JeepSWAG Winter Run - Afton Canyon Like you've never seen it before Jan. 11th - 13th.
 

Jan. 5th UPDATE:

I'm going to bring a large pot of chili for Saturday dinner.


If someone could bring cornbread, we could serve up a pretty good meal.


Also, I'm looking for a trail leader for the guys who are driving out at the end of Saturday. If you have plenty of experience and can follow a GPS track (have a GPS that you can enter a track into), please post up.



I'm putting an Afton Canyon run together. Afton Canyon is a must see and most people run the canyon floor only. There's lots to see in the area around the canyon. I think the best views are from the rim on each side. This run will explore both the Northern and Southern rims of Afton Canyon, with a run through the Canyon floor on the way home.

This is not an extreme run and any stock JK will easily handle these trails. The most challenging part of the run is a drive down a very steep sand trail.

What is a little extreme is the camping. It can get down to freezing at night. Days should be nice jacket weather.

If you want to join for Saturday only, you'll get to see the better part of the entire run.

There will be two meeting times. One on Friday night at Peggy Sue's Dinner. Another on Saturday Morning.

Friday
- Meet at Peggy Sue's for dinner at 6:00 (map LINK)
- Depart Peggy Sue's at 7:00 (late meet time for those who can't get their by 6)

Saturday
- Breakfast and some short hikes around camp
- Depart camp at 9:30, for Saturday Meeting Spot
- Saturday Morning meet time 10:00 (meeting spot map LINK)
- 10:15 Depart Sat. meet spot for run up the northern rim and a short hike to some great views
- Lunch under the train trestle and a detour to T-Bone Albright's grave site
- Trail run to the Southern Rim and to Saturday night camp site
(Those not camping on Saturday night will head back down the southern rim and home through the canyon floor)
- Dinner Saturday night and a night run.

Jan. 2nd Update: Just got confirmation from Harry Lewellyn, that he and his wife Jenna will be joining us. Harry is the owner of Staun USA (tire deflaytors and internal beadlocks). He's also known as the Professor of Offroading. Harry wrote the book "Shift into 4WD" (AMAZON LINK) Harry has agreed to do a Saturday Lunch presentation about differentials, that should be interesting.

Sunday
- Run back down the Southern rim and through the Canyon floor
- Detour to Spooky Canyon
- Lunch and the highway home

Full Trip Going:
Woods
zig650
The Professor of 4WD

Full Trip Maybe:
Nicknowles22


Saturday Trip Going:
Markinda909
MikeyMo
GabrielG
Mauro
JeepItm8
dave nelson
SaFFFari
JZ2DRJK

Saturday Trip Maybe:
RENE RAMOS
jesse0920



Some pics from previous trips:

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7808/dsc1901copy.jpg

Spooky Canyon - Note the girl at the bottom:
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7548/dsc1912copy.jpg

Will be a little early for flowers, but:
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/8869/dsc1940x.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/6384/dsc1980copy.jpg

Chupacabra?:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1995/dsc1907copy.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3783/dsc1965copy.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/4615/dsc1946copy.jpg

Found this guy in a mine:
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8053/dsc1967copy.jpg

Mojave River
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6347/dsc2039copyi.jpg

http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/1048/dsc2041copy.jpg

Sounds like a good time, I'd like to go.

Sounds awesome. Should beable to go of I can get Friday off work

I went to this area for the first time a few weeks ago (just east of Calico Ghost Town), and MAN is it beautiful out there. Count me in! I'll have to pull a short day at work that Friday. :rock:

I'd like to check this trail out. Put me down as going.

I'm a maybe for Saturday

Cave Mountain & Cady Mountain Areas
 

JeepSWAG Meeting spot N35.057674 W116.390119

If you have the time and like to nose around
Here are some Way Points to look at
Part info off of USGS map datum

Antenna for Seismological Tracking Equipment N35.050739 W116.345758
T-Bone Albright's Grave Plaque N35.038569 W116.310464

N35.036478, W116.384163 Afton Canyon Indian excavation site
N35.034957, W116.379014 Afton railroad station cemetary
N35.029264, W116.371496 The Caves at Afton Canyon
N35.028849, W116.371723 Sand Dune and erroding cliffs
N35.021549, W116.351768 Arbuckle Mine in Afton Canyon
N35.037651, W116.316638 Second buried boxcar in Afton Canyon wash

Prospects sites
N35.044665 W116.315338
N35.046348 W116.307654
N35.041056 W116.315060
N35.039948 W116.322763
N35.039599 W116.323382

Mine
N35.049429 W116.300635
N35.050427 W116.297898

Happy Holidays Peeps

33:yup:

Hey 33 - great way points. Did you find the seismological antenna and t-bone's grave on your own? I found them and they are two of the few panoramio pics that I have posted on Google Earth ANTENNA LINK T-Bone LINK I also started a facebook page for T-Bone. Be sure to "friend him" LINK

I'd like to hear more about the sand dune and eroding cliffs. Have you driven your Jeep there? Any pix by chance? Last year, after the rain, the fence got washed out. I didn't drive back there, but it's a beautiful area. I hope it's open, I'd like to check it out.

Thanks again for posting.

I did a part of Afton Canyon run a few years back as a stock solo jeep for a pre mojave road trip ( which I will not do solo again ) in a plastic tin can they call a JK !.:wink:

During my research, California State University, Desert Studies Center off of Zzyzx Rd has gps info with pictures, but I don't remember if it was Riverside or Fullerton college, I do remember that Fish and Wildlife was thinking of getting involved in Afton Canyon area and that upset the friends of the mojave road. Offroad and jeep clan liked the BLM rules because it's more open for these type of offroaders than Fish and Wildlife rules and guide lines.

I don't know if there are new rules and guide lines for the area, concerning private property so do your research Brett.

During these holidays the best to you and your's and have a safe Afton Canyon trek !

P.S.
Do you have the TC Cable end kit yet ?

33:yup:

Awesome pics you posted! I just realized that Peggy's Sue's is right next to all the fun little trails up in the canyons that I ran recently out there.

Question - Do you happen to have your DOR Jack Mount w/ Accessory Bars mounted on your Jeep? I have yet to see one up close in person, and it's on my "soon to possibly add to the rig" list. :thumbsup: