the Mojave desert.

[vash]

i'm planning to be there for this upcoming weekend. camping and stuff.

i googled it, since i have never been. damn..seems most of stories are about people getting turned around and lost.

it's like a million and a half acres. vast.

anyone ever been? my friends have a spot; they say it is 50 miles off the road. i'm told to bring lots of extra fuel.

i have yet to ask my boss if i can ditch the important friday meeting.

[tabs]

I live there...as do all S CAians, NV's and AZians.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by tabs

I live there...as do all S CAians, NV's and AZians.

Thanks for the valuable tidbit!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by vash

i'm planning to be there for this upcoming weekend. camping and stuff.

i googled it, since i have never been. damn..seems most of stories are about people getting turned around and lost.

it's like a million and a half acres. vast.

anyone ever been? my friends have a spot; they say it is 50 miles off the road. i'm told to bring lots of extra fuel.

i have yet to ask my boss if i can ditch the important friday meeting.

Was our favorite spot to go dirt biking and 4x4ing.

It is vast but there are some landmarks and you can see forever so keep your eye on the high power lines the run through it and I think you can see the mountains for reference.

There is also a river that goes through it that interestingly disappears underground in spots the pops back up in others.

I think there may be spots you can play with your spoons, your friends have a place there so they probably know if it is okay or not.

[aigel]

I have been plenty, mostly on the southwestern end of it / the end of Owen's Valley, chasing small and even big game. Whereabouts are you heading?

Only thing I'd be really careful about is rattlers. Mojave green, they will mess you up, have a different venom from the diamondback, but this is not rattler time of the year, should be pretty safe. I'd still follow the rules, i.e. don't sit on rocks without carefully checking first etc.

Also, if that far out, note that it is 50 miles to the next emergency room. I always am amazed seeing folks hauling ass on their ATVs in the middle of nowhere out of cell range ...

G

[scottmandue]

And is a snake crawls into your sleeping bag don't worry, he just wants to get warm.

[vash]

Originally Posted by aigel

I have been plenty, mostly on the southwestern end of it / the end of Owen's Valley, chasing small and even big game. Whereabouts are you heading?

Only thing I'd be really careful about is rattlers. Mojave green, they will mess you up, have a different venom from the diamondback, but this is not rattler time of the year, should be pretty safe. I'd still follow the rules, i.e. don't sit on rocks without carefully checking first etc.

Also, if that far out, note that it is 50 miles to the next emergency room. I always am amazed seeing folks hauling ass on their ATVs in the middle of nowhere out of cell range ...

G

i was told to meet in Baker, CA. we head in from there.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by vash

i was told to meet in Baker, CA. we head in from there.

Ha! I was going to say "don't forget to see beautiful Baker" They do have the worlds largest thermometer!

After looking at a map our stomping grounds were a bit south east of the Mojave park proper, we would head out into the desert at Hesperia.

[sammyg2]

Spent many a weekend riding and hiking in the dez.
Rode the barstow to vegas race, it went right through were you're going.

Never do anything alone, don't rely on cell phone, make sure you have plenty of water and blankets. It can be hotter than hades during the day and freeze at night. Specially in the high desert.

It is beautiful if you appreciate and respect it.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Spent many a weekend riding and hiking in the dez.
Rode the barstow to vegas race, it went right through were you're going.

Never do anything alone, don't rely on cell phone, make sure you have plenty of water and blankets. It can be hotter than hades during the day and freeze at night. Specially in the high desert.

It is beautiful if you appreciate and respect it.

This time of year it is cold out there and even colder at night.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by vash

i was told to meet in Baker, CA. we head in from there.

Next stop Glitter Gulch in Vegas....now that is what I call roughing it...

[tabs]

Originally Posted by masraum

Thanks for the valuable tidbit!

U are perfectly welcome...

[look 171]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Ha! I was going to say "don't forget to see beautiful Baker" They do have the worlds largest thermometer!

After looking at a map our stomping grounds were a bit south east of the Mojave park proper, we would head out into the desert at Hesperia.

...and the Alien beef jerky and and and the expensive gas

[Seahawk]

50 miles off the road?

There are three main roads through and around Mojave. I spent a lot of time there in the old days and 50 miles is a stretch. Mojave is not much more than 50 miles by 50 miles total.

As Sammy said, pack more water than you think you will need, never travel solo if you can help it.

So, besides water, food, first aid, maps, etc.:

Tires. The biggest problems off road in Mojave is tire puncture. Go slow, you are not in a truck commercial! See if you can borrow a friends spare tire if you know anyone with a truck like yours.

Cheap walkie talkies. Great for chatting while off road going slow.

Tow ropes...bring one just in case.

Enjoy. I love the desert this time of year.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by tabs

This time of year it is cold out there and even colder at night.

68° may be cold for us but prolly wouldn't be considered cold for the rest of the folks in the country ....
Sunday looks kinda Brrrrr-y at 59.

The wind isn't even that bad considering, except Saturday predicted to have 12 mph winds.
The wind always blows in the dez. Always.

Baker Ca.
TODAY
Partly Cloudy
68° 48°

WED
Mostly Sunny
72° 47°

THU
Partly Cloudy
73° 48°

FRI
Partly Cloudy
69° 39°

SAT
Mostly Sunny
62° 35°

SUN
Mostly Sunny
59° 39°

MON
Mostly Sunny
63° 42°

TUE
Mostly Sunny
65° 43°

[crb07]

Different desert but cool story.

The Hunt for the Death Valley Germans

[sammyg2]

[Rick Lee]

50 miles from pavement is a journey. Most I've done in a day is about 30 miles from pavement on the bike, and I really thought we were gonna end up sleeping out there when it was getting dark and we couldn't see any headlights on the nearest road. There is no help out there. And if you're in an area where a lot of people go shooting, be extra careful. A girl was killed here this weekend by a stray bullet out the desert. Tons of people out there shooting and all kinds of bad gun etiquette going on. They'll probably never figure out whose gun fired the errant round.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by tabs

Next stop Glitter Gulch in Vegas....now that is what I call roughing it...

Does Whisky Pete's still have the Bonnie and Clyde death car on display?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Spent many a weekend riding and hiking in the dez.
Rode the barstow to vegas race, it went right through were you're going.

Never do anything alone, don't rely on cell phone, make sure you have plenty of water and blankets. It can be hotter than hades during the day and freeze at night. Specially in the high desert.

It is beautiful if you appreciate and respect it.

You might consider a good compass as a GPS backup. No batteries required.