Jr_Explorer
Explorer
Well let me start by providing links to the original planning thread (http://americanadventurist.com/Forum/showthread.php?553-mojave-road) and a trip report thread over there (http://americanadventurist.com/Forum/showthread.php?804-Mojave-Rd-Sept-2013). I thought I'd put my rather redundant trip report here since this site and it's members have given me so much help and inspiration.
I have never really been an off-roader type. To date I've done one run on Cleghorn Road with a large group (where I met Bob91YJ) and a quick tour of the washes of Anza Borrego with four other folks from the forums here. I've been stalking this site for several years, bought my truck a year ago based in large part to my preferences and what others here have done in the past and got my Flippac about a month and a half prior to this trip. Of course I've heard of the Mojave Road. Bought the guide book. Stalked previous trip reports a bit. And watched the trip planning thread (link above) intently. No one in the final group had made this run before. For a while Bob91YJ was going to take his Duramax so I was pretty confident I could make it if he could with his full-size. As the day grew closer, he opted to take his mod'ed Jeep (the flex-o-matic) and I came to realize that I would be the shining white behemoth in the group if I tagged along. Also at the last minute my gf tweek'ed her hip/back and would NOT be up for 100+ miles of off-road adventuring in a 3/4 ton truck. I've always said that with 6 months careful planning and consideration I can be as spontaneous as the next guy! So undeterred I committed to this three and a half day adventure for my first "expedition" trip.
In the planning thread concerns were expressed about weather (too hot with the hot indian summer we were having in the weeks leading up to the trip). The desert experienced some fierce rain storms and some areas in Death Valley and elsewhere were reported as washed out/closed. So for novice me there WAS some trepidation. But hey... A bad day exploring is most likely better than a good day at work!
Bob91YJ and wife in their Jeep and Travis.Dillar and wife in their 2WD Tacoma left San Diego mid day Thursday and I met up at the McDonald's on the 15 (Cajon Pass). Onwards we went and went straight to Balancing Rocks to camp that night. The night was cool, windy and clear as a bell! Despite some reports I've read of the Flippac tent flapping in the wind I was parked about 45 degrees nose into the wind and experienced no flapping at all. And it blew hard enough to rock the truck a few times so I was quite happy. Everyone got a good nights sleep. Friday morning we broke camp with a purpose which was to head to Avi Casino for fuel-up and to meet BWidget and his son in their mostly stock, late model Jeep Grand Cherokee.
First stop... Fort Piute!
Next up was lunch at the bus.
And the coin can. Can you tell Bob & his #1 are having a wee bit'o fun?
Here's the whole gang hiking up to...
The Rock House!
In looking for the "School House" I ended up in the lead and managed to hi-center my long wheelbase butt climbing a steep, sandy bank out of a wash. BWidget helped my break in my virgin snatch strap (that sounds bad!) and pulled me back off the bank and I made it on the second attempt.
So somewhere in here we spent our first night at Mid Hills Campground at approx. 5,500 ft elev. I made tacos for the crew and it got refreshingly brisk as the sun set. Most of us called it a night early and it got to the low 50's.
Since the photog never gets to be in the photos we passed cameras around. So here are a couple poser shots of yours truly and my beloved monster.
I have never really been an off-roader type. To date I've done one run on Cleghorn Road with a large group (where I met Bob91YJ) and a quick tour of the washes of Anza Borrego with four other folks from the forums here. I've been stalking this site for several years, bought my truck a year ago based in large part to my preferences and what others here have done in the past and got my Flippac about a month and a half prior to this trip. Of course I've heard of the Mojave Road. Bought the guide book. Stalked previous trip reports a bit. And watched the trip planning thread (link above) intently. No one in the final group had made this run before. For a while Bob91YJ was going to take his Duramax so I was pretty confident I could make it if he could with his full-size. As the day grew closer, he opted to take his mod'ed Jeep (the flex-o-matic) and I came to realize that I would be the shining white behemoth in the group if I tagged along. Also at the last minute my gf tweek'ed her hip/back and would NOT be up for 100+ miles of off-road adventuring in a 3/4 ton truck. I've always said that with 6 months careful planning and consideration I can be as spontaneous as the next guy! So undeterred I committed to this three and a half day adventure for my first "expedition" trip.
In the planning thread concerns were expressed about weather (too hot with the hot indian summer we were having in the weeks leading up to the trip). The desert experienced some fierce rain storms and some areas in Death Valley and elsewhere were reported as washed out/closed. So for novice me there WAS some trepidation. But hey... A bad day exploring is most likely better than a good day at work!
Bob91YJ and wife in their Jeep and Travis.Dillar and wife in their 2WD Tacoma left San Diego mid day Thursday and I met up at the McDonald's on the 15 (Cajon Pass). Onwards we went and went straight to Balancing Rocks to camp that night. The night was cool, windy and clear as a bell! Despite some reports I've read of the Flippac tent flapping in the wind I was parked about 45 degrees nose into the wind and experienced no flapping at all. And it blew hard enough to rock the truck a few times so I was quite happy. Everyone got a good nights sleep. Friday morning we broke camp with a purpose which was to head to Avi Casino for fuel-up and to meet BWidget and his son in their mostly stock, late model Jeep Grand Cherokee.
First stop... Fort Piute!
Next up was lunch at the bus.
And the coin can. Can you tell Bob & his #1 are having a wee bit'o fun?
Here's the whole gang hiking up to...
The Rock House!
In looking for the "School House" I ended up in the lead and managed to hi-center my long wheelbase butt climbing a steep, sandy bank out of a wash. BWidget helped my break in my virgin snatch strap (that sounds bad!) and pulled me back off the bank and I made it on the second attempt.
So somewhere in here we spent our first night at Mid Hills Campground at approx. 5,500 ft elev. I made tacos for the crew and it got refreshingly brisk as the sun set. Most of us called it a night early and it got to the low 50's.
Since the photog never gets to be in the photos we passed cameras around. So here are a couple poser shots of yours truly and my beloved monster.
Last edited:
