Mojave Preserve/ Mojave Road

[bruce p]

My son and I will be spending Friday night in Nipton, then heading out on Saturday. We plan to visit Carruthers Canyon, then visit Kelso, then the lava tube (probably camp near there on Sat night), then take the western end of Mojave Road across Soda Dry lake to Afton Canyon and back to pavement. I rate it "moderate" only because parts can be a bit sandy and the lake can get muddy. I have only run parts of this route, so anyone more experienced is welcome to take the lead on this. Let me know if anyone is interested. This is a multi- day trip.

[jmbrowning]

Beautiful ride. The Missus and I did it a ways back when we were childless. The scenery will be beautiful.

I'd just caution one thing. Don't go on Soda Lake. Although we are behind on rain this year, the recent dump we had (1" in the rain gauge here in the SGV), plus whatever may come down before that first weekend in March will pool on the lakebed. It is treacherous when any water is on the lake.

We had ventured out on the lake after it had been dry for at least 40 days per the Ranger under the Worlds Largest Thermometer. We still had a couple of episodes where traction was iffy and the MTRs were clogged with salty slick goo.

If you decide to go out on the lake, bring a rock for the monument and definitely have two vehicles, ideally three and space them well apart (two tug strap lengths or a tug strap and winch rope length) so that if the lead truck gets stuck, the rear will still be on good footing to rescue.

Hope you can garner some interest. It was definitely a trip we'll remember for a lifetime.

Have fun!

[jeep-noob]

this sounds like a nice trip
If i go i would like to meet you on saturday morning

[bruce p]

this sounds like a nice trip
If i go i would like to meet you on saturday morning

That's cool. We will be leaving from Nipton, which is sort of at the north end of Mojave Preserve. I have to be in Vegas for business on Friday (no joke) so my son and I are going to drive down to Nipton and spend Friday night there. Let me know if you are interested. We are leaving for Vegas on Thursday afternoon and I won't have email or web access after that.
Bruce

[RAT]

I really want to go on this trip but it just ain't in the cards this time. Be safe and have fun.

Rat

[jeep-noob]

the trip starts on the north end and heads south where the trail returns to pavement on the sound end of the preserve i imagine?

[FishPOET]

Map of the area.

http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisi...d/MOJAmap1.pdf

[bruce p]

the trip starts on the north end and heads south where the trail returns to pavement on the sound end of the preserve i imagine?

You are correct- we are starting in the North at Nipton and moving south/ southwest . My son Evan and I will be in the red TJ. Plan on leaving the Nipton motel and CG around 9am. Also, while the weather forecast looks good, this could be some cold camping, so be prepared. Hope to see you there.
Thanks,
Bruce

[jeep-noob]

i got real sick, can't go

[bruce p]

Well, it was a group of one Jeep ... me and my son. We started as Nipton. Great place if you have not been. We splurged and rented a tent cabin on Fri. night, complete with wood stove for heat and jacuzzi right outside. The stars were beautiful. Breakfast in the "cafe" entailed anything that could be done with an English muffin- I think the cook was out of everything else.

Sat. morning we took off about 9 am, drove on pavement about 20 mi to New York Mountain Road. We aired down there, and the next 125+ miles (you read right) were almost all on dirt! NY Mountain Road took us to Caruthers Canyon at 5600 feet. We did not spend much time there becuase it was very cold but also beuatiful ... cool rock formations, old mines etc. We will be back here later in the year.

Next, we drove south on an unmarked, hairy trail and then on Mojave Road to Mid Hills CG to survey the damage from the fire a couple of years ago. I used to love this CG, but it was hit really hard in the fire.

We then took Wild Horse Canyon Road to Macedonia Canyon Road, where we explored a really cool, well preserved mine. Then we took a sort jaunt on pavement to the restored Kelso Depot and ate our lunch there.

Back on dirt, we head up Aiken Mine Road and explored a lava tube. The sun was just at the right angle where it was shining directly into a couple of the small openings in the tube. The dust inside the tube looked like laser beams. A professional photographer was captruing the moment and will get some cool pix out of it.

Back on Mojave Road, we headed southwest across Soda Dry Lake. It is a very large lake- in excess of 6 1/2 miles across. We left our obligatory rocks on the Monument in the middle of the lake and then headed southwest for several miles more until we drove into the Mojave River bed. From there, it is basically a mud fest until you hit Afton Canyon CG where we spent the night. We dined with the CG "host" Vadim who appears to be a Red Army deserter who spent some time in Afganistan many years ago before he found a "way out" as he put it.

Sun. we explored Afton some more and then drove home. We just got done with the double wash/cleaning of the mud off the Jeep. The carnage was minimal- a slightly bent rim and a screw from the license plate. I will try to post some pix soon.

Bruce P.

[jeep-noob]

i would like to go next time, sounds like an adventure

[Rubigirl]

cool! can't wait to see the pic's