Mojave Road Crossing –by Jungle Jim Carvin

Those participating were (left to right):
 

Jungle Jim Carvin

Larry Nix and Dylan Romero

Richard Palicz

Stacy, John and Ally Laird

Jane and Richard Laughlin

Michael, Jonathan and Zach Dochterman

Lisa and Brad Reese

John and John III Haupt

Our ride began with its soft sand which would last for many miles. This far-western stretch of Mojave Road runs through the Mojave River and its flood plain all the way into soda dry lake.

The water in the river only surfaces in a few spots along the way.

Shortly into the route, it was apparent that the four wheel drive wasn’t engaging in Larry Nix’s big truck. So, he departed at Afton Canyon, where we crossed a main dirt road back to pavement. It is surely good that we found out he has a problem when we did, because he never would have made it past the dune area, even if he had stayed on the trail.

Our first major landmark was a place called “The Caves,” which provided shade and shelter from the constant north breeze that was helping to blow our dust off to the side as we rode.

As we moved out on our eastward journey, the trail became very soft where it runs through an area of mild dunes. This is always a good place for beginners to get a taste of dune running, since there are no real steep hills and lots of pure sand, but it’s no place for big heavy trucks with hard tires. Of the three bug trucks that started, only two remained at this point. I remember saying over the radio, “This is a fun place to play in the sand, but don’t everyone follow me because you’ll get stuck.” I was thinking the trucks would take the hint. Brad and Lisa’s Ford Excursion did surprisingly well. And when I made my turn to head back, and I saw Richard Palicz’s truck pass by, I thought, “wonders never cease.” Well the wonder did cease when the big diesel sunk to the axles in a dead stop. Fortunately, he was pointed back toward the trail, but it took 3 Jeeps and a Toyota to pull him out.

See the Rescue Video (8mb - Broadband req'd.)

I had done the entire trail in one day before, but after the delays from pulling out this truck and from troubleshooting Larry’s truck and then airing him back up, and also delays from another slow moving truck, I was glad we made this a two-day event.

After traversing the Mojave River and negotiating the short rock climb through Shaw Pass, we came to Soda Dry Lake and the famous Travelers Monument, where, “ON THIS SITE IN 1887 NOTHING HAPPENED.” The lake bed wasn’t quite so smooth this time, so we crossed it at less than freeway speed. From there, it was a nice ride past Paymaster Mine to Seventeen Mile Point and Kelbaker Road.

I was pleasantly surprised that everyone planned to do both days journey and all but two intended to camp out. My original plan was to camp in a favorite spot in a wash between Mojave Road and Paymaster, but knowing it would only accommodate a small party, we needed to find a bigger place to camp. I remembered the larger Willow Wash, on the east side of Kelbaker Road. Willow Wash runs east and west, and its north edge is a lava rock wall high enough to completely block the northerly breezes that were blowing periodically. There were localized clouds and a few brief sprinkles. We found a nice place to camp there, marked it with GPS, and then headed into Baker for food and gas. It was there that Richard & Jayne Laughlin had booked a room, and where Michael Dochterman and his party decided to return home.

When we returned to camp, the skies were clear and we had a peaceful, starry night around the fire.

Sunday morning began with a ride beyond the wash to Marl Springs and on to the famous “mailbox,” which is now a guest registry that some of us signed. From Marl to Cedar Canyon, there 10 mile stretch of whoop-tee-dos which were somewhat annoying but certainly not difficult.

Reaching Cedar Canyon Road was rather comforting, as it starts off being paved for about the first mile and then continues wide and smooth. A freeway in comparison to the trail, it was easy to average 50 mph for the next 10 miles at which point Mojave Road splits off.

Lunch time was nearing, and I was really expecting the weather to be much hotter, and I continued with my plan to run up Caruthers Canyon to the New York Mountains. There, we found a fabulous place in the trees to relax in folding chairs and leisurely dine on whatever we brought for the occasion. It was just a bit nippy at 5648 feet in elevation and it felt nice in the sun, listening to the breezes passing us over the treetops.

Not wanting to take the same route back, we took New York Mountain Road over to Ox Ranch at Lanfair Valley Road, another “freeway,” and with the help of GPS we slowed in time to turn back on to our obscure trail eastward.

View from Piute Gorge. That faint trail on the desert floor
is Mojave Road, ahead of us.

Our next stop was at a point that overlooks Piute Gorge. We sere now at an elevation of around 3400 feet and would begin our slow descent toward the Colorado River.

That rocky decline took its toll on Richard Palicz’s right rear tire and rim. Neither he nor those in the vehicle behind him noticed the tire was gone until we all stopped at Highway 95. He and most everyone aired up and went on their way home from there.

At that point, John Haupt and his son, John II, were the only ones to continue with me the rest of the way. Our final stop before final pavement was at a waterfall with Indian petroglyphs, just up a short detour. With the lack of winter rains, the waterfall was just a trickle but still a nice last place to stop before a long drive back.

I would like to thank Richard Palicz and John Laird for taking so many wonderful photos along the way.

This button gets you to a 50-photo slide show:

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