Trail Report: Checking out mines

[Mitch]

Headed out this morning to meet up with Scott (avjeepfreak),his father Dick and their friend JR, and also George (RedMonsterTruck) and his son. I've had an exhaust leak near the engine for awhile and it really let loose this morning. I made it to Apple Valley, met with Scott, then turned around to go home. As I went through Hesperia I passed a muffler shop and stopped to let them take a look. It ended up being a broken head pipe and 10 minutes and $60.00 later I was heading back to Lucerne. George called and couldn't make it cause his wife delivered a baby on Friday. So 2 YJ's and off we went. The 3 mine areas and 4 mine tunnels that we explored were all new to Scott, Dick, and JR so we took our time checking everything out. We had a couple of steep loose climbs mixed in with flat dirt roads like Camp Rock Road. Temps were around 60 with partly cloudy skies and in general a great day. 8 hours of driving without the top and some sun burn and it's all good.
Thanks Scott, Dick, and JR! Dick thanks for the company while inthe passenger seat.

Mitch






Scott looking for gold!


Dick climbing in at the Double AA Mine


Ah, that 8x8 is bending, that's not good.


Back to the outside world


Hiking in the Double AA #2 mine. 240' deep with a resident bat!




Double AA #1 Mine tunnel


Scott playing in the rocks

[Roger]

Nice Trip Mitch & Scott - thanks for asking me to go but alas I'm Jeepless. I feel so helpless & alone.... Kinda like a Stephen King book.

[flatpoint]

And Mitch does the Double A no.1!!!! You know, that IS a shelf road!!!!! Pleasant canyon????????????????

[avjeepfreek]

Hey, thank's Mitch, We had a blast today! My Dad and my Cousin JR were talking about the trip all night! They had such a good time. JR is from Indiana and had never been 4 Wheeling before! I think he's hooked! He said they don't have wheelin like that back home and He said that it was the best time he's had in a long time! I told him, "It looks like it's time for him to get a Jeep!" The day was perfect! Thank's again!

Mitch rounding the corner at AA Mine


My Jeep on the tailings pile




A bat hangin out


The Bat, flying through the mine!

[Mitch]

Scott,

That was a great day for sure. The pictures of the bat came out awesome! Now I know why you were in the tunnel so long, I just that a troll grabed you.

Dave,

The upper trail to the upper Double AA #1 Mine is the last trail that I used to hike instead of drive. The list of I won't/can't do it trails is finished. I might have to do Circle T Mine trail one more time, but that scared the hell out of me the one and only time I drove it! See you this morning at the Shooting place. Pleasant Canyon, ah......NO!

Mitch

[tony m]

Mitch,

Great report & pics! Thanx!

[USMC 0369]

...The list of I won't/can't do it trails is finished...
Mitch

Old Dale Mine Time then???

[Mitch]

Nick,

I went out today and was shown another pair that I missed before. So I guess I'm going to play in your back yard next. I really want to get out there and stay in Twentynine Palms area overnight so I can check out several things. Let me know when. I'm booked for a couple of weeks then you can bring it on!

Mitch

[Mike]

Dude! Those in-flight bat photos ROCK! Nice shots.

[Mitch]

Mike,

Those shots of the flying bat that Scott took just really impressed me too. That's as good as it gets for an action photo.

[avjeepfreek]

Dude! Those in-flight bat photos ROCK! Nice shots.

I was so excited once I downloaded those to the computer, I didnt know if they would turn out or not, Mitch thought I got lost in there but I was crouched down trying to get a shot of him as he kept comming at me. He would fly in and his radar would hit me and he'd turn and go the other way and it was so dark I thought I would never get a good shot! Guess I got lucky!

[Mitch]

Excellent Scott. The new post from today is all within 1 1/2 miles of where we ended up yesterday! That area is awesome!
Let me know when you are ready for more.

Mitch

[dirtman13]

Wow. Those are great shots of the bats.