Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX Xcursion Pictures => Topic started by: Paul on March 14, 2010, 07:50:36 PM
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Here's the trail traveled - into Red Canyon, along the Bradshaw Trail, up into the Augustine Pass, into the Chuckwalla Springs area where we camped. From there down the Graham Pass, back along the Bradshaw Trail, and then out the Government Pass.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/BradshawTrail.jpg)
Just three trucks: Paul and Noon, Mark and Nia, and Steven and Sandra.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw01.jpg)
We aired down and started along the trail, stretched our suspensions and nerves on some hill climbing ...
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw30.jpg)
.... and then rode along the ridge line above Red Canyon ...
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw24.jpg)
... before we dropped down into the canyon for lunch.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw25.jpg)
Then it was onto the Bradshaw Trail and out to the bombs. Mark checked to make sure they were all duds.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw02.jpg)
So we posed.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw31.jpg)
We found one mud puddle to play in.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw03.jpg)
That's not how to make a splash ... this is how to make a splash!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw29.jpg)
Mark crashed into the old up-side-down van trying to right it.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw04.jpg)
The flowers were beginning to bloom
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw05.jpg)
Caught a bee doing what bee's do to a Desert Mariposa Lily!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw28.jpg)
The cactus were plump - a fish hook barrel cactus.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw27.jpg)
About four hours on the road we made it to the Augustine Pass which I had just run the week before Christmas last year. The recent rains changed that trail 100% and the trail was a nice ripe black diamond trail with lots of exposed rocks, steps, and ridges that had been covered in gravel. All that gravel that had been washed out of the canyon maded the road out invisible. I looked for previous tracks and there were none that I saw so we were the first though the canyon since the gully-washing. There was still water in the canyon for most of the trip. Lots of twists, turns, and challenges ... nothing stopped us though.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw26.jpg)
At the Chuckwalla Springs area we camped near the ruins of an old mining area. The wind was intermittent but we had a big dinner (gee that was a surprise), a bigger fire, and sat around telling stories. We heard animals walking through the wash that night - big animals! The wind picked up after bedtime and really blew the tents about.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw06.jpg)
The next morning we went up the canyon a bit to play on the rocky trail.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw07.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw32.jpg)
And we started out toward the Graham Pass. You can see the amount of erosion that has taken place since we visited in December.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw08.jpg)
Graham Pass was an easy ride as it had just been graded with an earth grader.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw09.jpg)
We did see some wild life. First a rare Desert Tortoise. Playing hard to get.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw10.jpg)
And later coming out of it's shell ... don't be shy! We watched him for about ten minutes and left it some fruits and vegetables before hitting the trail again. This is only the second tortoise I've seen - both of them along the Bradshaw trail.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw11.jpg)
The flowers were blooming big time in this canyon. The ocotillo was very green and the flowers were amazing!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw12.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw13.jpg)
We turned back onto the Bradshaw trail and continued east bound. The view was the standard amazing landscape where you can see forty to fifty miles in every direction and not see hardly a trace of man.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw14.jpg)
Except for this. What the heck it is I don't know except to label it as someones insanity. The boat was built into the frame work you see on the outside and under it. Those wheels were too small to get it there - the sand way too soft for wheels that small. The top sealed to the bottom but was being held open with some wood. There were wheels on the top too. There was no rudder. No mounting for an engine inboard or outboard. No way to get inside or out. The insides were empty. The fiberglass was 3/4" thick ... someone's crazy!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw15.jpg)
So we tried a new trail the Government Pass. The trail looked really under used so we knew the thing could be fun. The road wasn't too hard, lots of gully washes where you had to ease in and out. I started to worry when a Turkey Vulture started to circle us! Beautiful shots scaled down to fit here.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw16.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw17.jpg)
Mark spotted a herd of burro and started to chase them across the desert.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw18.jpg)
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw19.jpg)
They crossed the road right in front of us.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw20.jpg)
We had lunch on day two up on the top of the pass. There were still fighting emplacements from WWII with some empty ration cans laying around. Nice view too. Big picture below.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw21.jpg)
From the top we headed down into more flowers ....
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw22.jpg)
and washed out gullies. I think Steve and Sandra had a good introduction into traveling with the club. Steve is a good driver and for some unknown reason trusted mine and Mark's spotting and advice. Hope he and his lovely bride come out on more trips to meet the rest of you folks.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/10-023%20Mar%202010%20Bradshaw%20Trail/Bradshaw23.jpg)
You guys missed a really good trail, great weather, super food, and some encounters with some rare wild life. About 92 miles off road total.
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A posted on another board suggests that the ark is really a fiberglass mold! The wheels rotate the mold 360 degrees to spread the plastic resin. Now what is it doing in the middle of the desert?
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Looks like a great run. Sorry i missed it
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Nice write up and pics Paul. Sounds like a good run, sorry I missed it, I do enjoy the Bradshaw.
One question - I noticed that only the red Xterra was without extra fuel, do they get much better mileage or something?
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W O W ! Beautiful scenery... awesome expedition... sounds like you guys had a blast! At one point the burro shots looked like you guys were chasing wildebeest in the wild safari! Truly epic! Thanks for sharing Paul!
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Nice write up and pics Paul. Sounds like a good run, sorry I missed it, I do enjoy the Bradshaw.
One question - I noticed that only the red Xterra was without extra fuel, do they get much better mileage or something?
That particular Xterra often runs on fumes.
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Thats my new(old) nickname! FUMES!!!!
Paul thank you for being a great trail leader and looking out for us all night!
Nia really liked you & Noon and thinks she's a sweetheart.
Nia also liked the new couple Steven & Sandra too and want them to come back.
Mark
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Paul, thank you much for the lead.
It was very nice meeting you all. Thanks for your company, advice, food .. its was all great !! We'll definetly see you again.
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looks so crazy,but i like it.great!