Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX Xcursions => Topic started by: Paul on September 02, 2010, 07:30:00 PM
-
WARNING WARNING WARNING - IT'S LOOKING LIKE I AM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS TRIP!!
There are network issues at work which are going to force me to stay this Friday and possibly work over the weekend. There is a very good chance that I'm not going to be able to lead this run.
Three day event for those who can manage a day off on Friday. We'll start in Arizona, head north to Nevada and come back past Fort Piute. One Saturday we'll meet those coming out for a two day/over night and hit the woop-ti-do's, Marl Springs, lava tubes and the Post Box and camp near Cample Hill on the west edge of Soda Lake. Day three will be crossing the Soda Lake and up through the Afton Canyon and back to pavement on the 15 freeway. This is always an epic trip with some amazingly isolated areas with +150 miles of trail.
The historic Mojave road route, also know as the Old Government Road is a pre-Civil War supply trail used by the US Army in the 1850s. A set of forts or camps were set up a day's travel apart and around the few scattered water holes along the route. This was the "cowboy and indians" era of the old west. Sites along the western end include the "Traveler's Cairn" where travelers along the trail add one stone to the growing pile. Down inside the cairn rock pile rests a special message. The cairn sits in the Soda Lake near Zzyzx strings. The visitor's book and mail box sit just south of the frog patch. The frog patch comes and goes as the local park rangers remove the patch of plastic and ceramic frogs that gather in the desert. The eastern length of the trail includes Marl Springs, the Government Holes spring and ruins, the ruins of a stone cabin, and the site of Fort Piute
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-10%20Oct%202010%20Mojave%20Trail/MojaveRoadMapOct2010.jpg)
Difficulty: 4 out of 10 - the majority of the road is a 2 or 3 out of 10. There's a good steep section out east that rates the 4 due to the moderate grade. The ridge is easy for even a first time driver, the experience driver won't even notice it. There are huge valleys 20-30 miles across to cross. There are portions of loose sand which may require 4WD but 99.9% of this is a 2WD trip. This is likely the best trip for a 2WD Xterra to make.
Scenic Rating: 10 - a solid 10. The remote desert is pristine and that remoteness adds to the attractiveness. There are ruins, springs, and scenic vistas. This is the best trail in our neighborhood by a pretty big margin and let's keep it that way. Please no trash dumping along the trail and since fire danger ought to still be pretty high please use your ash trays if you smoke.
Distance: 130 miles (3 days) about 75 miles (2 days). Count on many hours "in the saddle". We'll take photo breaks along the way but since the trail is so long it drives us down the trail in order to make our waypoints. This is one of those trails to bring 5 gallons of spare gas and water up in the roof rack. The gas is likely not to be needed but better have 5 too many gallons than 5 gallons not enough. Starting in the east and heading west allows those who want to run the whole trail a head start on the length, a place for those doing a two day trip a change to join, and best of all ... a shorter drive home at the end of the weekend.
Meeting Spot: Friday 10:30 AM - McDonald's 1201, 3rd Street, Needles CA 92363. About 3.5 hours from Riverside CA. Take the 15 north to the 40 freeway in Barstow. Take the 40 east for 141 miles to Needles, exit River Road to the west. This is a refuel point and lunch.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=McDonald%27s+near+Needles,+CA&sll=34.839318,-114.610255&sspn=0.00409,0.008256&ie=UTF8&hq=McDonald%27s&hnear=Needles,+San+Bernardino,+California&ll=34.83923,-114.610147&spn=0.008181,0.016512&z=17 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=McDonald%27s+near+Needles,+CA&sll=34.839318,-114.610255&sspn=0.00409,0.008256&ie=UTF8&hq=McDonald%27s&hnear=Needles,+San+Bernardino,+California&ll=34.83923,-114.610147&spn=0.008181,0.016512&z=17)
Meeting Spot: Saturday 10:30 - The trail crosses the Kelso-Cima Road at N35 10.5630, W115 30.5491. To get there travel north on the 15 freeway to Barstow. Barstow is your refuel point. From there take the 40 freeway east for 78 miles to exit 78 the Kelbaker Road. 22.5 miles north along the Kelbaker road to the Kelso-Cima road. 13.5 miles along the Kelso-Cima road you'll find the scenery changing as the results of the ancient lava flows become evident. You'll also find day one's tired travelers along the east side of the road. This is a long 3 hour and 20 minute ride out of Riverside but makes for a shorter ride back on Sunday at the end-of-the-trail. The Mojave Road follows Cedar Canyon Road so on your maps the intersection is Cedar Canyon and Kelso Cima Roads.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N35+10.5630,+W115+30.5491&sll=34.83923,-114.610147&sspn=0.006613,0.009645&ie=UTF8&ll=35.175825,-115.508602&spn=0.013172,0.01929&z=16
Communications: FRS channel 10 privacy code 24, 2M amateur radio 146.52
Weather: Warmer than seasonal averages. Daytime highs in the low 90's, evening lows in the high 50's. Weather is looking better! :D
-
The Afton Canyon water crossing
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave03.jpg)
The Travelers Cairn
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave11.jpg)
Soda Lake
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave09.jpg)
Sandy stretch
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave08.jpg)
Camping
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave15.jpg)
The Post Box
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave21.jpg)
The Frog Patch
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Solo/Mojave22.jpg)
The Lava Tubes
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-3%20Mar%202010%20Mojave/Mojave16.jpg)
Fort Piute
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-3%20Mar%202010%20Mojave/Mojave03.jpg)
Trucks on the trail
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/3-09%20Mojave%20Club/Mojave12.jpg)
-
I'll be back on the West Coast in a few weeks but I'll be deploying in early OCT. I'd love to make this one but it might not work out timing wise for me.
I should know for sure in about a week or so 8)
-
Hey paul. i am gunna join you I think! Also i will have my HAM and have a 2m/70cm on order.... oh hey im testing next wednesday, maybe wecould meet up then if you aint busy/ wotking.
-
Paul, I am interested in this Xcursion.
What time to meet on Friday at the Needles McDonalds? ???
-
I am planning on being there. Not sure yet if it will be Fri or Sat. ???
-
I'll fill in the details as we get closer like the time and weather.
For time I figure leaving pretty home early in the morning and getting there as it's a long drive on the road and a good stretch of off road time too.
-
Paul, men should not use the term "pretty" to describe their home. :D
-
I won't be able to make it...going to be in Bahrain on the 2nd. >:(
-
This sounds like a really fun trip.
Good for a beginner?
-
Great for a beginner. Just familiarize yourself with the suggested gear list and have a ball.
-
I don't have a rear recovery point yet.
Is that reason enough for not going?
-
Not necessarily. Do you have a rear hitch? You can pick up a hitch-mounted shackle for not that much cash that will be a good investment for a strong recovery point. That, a strap (without metal hooks on the ends) and a shovel (GI folding is fine) would be a great starting point for truck gear.
-
Don't have a hitch. The New bumper will have one, but it is going to a little bit for that.
I do have a snatch strap and a couple shackles and the front recovery point. I guess if it got to the point where I had to be pulled out from the back I could wrap the strap around the axle.
-
You're not going to be able to get stuck on this trail. ;D
This is a really easy trail that requires only a bit of 4WD help in some of the loose sandy places. If you air down and watch your line you'd likely make it in 2WD. The challenges of this trail are the rather deep water crossing at Afton Canyon and the extreme distances involved. We'll need 6-8 hours a day driving the trail to make the distances. With the water crossing just let some idiot go first (me!) and follow my line and speed. The idea is to build up a wake in front of your truck so the water doesn't pour into the engine compartment. I've crossed there about seven or eight times and each time its a hoot.
-
Paul I will be there. Companion or no companion. Maybe Friday, more than likely Saturday. If I bring a guest, I will let you know the name ahead of time.
Mark
-
We might make it again, that is iffin you want us! :P
I'm gonna try to make this one too Paul.
-
We had lots of fun running this Xcursion with everyone last year. I mght be able to make it, don't know yet.
-
Hello everybody,
Me, my wife (and maybe my son) would like to join in for the first day of this trip. We have to be back home on Saturday.
This is weird - Friday only - but I don't want to wait: we must get out there off road with people that have done this before, and learn by participating, or else I'm afraid that we might get in some hard situation when we will be on our own.
We are new to all of this off road stuff: got an xterra a few weeks ago but never been off road with a proper vehicle (we ventured onto mountain and desert unpaved roads with regular cars and vans; got to some pretty scary places,but not further than that).
Based on your published guidelines, I got today a fire extinguisher, a D-Ring Receiver Hitch attachment and ordered an air compressor and a 20' tow strap. On Oct 1, I'm planning on getting a 10000lb winch from Harbor Freight, the cheap one they have.
If nothing comes up, hope to meet you all in Needles.
over.
-
You're not going to need the winch this trip.
Save the money and get a five gallon water and a five gallon fuel can - both for comfort's sake. This is the longest off-road trip we take and if you're going to do the east to central you end up pretty far off the beaten trail from the nearest gas station at Barstow. It's not at all impossible to make it on one tank of gas but the prudent thing is to carry extra if you can. I carry extra on this trail and the Bradshaw as they're two pretty long trails and not having to worry about gas is just a good thing. Extra water is always nice to have in the desert. I keep my cans filled around the house too for the unlikely earthquake. If you're camping on Friday night don't forget an airbed ... makes young and old bones happy!
If you make Friday and can stay with us for some to most of Saturday you're going to have two choices to bail out - either leaving early on Kel-Baker road or it's possible that we make the journey all the way to Acton Saturday night and camp in a semi-dry campground. They'll have pit toilets and last time I was there they had water. The day time temperatures are going to be a wee bit warm so we'll stay in the trucks for a long day crossing the Soda Lake and into the Acton canyon area. If we can make the campground by 6:00 PM we should be golden.
I'm going to check the depth of the water and see if the camp ground has potable water this coming Sunday in prep for the club's run the following week.
-
The winch goes on sale for 299$ on Oct 1. I don't need it for this trip, and I won't have it. I don't know why I even mentioned that...
Will bring water.
How low is the expected gas mileage on these off road trips? How far can you get off roading on one tank?
Maybe we will camp, maybe not: depends how tired we will be after the Friday.
I thought we can split at the Saturday meeting point (Kelso - Cima crossing), near the Friday night campsite. Is this not advisable?
Of course I would prefer to stay the whole weekend, but we had previous conflicting plans. Now I'll be happy if I can just make it on Friday.
What or when will the November xcursion be?
over.
-
Welcome to the club Nubex. Look forward to meeting you on the Mojave Trail.
Paul: Looks like I will be joining you on Friday morning. What time are we meeting in Needles?
-
Paul- I am in for sure we wouold meet you friday, and we could convoy from riverside if you like, Cutter is comming if he is invited, ill bring snacks so the "bear" doesnt grab at food any chance he has. I may bring a Passanger, a buddy from my fire training program if thats ok.
I got a mobile dual band 2m/440 radio and will have it installed this weekend, but I dont have an SWR meeter powerful enough for the radio, its for CB, I am able to adjust power settings, As in 50 25 5 watts, i got a mount similar to yours, and an antenna, do i need to tune it? or will it be a pretty well tuned system?
If you have a SWRmeter that would work could you bring it and tune it then with me?
-
We can drive out from Riverside, it's a good long drive out to Arizona/Nevada.
Dogs and friends are always invited, just remind them of the rules (like drinking alcohol on the road and trails are forbidden).
I've got an amateur radio SWR meter and will try to remember to bring it along. You'll have to bring the hex wrench for the antenna and a hack saw (might not need) to trim the bottom of the adjustable portion of the antenna if we have to shorten the antenna. Most antennas are pretty close out-of-the-box.
-
I need a count on the trucks going as if I recall correctly there is a $50 permit fee for more than 8 trucks that I'll have to get busy with ASAP.
Please copy and paste, adding your name to the list. Thank you.
1. Paul
2. Kyle
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
-
I need a count on the trucks going as if I recall correctly there is a $50 permit fee for more than 8 trucks that I'll have to get busy with ASAP.
Please copy and paste, adding your name to the list. Thank you.
1. Paul
2. Kyle
3. Z (nubex)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
-
I need a count on the trucks going as if I recall correctly there is a $50 permit fee for more than 8 trucks that I'll have to get busy with ASAP.
Please copy and paste, adding your name to the list. Thank you.
1. Paul
2. Kyle
3. Z (nubex)
4. Goldfish
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
-
I am going to come out.
1. Paul
2. Kyle
3. Z (nubex)
4. Goldfish
5. Scott (scottmen)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
-
I wish i could go on this run. I don't get back from Afghanistan until late October or early November. Maybe i can catch the next one.
-
You're not going to be able to get stuck on this trail. ;D
This is a really easy trail that requires only a bit of 4WD help in some of the loose sandy places. If you air down and watch your line you'd likely make it in 2WD. The challenges of this trail are the rather deep water crossing at Afton Canyon and the extreme distances involved. We'll need 6-8 hours a day driving the trail to make the distances. With the water crossing just let some idiot go first (me!) and follow my line and speed. The idea is to build up a wake in front of your truck so the water doesn't pour into the engine compartment. I've crossed there about seven or eight times and each time its a hoot.
We're not all shellbacks Paul. ;)
-
Do we need any permits or passes for this?
-
Do we need any permits or passes for this?
I've got an inquiry for the forest pass but that's a CA thing and the Mojave Preserve is a national thing ... I asked anyways. I'll be checking the depth of water at the Acton crossing on Monday morning so I can stop in Barstow to the NPS headquarters if I have to if I don't get an answer before then. The forest passes are $30 a year and money well spent - I buy a couple and just forget about it for the year.
I'm awaiting the fire restrictions too. Weather looks like it's going to be unseasonably warm with a high pressure system setting up over central California blocking cooler polar air from coming down. Expect highs in the 90's and lows in the 60's.
-
Looking forward to this run!
My radio is installed so now I can be cool like you paul and run a "big boy" radio haha. Just a reminder for the SWR meter ill bring the rest.
It looks like it will just be me again :p !
Where would you like to meet on Friday morning? I am good for anytime anywhere.
-
Went to the Afton campground last night just after sunset.
1. It was a real challenge getting down and especially up that road with the 2WD Surburban I had.
2. There was water at the faucet but it wasn't under much pressure at all.
3. The water crossing was about as deep as normal - and when I got there a whole flock of ducks were swimming around in it.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-10%20Oct%202010%20Mojave%20Trail/AftonCrossing.jpg)
-
Just for the record, it's Afton Canyon. Acton is out in the booneys near Dan. :D
So what time are we meeting on Friday?
-
Just for the record, it's Afton Canyon. Acton is out in the booneys near Dan. :D
So what time are we meeting on Friday?
Friday 10:30 AM at the McDonnalds
-
Should I bring firewood?
-
Should I bring firewood?
Yeah why not? Saturday I hope to get as far as the Afton Canyon campgrounds which has fire rings. I know of a location for Friday night that has an existing fire ring.
-
Got a response back from Danette Woo, Environmental Compliance & Special Park Uses, Mojave National Preserve
1. A special use permit is required for groups of either 7 or more vehicles
or 15 or more people . It takes approximately 2 weeks to process an
application, therefore it is not possible to stop in the office and pick
one up within one day.
I can not imagine what they need to do to the permit other than take our money and sign the paper. Must be background investigations needed.
2. The application fee for a special use permit is $50.00 for informal
groups. The administrative processing fee is waived; monitoring costs will
be assessed only if extenuating circumstances require them. If the latter
occurs, the permit holder will be informed of this in advance.
So room for one more truck before we're in trouble.
1. Paul
2. Kyle
3. Z (nubex)
4. Goldfish
5. Scott (scottmen)
6.
The National Park Service does not have jurisdiction over forest lands
and, therefore, do not require forest permits.
So no California forest permit required.
Visitors must bring in their own firewood and must contain fires within
existing fire rings or fire pans, or bring their own fire pans.
As expected we can use existing fire rings or bring our own pan.
Soda Lake is extremely sandy. A visitor became stuck along the Mojave Road
on Soda Lake within the last couple of days.
Sand is good, water is not!
So a note to all for the future, we need to figure out weeks in advance if there are going to be seven or more trucks and apply for the $50 permit.
-
Not it!! I'm gonna bow out this time to save the last spot ;D
Well that and the boys have school on Friday, soccer games Saturday then church Sunday. Not getting any help from the Ex-Wife with watching the kids so (sigh) no can go :(
-
I'll be leaving this afternoon. Call or text me if anything changes. 562-229-sixthreesixtwo.
-
I don't think anyone is going to care if we get more than 7 vehicles going. Anyways, I can't make it. Trying to make a deadline for a construction site.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
Wish I could make it, but thanks for leading the run Paul. :-\
-
I've updated the first post - where I work we're having a major Internet slow-down issue and I've been at it for 12.5 hours today without a cure and can't leave tomorrow with the system down. We've tried everything once and twice without a cure and at this point I'm numb from all the work. The trail is still open and hopefully someone can step up and fill in. If something "good" happens tomorrow when I refresh and start busting on the problem again I'll pack and go and start working the trail backwards from the Kel-Cina road east. At this point I haven't a clue as to what to do next so I'm not holding out hope for the trip and I'm planning on working the weekend until the system comes up again.
:'(
-
For us this would be the first off road trip.
Can we still go without Paul? Who knows the way?
Scott, Kyle and us are all new to this off roading - is that correct?
Please everybody confirm the plans for the trip.
Paul, you definitely will not be in Needles tomorrow. What do you suggest for us (me and my wife)? Should we still go?
Many questions, feel lost.
z
-
I was packing, but I stopped. Is everybody still on?
I called the number left by Goldfish but there was nobody there.
I must admit that I am close to retreating in shame and not going. yeah, that would be sad
nobody is online checking this thread?
It's true that we almost left this afternoon with the intent to spend the night some halfway to Needles. Then we would have arrived in Needles tomorrow to find who? Well, if you read this please check in.
I heard about thunderstorms tomorrow in the Mohave area. Is that a concern?
...crickets...
-
Since Paul's hope that "someone can step up and fill in" the lead of this xcursion did not come true as of 10pm in the eve of the event, we sadly announce that we will not attend this xcursion.
I will call goldfish and let him know also.
z 71four-625-o8o8
i just left him a message
-
Paul,
Goldfish already on his way to the meeting point and had no idea that you are not coming. No computer with him. He has some maps and stuff, but it looks like the trip is down to three trucks.
Hope your computer problems will be solved quickly and you will be off work=off road again.
-
Crap! I just read the thread! Had a bad feeling!
I have no idea on anything for this trail! I know many other trails in owens valley no where near mojave preserve!
Number 95170457elevn.
Call me if goldfish has maps we can plot it out when we get there if he wants to re route we can!
Avalible all nightz!
-
It is still on! Come all! Me and goldfish will take lead, I am leaving here at 5 and be to the mcdonalds on schedual!
Paul! Need trail head quardnets.
Pleas try not to drop out so soon called z left a voicemail.
Hope every one can make it still.
-
Talked to goldfish.run is off. Not safe since niether of us have a great idea about this run.
Sorry for the bad news. Since I have cleared my weekend I am up for any other run this weekend.
95170457eleven
-
crappy news. I wasn't going to be able to make it but thought I would live vicariously through you guys.
I was thinking 3 days in the thunderstorm infested desert would have been awesome! That's when all the desert tortoises come out!
-
well, kyle, i heard your messages and read your posts, but i had already given up. my plan to come just for one day was stupid anyway, but I just wanted soooo bad to go somewhere
this morning i'll be getting the cheapo winch from harbor freight
when is anybody going anywhere next?
z
-
Is anyone going? I am at the mcdonalds parking lot. Stayed in needles last night. Had no Internet. I will wait a little while longer.
-
Just for the record, it's Afton Canyon. Acton is out in the booneys near Dan. :D
So what time are we meeting on Friday?
True. Sucks if this Xcursion didn't happen. I just got back from Utah so could not make it. If rescheduled I'd like to try and go.
-
Worked late Thursday night, all day yesterday ... going in today too. :-\
I have never been stumped like this before ... this thing is kicking my butt.
I can't tell you how bad I feel about having to bail - but I'm newly hired and there's nobody else in the building can help.
-
Did you check for a clogged flux capacitor? They're a bear to get at but I've found that a clean one make the interwebs at my house faster.
-
Did you check for a clogged flux capacitor? They're a bear to get at but I've found that a clean one make the interwebs at my house faster.
It's the "interneds." If you say it wrong it will never work. Dang!
-
Who knows if its a clogged flux capacitor? I saw this British computer show called "The IT Crowd". It's really good and has nice computing tips. It is about an IT department in a company. The "IT" in the title represents the initials for "internet thing" (ha ha). Anyway, for those only familiar with flux capacitors, this show taught me a few new tricks, good to try when the computer is acting up: the most common one is to "try turning it off, then back on again". The show has a lot of other good computer stuff: they use the mouse, and do clicking, and double clicking, and other things, but i forgot them. I'll post again if i remember more. You guys should check it out sometimes! z
-
So it was 10:30pm Thursday night and I had just returned to my room from the casino downstairs. My phone gets a signal and alerts me I have 3 voice mails. They were from Nubex telling me that Paul had to back out, what are we going to do. I call him back and he decided that since he had to return home Friday night and I had no idea where the start of the trail was that he was out. I asked if anyone else had responded on the board weather or not they were coming and he said "no". Later that night I got a call from Kyle who said he would be at McDonalds in the morning. I told him I would see him there. I woke up around 4:00am, looked out the window to see light rain and lightning bolts. I decided that if only 2 trucks showed I would not go for safety reasons. I let Kyle know this and asked if anyone had responded to the board. He said "no". It was decided at that time that the trip was off. Little did we know that Scott was at a hotel in Needles with no Internet service. During my 99 cent ham and egg breakfast that the casino graciously comped I was pouring over some maps trying to find someplace between Needles and home that I could camp out for at least 1 night since I was loaded and ready to go. I spotted the Mitchell Caverns on the map, this is a place I have always wanted to go and see but was always in to big of a hurry to get to the river or someplace else to bother making the detour. This time it would be my destination. No excuses. The closer I got the better the weather was getting. I drove up to the small campground (6 spots) and only 2 were occupied. I set up camp and here was my view: [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
The cavern tour ($6.00) starts at 1:30 perfect, enough time for lunch and a little nap. I had just finished lunch when I hear a truck coming up the road. When it comes into sight it is a lifted Night Armor Xterra. My first thought was: wow what a coincidence to see an X like mine this far off the beaten track. He parks at the visitors center for a while and as I am getting ready to walk over and check out his X he drives over in my direction. He gets out at my camp and says "Are you Don?" after introductions he decides he is going to stay and take the tour with me. I told him if we could get someone else to show up here today we could do the Mohave Trail in the morning. I sent Paul a text and he sent Kyle one too. Kyle responded with "not sure about coming out, will you guys still go if I don't show?" Scotts reply was something like "if you don't show, you will ruin our weekend". Now the pressure was on and we were off to tour the caverns. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] 2 hours later and out of the caverns Scott receives a delayed text from Kyle that he is on his way and we had better be there. Kyle arrived just after dark in what else but a Night Armor X. All 3 turned out to be be 08's also. Kyle cooked burgers for dinner and after that it was like a car show as we were checking out each others Xterras. (I was going to say "rigs" but didn't want to get Mitch,Dan,& John worked up.) ::)
-
The next morning after Kyle cooked ziplok baggie omelets for every one we were off to the trail. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Whether was perfect and we did not see another vehicle on the trail all day. We stopped at all the usual spots except we could not find the road to the lava tubes. Road seemed a lot rougher than last year. The whoop de do's seems to go for ever. The water crossing was fun, probably about 2 1/2' deep. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] [ You are not allowed to view attachments ] Scott had to leave Sat. night so it was just Kyle, his dog Cutter and myself in the Afton Canyon campground. No one else, the place was deserted. The next morning when we left we found out why. The road coming in off of Hwy 15 was washed out. All in all it was a great weekend Kyle and Scott it was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to doing it again sometime.
-
what a happy ending for at least 3 of the original group! Very good!
My weekend was bad: I ended up going to work on Friday after 3 aleves and 3 espressos to reign in my headache; then work again on saturday, followed by dentist and a dance show (yeah, watched dudes dancing on the stage!). Had to go... :(
I got the wrong winch: 8000lb rather than the 10000lb one. Now I have to return the wrong one and get the right one. Will I ever even need to use a winch?
Will I need to change the bumper to install it?
When is the next xcursion?
-
Thanks again Don for stepping up and Kyle for coming out. Turned out to work out in the end. It was a fun trip.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
This should link to the route we took.
http://maps.google.com/?t=p&q=http:%2F%2Fapi.motionxlive.com%2Fmotionx-remote%2Fapi%2Fgps%2Fhost%2Fab5909c7-6de7-481b-91fb-7ff8f5c6a18a&ie=UTF8&ll=35.119909,-115.881042&spn=0.651502,1.766052&z=9
Here is the car that went under me when I was almost home.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
what a happy ending for at least 3 of the original group! Very good!
My weekend was bad: I ended up going to work on Friday after 3 aleves and 3 espressos to reign in my headache; then work again on saturday, followed by dentist and a dance show (yeah, watched dudes dancing on the stage!). Had to go... :(
I got the wrong winch: 8000lb rather than the 10000lb one. Now I have to return the wrong one and get the right one. Will I ever even need to use a winch?
Will I need to change the bumper to install it?
When is the next xcursion?
Do you have sliders or skidplates yet? Way more important than a winch. If you do not have an aftermarket bumper for your winch it is going to require some serious ingenuity to get that thing mounted. And I would really not depend on a winch from Harbor Freight.
-
I read the moab jeeper magazine review and i figured that, while it's not the most performant, for 240$+20tax i can't go wrong. i can still take it back, if i discover a better or smarter option. my wife is protesting anyway that she will not go anywhere where such a thing might be needed and that i take it back. so i did not decide yet, nothing final. i need good advice! thanks already!
I thought that if I ever get stuck somewhere by myself, i'd have to call somebody to get me out of the trouble; somebody to come means a few hours of somebody's time, times their hourly rate, plus me waiting for somebody for those few hours, it adds up; maybe even to as much as 240$ just for one rescue; vs. 15 minutes of pulling myself out with the winch from htf that i got on sale a while back and never used since i got (except to test it). How does this sound?
I only have the 4 stock Nissan skidplates that come with the off-road 2009 model.
Aftermarket bumper vs. tricky custom install with stock Nissan bumper? I heard that it takes 40 plus hours to mount on the original. That is expensive enough timewise that an aftermarket one could make sense. I wish we could talk about this kind of stuff, rather than me reading on the net and typing very slowly stupid questions.
So, when do we go somewhere? In november?
I'm going to try to start a new thread for an unidentified yet to be determined november xcursion
-
Glad everything went good for those who made it!
I told you the road from the 15 to the Afton campground was rough - my 2WD Suburban almost got stuck! I was just about ready to back down the hill, air down, and take a second stab at it when I barely was able to crawl up the hill I was stuck on.
No love at work. I spent five hours Friday beating my head against the network and four more on Saturday. Spent today doing some research and trying to learn something that I must have missed in the last 20 years of working on networks ... didn't work. I've got something loose in my network and don't have the baselines nor tools to find it.
-
Here is the car that went under me when I was almost home.
:o
Oh no. How's the X?
-
I don't know for sure. Looks scratched but I will take it in to make sure nothing is bent.
-
Don you and the guys rock. Glad to see someone had fun this weekend.
-
That's the way to make the most of it ;D
One of my all time favorite trails, want to run it before DST
-
This is a trip i wont forget. Had ups and downs, and was a great learning experience!
My story goes as follows:
I finally get the conformation the run is back on. That means I am getting ready to mobilize again. 20 mins later I am on the 15 Driving forward to Mitchell Caverns MOnitoring the 2meter big bear repeater and 146.52.
I hit many issolated storm cells and began to fear a wrech, sure enough a car hydroplanes, I stop and adminster assitance untill FD/PD/AMR shows up, back on the road and make camp at 7?
When i wake up this is my view
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Nqhsc6dwvBY/TKoAq0nQnwI/AAAAAAAAaMk/sMa0S3fw13k/s640/003.JPG)
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Nqhsc6dwvBY/TKoAvE3qRRI/AAAAAAAAaM0/jC4ccsYXsDI/s640/005.JPG)
WE hit the trails after some great omletts!Next stop, Mailbox and frogs. continue on and begin a search for these lava tubes. after an hour search I began to doubt the exsitance of the tubes...
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Nqhsc6dwvBY/TKoBiivCZDI/AAAAAAAAaQA/GC6Nj7W5rAY/s640/030.JPG)
Stopped for lunch on the dry lake bed, where it had to be 105? or so it seemed.
The epic water crossing.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Nqhsc6dwvBY/TKoCuevYjyI/AAAAAAAAaW4/3rnx472_yYo/s640/083.JPG)
Camp for the night.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Nqhsc6dwvBY/TKoKnBWoL7I/AAAAAAAAabI/bHVk9NIU5Ho/s576/096.JPG)
Album link
http://picasaweb.google.com/kylehasafiretruck/20101004MojaveTrail#
This was a great trip, Scott, Don you guys rock! haha great run and any time you guys wanna do another lets just plan it out some more! haha
-
Forgot to mention that Cutter was a very cool dog too. Good co-pilot.
-
Kyle, is that your truck with the aerodynamic front license plate coming out of the water crossing? Mine looked just about like that (maybe bent up even a bit more) when I went through there.
Great pics by the way. I'll have to check out the whole album later.
-
Kyle, is that your truck with the aerodynamic front license plate coming out of the water crossing? Mine looked just about like that (maybe bent up even a bit more) when I went through there.
Great pics by the way. I'll have to check out the whole album later.
Nope! that is scott's (scottmen)
Don (goldfish) said the same thing, that his was like that too!
-
Kyle, is that your truck with the aerodynamic front license plate coming out of the water crossing? Mine looked just about like that (maybe bent up even a bit more) when I went through there.
Great pics by the way. I'll have to check out the whole album later.
It's for the hydrodynamics. I was cutting through that water like a knife.
-
Quote of the trip "I dont know if I have the tires for this"hehe
-
Quote of the trip "I dont know if I have the tires for this"hehe
They aren't waterproof.
-
??? haha, You figure out thos Tire pressure sensors?
-
Just went to Costco today. They can check the sensors. They all were working. The tire pressure gauges we used to fill the tires were just way off. One was at 29.5 the rest were at about 30. They let me use their air and digital pressure meter to fill em up and it's all good now.
-
damn! thats no good! i need a new Gauge, how low did i air down then???
-
Nope! that is scott's (scottmen)
Don (goldfish) said the same thing, that his was like that too!
Something about the stock bumper that makes the water push up behind the plate and bend it out. I don't think my front plate was under water this time with the new bumper.
-
I applaud you all for the great effort it took to put this on. Wish I could've made it but the wallet said otherwise. Great pics.
-
Kyle really had the better pictures, but here are mine
http://picasaweb.google.com/scottmen/201010OctMojaveOffRoading#
-
Great pictures Scott, but why does it look like Kyle has his arm around me in the picture by the mine. :o
-
Dang scott those of the caves are crazy sad i missed that! :-\
Don...its all good :D
-
The struggle for this trip really trip really brought us all together.
-
Great pictures Scott, but why does it look like Kyle has his arm around me in the picture by the mine. :o
The struggle for this trip really trip really brought us all together.
Excuse me - and I don't usually like to invoke my status as a BOD member but this is just too important - please try to remember "what happens on the trail stays on the trail".
We don't need another round of stories like those that surfaced after Mitch, Dan and John got back from Area 51.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Unless, of course, you've got pictures.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. ;D
-
Excuse me - and I don't usually like to invoke my status as a BOD member but this is just too important - please try to remember "what happens on the trail stays on the trail".
We don't need another round of stories like those that surfaced after Mitch, Dan and John got back from Area 51.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Unless, of course, you've got pictures.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. ;D
Blame Bobby for that one. He highly recommended the "Man only, have to be naked hot tub, camp ground".
-
Blame Bobby for that one. He highly recommended the "Man only, have to be naked hot tub, camp ground".
That never happened.
-
That bath house was the worse night of my life, (http://neveryetmelted.com/wp-images/BalloMaschera2.jpg) I dont know what was worse, Mitch laughing about how much back hair I had or having to wear the Mickey Mouse mask.........I am still in therapy :(