richard310's 04 Xterra

[richard310]

Nice pics! How wide is the awning? looks smaller than the one I have- mine is as long as the side of the truck (minus the hood).

OK stop teasing and let's see the rest of the pics too

I've got the 1250mm awning, the shorter one. I was debating the longer one, but I felt I didn't need it. It would've been nice to have the extra few feet of shade, but I should be fine.

Pics are coming

 

[richard310]

Day 1: Torrance to Bradshaw Trail Campsite

So after a few last minute days of planning , I decided to do Bradshaw Trail and Joshua Tree. Luckily Merito (Steve) was going to the same area so we met up, along with my coworker buddy for a light trip. I briefly planned to hit Bradshaw on Day 1, Joshua Tree on Day 2, and then Big Bear on Day 3. I left the entire trip open to do whatever came up.

I met up Steve in his Rubicon and his two kids and dog at 8AM in Gardena to grab some breakfast and remaining items; then we headed out to General Patton Museum to meet my buddy Ryan in his Vehicross. Got to the Museum about noon time and checked it out. It was an awesome place and we all were really glad to have visited it. Tanks, tons of WWII memorabilia, and also some items from the Vietnam, Korean, and Iraq Wars. I'm extremely happy to see this place still functioning and lots of visitors throughout the day!

After checking out Patton's Museum and learning about the entire Desert Training Center, we headed out to Bradshaw Trail via the Red Canyon Jeep Trail just south of the Museum. We had lunch at the trail head and then headed out. It was an awesome trail, very light that only 2wd was only needed. There were tons of ATVs, buggies and dirtbikes along the way.

On the Jeep trail, I did manage to get myself stuck for the first time. I had pulled to the side to let some oncoming Jeeps come pass but as I pulled off, I ended up in some really soft sand. The Jeeps by this time had turned around and headed another direction...bastards. I end up digging a massive hole with my driverside rear (no lockers and 4lo didn't do anything). We tried getting the truck out by stacking rocks and whatever we can find but that dug me in a deeper hole. We ended up using Steve's winch to get me out as he was very eager to break it in. First minor recovery a success.

Once we hit the Bradshaw Trail, light was starting to dwindle so we headed out and decided to find a campground near one of the mines along the way. On the trail, we encountered a recently abandoned Honda Passport. It had been almost completely stripped. Windows broken, missing all 4 wheels as it was sitting on blocks and one ammo can, dash ripped apart, etc. We left after checking out the carnage and made camp along an unused trail off Bradshaw, unable to find the mine as it was pitch black outside.

General Patton Museum

 

[richard310]

Day 1 Continued:

Bradshaw Trail:

 

[richard310]

Day 2: Bradshaw Trail to Berdoo Canyon Campsite

Today we woke up at a leisure pace and did some plinking before we left the BLM campsite. We backtracked a bit to check out the random boat that was being built along the trail. A pretty cool looking boat with some pretty nice fiberglassing molds. On the way out, we decided to wing the rest of the trip and the kids and Ryan wanted to check out the geode area south of Bradshaw along Wiley Way. So we make the detour and head down there around noon time. It was getting hot so I busted out the awning and had some ice cold brewskies. We all hung out at the geode location; Ryan and the kids found some pretty good geodes to take home. Had lunch there then took off towards the second campsite. We debated whether or not to find a campground within Joshua Tree or to just head towards BLM land and find anywhere to camp. The sites in Joshua Tree are first come, first serve, so we weren't sure if the sites were packed or not, being a long weekend. We decided on the former to avoid not finding a spot; and headed towards Berdoo Canyon to find a spot just before the entrance to JT. We found a nice tucked away corner surrounded by hills up above the road and camped there for the night, away from the crazy's.

 

[richard310]

Day 3: Berdoo to Joshua Tree

Woke up wonderfully after a good nights rest and cooked some breakfast. Another great leisure morning, as it should be. Steve and the kids wanted to plink some more so we had an awesome morning of relaxin, breakfastin and shootin. Steve and the kids headed home right before lunch time as they had things to take care of at home. Thanks for coming along Steve, Hank, Carter and Mackenna (spelling?). Hope you guys had fun and I wasn't too much of a bore. We'll see you at the next outing!

Ryan and I decided to wing the rest of the trip and take a leisure pace through the rest of Berdoo into Joshua Tree. On the way to Geology Tour, we took some offtrail routes and I ended up getting stuck making a U-turn. My rears dug in again and so did my fronts. I had dug an even bigger hole than the first time and both front and rear had gone in. Decided to use a snatch strap to tow me out. Found a rockier patch and made the turn out. These Coopers really don't like soft sand... or I just need lockers We ended up just at the end of Geology Tour and hiked to the Desert Queen Mine as dusk approached. We explored a few open mines and the immediate area. Sunset approached so we decided to head out of the park and head home. We ended up sitting in traffic before Morongo Casino, so I radio'd Ryan to see if he wanted to epxlore a bypass route Service Road on the north side of the I-10 freeway. Turns out theres a fireroad running along the stretch of freeway from Joshua Tree all the way into Morongo Casino. Most of it is Federal/State land but the gates were open. Away we went and once we hit Morongo to fill up, we sat in more traffic all the way home. As I drove home, what I should've done is take Forest Road 2N02 into Big Bear via Yucca Valley to not only avoid traffic, but also to enjoy the rain and fireroad in the dark. That would've been a great ending to this trip... next time!

Overall a great trip, great company and a wonderful time.

 

[richard310]

 

[mortonm]

stunning pictures as usual!

Im always jealous of these southwestern trips, as it is so far removed from anything we have in the northeast

 

[stioc]

Awesome pics, sounds like a fun trip!

How big are those tires on the Vehicross? they look huge on the little [but capable] truck

 

[richard310]

stunning pictures as usual!

Im always jealous of these southwestern trips, as it is so far removed from anything we have in the northeast

Head down here and we'll show you a wonderful memorable time!

Awesome pics, sounds like a fun trip!

How big are those tires on the Vehicross? they look huge on the little [but capable] truck

Funny I said the same thing about his tires! They're actually the same size as mine: 265/75-16



I'll he uploading pictures this week from this weekend's Toys4Tots with American Adventurist at Camp Pendleton. It was an awesome event with great company. Lots of food and drink and even a sound show of artillery booms during the day and night.
Can't wait for the AAV Desert Rendezvous next year!

 

[richard310]

 

[richard310]

 

[richard310]

 

[stioc]

Great photo coverage of the event, I recognized several rigs.

Oh and that Sportsmobile is 'Hella' cool lol

What is the shade attachment to your awning? I haven't seen that before.

 

[richard310]

Great photo coverage of the event, I recognized several rigs.

Oh and that Sportsmobile is 'Hella' cool lol

What is the shade attachment to your awning? I haven't seen that before.

The attachment is ARB's Front Windbreak for the 1250mm awning. Sierra Expeditions carries them. The girlfriend loved it as it created a small wall for privacy and also from the wind and sun. It was kind of a pain to install for something as simple as it is but it works pretty well. When I had the whole setup deployed, it made me really want the 2000mm awning... but I have short arms so this will do.

 

[Allof75]

What a neat trip to JT: always a great time. I did berdoo canyon about two years ago with no lift, at night with stock lighting, and I would not recommend it haha. But it's a great trail for the better planned.