it looks like Harley had a great time on the trip! The pictures of her in Joel's album look like she was having the time of her life!

 

[IZwack]

WOW that looks nice!! I'm digging the scenery