Any of you all see this thread? (Mojave Road)
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
Any of you all see this thread? (Mojave Road)
The administrator Eddie (aka wayoflife) led a run into the Mojave National Preserve. Most of this is along the Mojave Road trail that I ran last May with some collegues of mine from Arizona. It is an awesome trail and outing. There's nothing technical but it's a very interesting area with lots to see and extremely remote. Check these out if you haven't seen them.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ight=wayoflife
Well, the plan for the weekend was supposed to be stay at home and catch up on work but, being that we hadn't done a run since Moab, the itch to get out had started become unbearable. And, after finding out that the wildflowers were still very much in bloom and going strong in some parts of the desert, we decided to screw work, pack up and head on out to the Mojave National Preserve where we could get out and do some hiking. Although we were were planning to go by ourselves and make this a family trip, I got talking to Moochie the night before and as luck would have it, both he and his nephew Anthony decided to join us for the trip as well.
Starting off in Barstow, our weekend desert exploration took us through Afton Canyon, up and over Cima Dome, past Kelso Station and then to the Kelso Dunes where we setup camp. The following morning, we decided to make a final stop over at the Lava Tube before making our way back home. Anyway, here are some pics from our trip....
As soon as we got to the first water crossing in Afton Canyon, we found ourselves recovering a stock YJ that had hydrolocked in its depths....
Shot of Moochie getting ready to pull the guy out....
Making our way across - good thing we both had 4" of lift, 35" tires and a tendancy to take water crossings slowly....
The second water crossing by the train bridge wasn't as deep....
Taking some time out to check out the old bridge...
Making a stop down by the Mojave River near the Arbuckle Mine....
The Beaver Tails were all in bloom here....
We also found a rare Desert Five Spot...
Our next stop was to take a hike back into Spooky Canyon....
The severe twists and gnarled turns of this narrow canyon into something closer to a cave in no time at all...
The last set of climbs towards the end are so steep and tall that rope have been put in place to assist hikers up to the top. With a full day ahead of us, we decided to turn back here....
This is a shot of some Rock Nettle that we found near the entrace of Spooky Canyon. You should be careful not to touch this stuff as it will give you a rash...
Outside of Afton Canyon and near the Zzyzx, we found a large display of Prickly Poppies...
We also came across endless fields of Desert Sand Verbana...
and, we saw whole lot of Dune Evening Primrose...
Stopping for some lunch at the Sunrise Rock....
The ever controversial VFW Memorial....
There are more Joshua Trees here at Cima Dome than there are at Joshua Trees National Park...
and, some were still in bloom....
A friend we met on the rocks....
Found a gorgeous Mojave Mound Cactus in bloom here....
Also came across some Desert Paintbrush feasting on a small bush growing out of a crack in a rock...
Down in Kelso, Moochie gets locked up in the old Jail....
After setting up camp, we set off to climb the highest peak (about 600 ft. high) at the Kelso Dunes and before sunset...
Patterns in the sand that the Kelso Dunes....
Still a grueling long way to go....
Near the top...
On top of the highest peak looking north....
Anthony standing on the peak watching the sun go down...
Mountain silhouettes at sunset....
Making the trek back down by moonlight...
In addition to the spectacular views we got to see, we were also rewarded with a rare experience that some refer to as "booming" or "singing" sand. This phenomenon is not only something you can hear, it's something you can feel as well in the sand beneath your feet. No joke, this is what it sounds like... http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=393139452846 More pics are posted below but, if you would like to see all the photos we took on this Mojave Desert excursion, simply click on the link below:
Mojave Desert by Jeep and by Foot 2010
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...ight=wayoflife
Well, the plan for the weekend was supposed to be stay at home and catch up on work but, being that we hadn't done a run since Moab, the itch to get out had started become unbearable. And, after finding out that the wildflowers were still very much in bloom and going strong in some parts of the desert, we decided to screw work, pack up and head on out to the Mojave National Preserve where we could get out and do some hiking. Although we were were planning to go by ourselves and make this a family trip, I got talking to Moochie the night before and as luck would have it, both he and his nephew Anthony decided to join us for the trip as well.
Starting off in Barstow, our weekend desert exploration took us through Afton Canyon, up and over Cima Dome, past Kelso Station and then to the Kelso Dunes where we setup camp. The following morning, we decided to make a final stop over at the Lava Tube before making our way back home. Anyway, here are some pics from our trip....
As soon as we got to the first water crossing in Afton Canyon, we found ourselves recovering a stock YJ that had hydrolocked in its depths....
Shot of Moochie getting ready to pull the guy out....
Making our way across - good thing we both had 4" of lift, 35" tires and a tendancy to take water crossings slowly....
The second water crossing by the train bridge wasn't as deep....
Taking some time out to check out the old bridge...
Making a stop down by the Mojave River near the Arbuckle Mine....
The Beaver Tails were all in bloom here....
We also found a rare Desert Five Spot...
Our next stop was to take a hike back into Spooky Canyon....
The severe twists and gnarled turns of this narrow canyon into something closer to a cave in no time at all...
The last set of climbs towards the end are so steep and tall that rope have been put in place to assist hikers up to the top. With a full day ahead of us, we decided to turn back here....
This is a shot of some Rock Nettle that we found near the entrace of Spooky Canyon. You should be careful not to touch this stuff as it will give you a rash...
Outside of Afton Canyon and near the Zzyzx, we found a large display of Prickly Poppies...
We also came across endless fields of Desert Sand Verbana...
and, we saw whole lot of Dune Evening Primrose...
Stopping for some lunch at the Sunrise Rock....
The ever controversial VFW Memorial....
There are more Joshua Trees here at Cima Dome than there are at Joshua Trees National Park...
and, some were still in bloom....
A friend we met on the rocks....
Found a gorgeous Mojave Mound Cactus in bloom here....
Also came across some Desert Paintbrush feasting on a small bush growing out of a crack in a rock...
Down in Kelso, Moochie gets locked up in the old Jail....
After setting up camp, we set off to climb the highest peak (about 600 ft. high) at the Kelso Dunes and before sunset...
Patterns in the sand that the Kelso Dunes....
Still a grueling long way to go....
Near the top...
On top of the highest peak looking north....
Anthony standing on the peak watching the sun go down...
Mountain silhouettes at sunset....
Making the trek back down by moonlight...
In addition to the spectacular views we got to see, we were also rewarded with a rare experience that some refer to as "booming" or "singing" sand. This phenomenon is not only something you can hear, it's something you can feel as well in the sand beneath your feet. No joke, this is what it sounds like... http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=393139452846 More pics are posted below but, if you would like to see all the photos we took on this Mojave Desert excursion, simply click on the link below:
Mojave Desert by Jeep and by Foot 2010
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
More from Eddie:
This is why I love camping and Jeepin:
Here's a shots of camp just before sunrise....
Wild Rhubarb growing everywhere. While this plant is toxic, it is edible when boiled and can be eaten like spinach...
A shot of camp with our Jeeps in the foreground and the peaks of the Kelso Dunes way out in the distant. Man, I'm still sore from the hike....
Heading up to the Lava Tubes, we spotted Desert Tortoise along the side of the road, a very rear find. If you see one, be sure to keep your distance and DO NOT attempt to handle it...
With traffic coming in both directions, we stayed around long enough to make sure it got across the road unharmed...
Safely on the other side, the tortoise seeks shelter from the sun under this bush....
To watch this Desert Tortoise cross the road, click on the video link below: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=393191677846 Some Fremont Phacelia we found nearby...
Hiking up to the Lava Tubes....
It's been about 2 years since I've last been here and during that time, someone installed a new and much sturdier step ladder....
Found a Thick-Leaved Ground Cherry I found down at the bottom the mouth of the Lava Tube...
Streaming light inside the Lava Tubes....
Moochie on the outside looking in through one of the skylights....
Beautiful Apricot Mallow near the mouth of the Lava Tubes....
Fields of Desert Dandelions could be found everywhere nearby....
This is why I love camping and Jeepin:
Here's a shots of camp just before sunrise....
Wild Rhubarb growing everywhere. While this plant is toxic, it is edible when boiled and can be eaten like spinach...
A shot of camp with our Jeeps in the foreground and the peaks of the Kelso Dunes way out in the distant. Man, I'm still sore from the hike....
Heading up to the Lava Tubes, we spotted Desert Tortoise along the side of the road, a very rear find. If you see one, be sure to keep your distance and DO NOT attempt to handle it...
With traffic coming in both directions, we stayed around long enough to make sure it got across the road unharmed...
Safely on the other side, the tortoise seeks shelter from the sun under this bush....
To watch this Desert Tortoise cross the road, click on the video link below: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=393191677846 Some Fremont Phacelia we found nearby...
Hiking up to the Lava Tubes....
It's been about 2 years since I've last been here and during that time, someone installed a new and much sturdier step ladder....
Found a Thick-Leaved Ground Cherry I found down at the bottom the mouth of the Lava Tube...
Streaming light inside the Lava Tubes....
Moochie on the outside looking in through one of the skylights....
Beautiful Apricot Mallow near the mouth of the Lava Tubes....
Fields of Desert Dandelions could be found everywhere nearby....
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
