Mojave Road Sep. 7-9, 2007

[slosurfer]

I did the Mojave Road Trail with the Adventure4x4 guys this past weekend. I have been wanting to do this trail for two years now, and the timing worked out perfect for me to go on this trip. For those that don't know, the Mojave Rd. is an ancient trade trail that crosses the East Mojave Dessert, most of it through the Mojave National Preserve. The trail which is 130+ miles is full of history and cool sites, Mojave Road Guide by Dennis Casebier is a must for anyone planning on traveling this road. It is a combination history/trail guide book, and we had the great fortune to actually meet the author on this trip and everyone who had books got them signed. :D Anyways, on to the trip,

Friday 7th-
I left home at around 10am and headed out for the Avi Casino between Needles, CA and Laughlin, NV After getting held up for 20 mins. with road construction and then another 30mins+ at a train crossing, I was starting to doubt that I would make it there before dark. I made it to the casino and met up with a couple of the guys, I topped off with gas and ice. We headed out for the trail and set up camp about 6 miles in. It was Hot to say the least, I stayed up till 2am drinking beers/water and chatting with the other 4 guys who were camping also. It was still 95degrees when I went to bed at 2 :screwy:

Saturday 8th-
The sun was on us first thing in the morning and it was roasting by 7am. We loaded up and waited for the rest of the group to drive by so we could hop in line. They were leaving the casino at 8:30, when they drove by we were ready and just hopped in line. A few mile later, when we crossed Hwy 95 we met up with the group that came in from Vegas. After that, we had 26 vehicles that first day. For that many vehicles, it went really smooth. We even reached our lunch destination, an hour early. Some of the places we hit were, Piute Gorge, Indian Well and petroglyphs, "the penny can", ran into Dennis Casebier, Rock Springs, and Government Holes. We even got in a section of high speed running. We got into our camp over an hour earlier than planned, a major feat with that many vehicles.

Starting out:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6290.jpg

Lunch Time: Me and this lone 80 series stuck together throughout the day in the sea of fj cruisers, hummers, and jeeps.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6304.jpg

Beautiful day, even if it was hot
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6312.jpg

Typical road conditions
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6320.jpg

One of my favorite pics driving through the Joshua trees
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6323.jpg

80 lifting a tire
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6325.jpg

[slosurfer]

more pics from Sat.

Indian Petroglyphs
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6329.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6331.jpg

Indian Well
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6338.jpg

Joshua Tree
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6335.jpg

[slosurfer]

Sunday 9th-
We broke camp and were on the trail by 9:30. The trail is easier the second day, we hit Marl Springs, the "mail box", Soda Lake with the rock pile, and stopped under some salt trees in Razor OHV Park for lunch. On the way out people were doing hill climbs and on one a H2 blew it's driver rear air suspension, so they had to limp it out to the freeway and head home a little early. Next was Afton Cyn. with a water crossing at the end. From there, some went out the couple miles of dirt road to the 15 and headed home. The rest drove the rest of the trail through a river bed with tons of blow sand and very limited visibility. We ended the trip at Peggy Sue's Diner and headed home from there at about 8pm. I got home at 1am.

Marl Springs
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6344.jpg

The mob at Marl Springs
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6341.jpg

What it looked like down in the mob
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6349.jpg

Waiting in line to sign the guest book at the "mail box"
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6351.jpg

The mail box
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6353.jpg

Rock pile on Soda Lake
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6364.jpg

[slosurfer]

Playing around at Razor OHV park
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6365.jpg

Break at the entrance to Afton Cyn
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6367.jpg

in Afton
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6375.jpg

Water crossing
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6380.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6381.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6379.jpg

Carnage: Early on in Saturdays run, my 14yr old cv boot gave up the ghost. No problems from it other than it greasing my a-arms.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6392.jpg

The rest of the pics can be seen in my ALBUM (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/)

[Good Times]

Awesome write up chris :)

[xonetruthcrewx]

Very nice. I was also checking out the pics over at adventure4x4. Good stuff for sure. This is one that is on my list. Just waiting for better weather. Probably next year, late spring.

[Marc P]

I wish I would have gone, but after wheeling for just a few hours in the 108 degree heat of the desert on Sat....I had enough.

[slosurfer]

I wish I would have gone, but after wheeling for just a few hours in the 108 degree heat of the desert on Sat....I had enough.


Marc, you definately missed a good one. I know what you are talking about with the heat, I ran the first day with no AC. :screwy: The next day I ran with it on and off early in the day, depending on how hard I was pushing it. High speed through the washes and blow sand, I definately had it off. That is one big plus for having my cargo rack where it's at, I can have the sunroof open to get more air without being cooked by the sun.

Our camp sat. night was very nice. It was nice and cool in the evening and we had morning shade. Very pleasant, I even made hot coffee in the morning.

[YotaGirl]

Great pictures! Justin and I will have to try that trail.

[Cebby]

Nice job Chris! Great pics - love to see that terrain, nothing like out here.

[cooldry]

As usual, another great write-up Chris. It's like I was there, but not :D. Makes me look more forward to the Pismo trip. Especially seeing the pics of the 80 :confused:

[slosurfer]

As usual, another great write-up Chris. It's like I was there, but not :D. Makes me look more forward to the Pismo trip. Especially seeing the pics of the 80 :confused:


You can't tell in this pic, but the 4runner is turning green with "Cruiser Envy". :drool:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/Mojave%20Road%20Sep%2007/IMG_6304.jpg

This was probably the first run I have ever been on and had the oldest vehicle. :headscratch: I have to admit, the H3's kind of impressed me. An SAS on one would be sweet!

Are you coming to the Pismo Jambo in Oct. or are you talking about Surf N Turf, or are you going to both? :D

[slowheelin]

Awesome shots Chris! Looks like a fun trip but I could live with out the 95 at 2am thing... Sheesh that's brutal.

[cooldry]

As usual, another great write-up Chris. It's like I was there, but not :D. Makes me look more forward to the Pismo trip. Especially seeing the pics of the 80 :confused:


You can't tell in this pic, but the 4runner is turning green with "Cruiser Envy". :drool:


This was probably the first run I have ever been on and had the oldest vehicle. :headscratch: I have to admit, the H3's kind of impressed me. An SAS on one would be sweet!

Are you coming to the Pismo Jambo in Oct. or are you talking about Surf N Turf, or are you going to both? :D


I'll be there for the Jambo in Oct. I don't think I'll be there for the Surf N Turf. Been going on too many trips. Have to slow down. Just go back from Mammoth last weekend. It was a fun trip but ended up taking the Accord. Can't complain because it took me less than a tank to get up there. Mostly did hikes and bikes. I think I have a really lazy LC. She just wants to sit there and do nothing. Still trying to figure out the starter issue. And did you really say something good about an H3? Wouldn't an SAS on any vehicle be sweet? :D

[slosurfer]

I'll be there for the Jambo in Oct. I don't think I'll be there for the Surf N Turf. Been going on too many trips. Have to slow down. Just go back from Mammoth last weekend. It was a fun trip but ended up taking the Accord. Can't complain because it took me less than a tank to get up there. Mostly did hikes and bikes. I think I have a really lazy LC. She just wants to sit there and do nothing. Still trying to figure out the starter issue. And did you really say something good about an H3? Wouldn't an SAS on any vehicle be sweet? :D


Doh! I'll add you to the list then. Although you'd better get that lazy arse LC up here for it. HaHaHa, yes I did say something good about the H3, I will never have one. At least they are something unique and not just huge lumbering piles of :poke: like the H2s. :gay: