Monday, July 16, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
What a Day!!!
We awoke to rain in the desert, July 4, 2012, and smiled. This was going to make the day even better. Everything had been packed and loaded the night before, all that was left to do was hit the trail. We rolled out at 12:30 and made it to the trail head at Geology Trail by 1 and had a smooth decent down in to Pleasant Valley. Rommel Dog rode in the Dodge with Bill and seemed very pleased to be on the trip. After a short stop in Pleasant Valley we headed up the mountain on Berdoo Canyon road.
The trip down into and through the Canyon is where the fun really began. Wyle, the X, and The Dodge, wiggling and weaving down and through the rocks, dropping off small ledges and loving every moment! It was half way down the Canyon when disaster nearly struck. Being the lightest, I was the lead Vic. Earlier at Pleasant Valley a convoy of 3 Jeeps had passed by us and we had waited a bit to let them get some distance. But as I rounded a curve in the canyon going down a steep grade with a rock ledge at the bottom I saw those 3 Jeep stopped in the middle of the trail and worse yet, a small child standing in the middle of the trail at the bottom of that ledge staring up at my Jeep. I dropped in to first, to slow my decent and hoped I had enough to brake, thankfully I did. After a moment the parents seemed to realize what was going on and retrieved the child, climbed in to their vehicles and started back down the trail. I rolled on a few more hundred feet until the canyon opened up and found space off the trail to break until they could go further on (hopefully).
The rest of the canyon road was easier and great fun running on old road surfaces that drop off a few feet reminding you of a disaster movie and then having to climb back up to the next one. Then after 11 miles from leaving Pleasant Valley we reached Dillon road in Indio and took that to the 10 east and made our way to the park entrance at Cotton Wood Springs.
Old Dale Road runs through the park and out to BLM land and mines. It runs through the Pinto Basin, but don't let the word Basin fool you. This was the toughest 4-wheeling I have done to date! The sign at the entrance seems to over exaggerate the difficulty, but by the time you realize you are in deep, there is no going back.
We opened all 3 vics up pre-runner style down the sand road leading to the mountains, it quickly turned from a soft ride to a white knuckle drive. A steep switch back incline with boulders and sections of trail broken away. At one point Brent was stuck in his Xterra until he got her in to 4low and rocked her up and over some big rocks, a little hair raising to watch when there is nothing but air to one side. I had stopped on the trail when I realized I couldn't see him in my mirrors, and ran back down on foot (there is no room to turn around) to check on him. It was after he got going again when I climbed in Wyle e. and she wouldn't turn over until I let her drift back until she got a good grip with her rear end when she shot up and over the rock pile that initially caused the issue. Once we all reached the top it was time for another break to prepare ourselves for the next section, not as steep, but with more boulders and holes than the last. All three vics crawled their way over top and creeped along the mountain side until we saw the sign saying we had reached the park boundary!
And so it was time to celebrate! We parked the vics and grabbed a beer. Rommel hopped out of the Dodge and stretched, according to Bill he slept most of the way. The only thing we could say to each other when we made it to the top was "That just happened".
The rest of the road through Gold Crown to the camp site were simple trails, sections that were easy but you could choice a more difficult route. Our preferred camp site is next to a large depression in the desert that makes a fun mud pit when it rains or when dry a great spot to practice going up inclines and doing doughnuts. This is what Bill was doing when I yelled down to him asking where exactly we were going to set the fire pit since ours had long been destroyed. He decided to show me by jumping the truck up out of the depression and doing a doughnut showering me with sand and dust. He jumps out of the truck and says, That looks good.
The rest of the night was beer, Joe Stein Stew, and Apple cobbler in the cast iron in the fire. Rommel watched over the camp like a pro and never let anyone go off to the bathroom alone. What normally would have been a long night of drinking and stories ended early with the three of us admitting we were beat from the day.
Hell of a way to spend a day. I wouldn't trade it for a damn thing. Follow the links for pictures and video as there are too many to post here. Enjoy! And I hope you can join us next time!
Click to see pictures of the Trip!
Brent and his Xterra coming up the mountain.
The Bill and our 1 ton Dodge Ram bringing up the rear
Check back for more videos as I get them from Brent!
The trip down into and through the Canyon is where the fun really began. Wyle, the X, and The Dodge, wiggling and weaving down and through the rocks, dropping off small ledges and loving every moment! It was half way down the Canyon when disaster nearly struck. Being the lightest, I was the lead Vic. Earlier at Pleasant Valley a convoy of 3 Jeeps had passed by us and we had waited a bit to let them get some distance. But as I rounded a curve in the canyon going down a steep grade with a rock ledge at the bottom I saw those 3 Jeep stopped in the middle of the trail and worse yet, a small child standing in the middle of the trail at the bottom of that ledge staring up at my Jeep. I dropped in to first, to slow my decent and hoped I had enough to brake, thankfully I did. After a moment the parents seemed to realize what was going on and retrieved the child, climbed in to their vehicles and started back down the trail. I rolled on a few more hundred feet until the canyon opened up and found space off the trail to break until they could go further on (hopefully).
The rest of the canyon road was easier and great fun running on old road surfaces that drop off a few feet reminding you of a disaster movie and then having to climb back up to the next one. Then after 11 miles from leaving Pleasant Valley we reached Dillon road in Indio and took that to the 10 east and made our way to the park entrance at Cotton Wood Springs.
Old Dale Road runs through the park and out to BLM land and mines. It runs through the Pinto Basin, but don't let the word Basin fool you. This was the toughest 4-wheeling I have done to date! The sign at the entrance seems to over exaggerate the difficulty, but by the time you realize you are in deep, there is no going back.
We opened all 3 vics up pre-runner style down the sand road leading to the mountains, it quickly turned from a soft ride to a white knuckle drive. A steep switch back incline with boulders and sections of trail broken away. At one point Brent was stuck in his Xterra until he got her in to 4low and rocked her up and over some big rocks, a little hair raising to watch when there is nothing but air to one side. I had stopped on the trail when I realized I couldn't see him in my mirrors, and ran back down on foot (there is no room to turn around) to check on him. It was after he got going again when I climbed in Wyle e. and she wouldn't turn over until I let her drift back until she got a good grip with her rear end when she shot up and over the rock pile that initially caused the issue. Once we all reached the top it was time for another break to prepare ourselves for the next section, not as steep, but with more boulders and holes than the last. All three vics crawled their way over top and creeped along the mountain side until we saw the sign saying we had reached the park boundary!
And so it was time to celebrate! We parked the vics and grabbed a beer. Rommel hopped out of the Dodge and stretched, according to Bill he slept most of the way. The only thing we could say to each other when we made it to the top was "That just happened".
The rest of the road through Gold Crown to the camp site were simple trails, sections that were easy but you could choice a more difficult route. Our preferred camp site is next to a large depression in the desert that makes a fun mud pit when it rains or when dry a great spot to practice going up inclines and doing doughnuts. This is what Bill was doing when I yelled down to him asking where exactly we were going to set the fire pit since ours had long been destroyed. He decided to show me by jumping the truck up out of the depression and doing a doughnut showering me with sand and dust. He jumps out of the truck and says, That looks good.
The rest of the night was beer, Joe Stein Stew, and Apple cobbler in the cast iron in the fire. Rommel watched over the camp like a pro and never let anyone go off to the bathroom alone. What normally would have been a long night of drinking and stories ended early with the three of us admitting we were beat from the day.
Hell of a way to spend a day. I wouldn't trade it for a damn thing. Follow the links for pictures and video as there are too many to post here. Enjoy! And I hope you can join us next time!
Click to see pictures of the Trip!
Brent and his Xterra coming up the mountain.
The Bill and our 1 ton Dodge Ram bringing up the rear
Check back for more videos as I get them from Brent!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I'm SO excited~!
In 13 hours 3 of us will be hitting the road and heading up in to Joshua Tree National Park. We spent the day getting food, drink, and gear together. Making some minor adjustments to Wyle E. like mounting two new gerry can brackets and the fire extinguisher, Rigged my camel back to hang on the passenger seat, and reconnected the CB. A quick system check found everything a go and we are set.
The Oh Shit bags are packed a little fuller than normal and we are being accompanied by my cast iron which will be making dinner in the camp fire. Joe Stein Stew and Apple cobbler on the menu. Bacon and Eggs for Breakfast. Camera batteries are charging, and memory cards are formatted to be sure we don't miss a shot.
My excitement is in overdrive! It is nearly 10 PM and I haven't eaten dinner yet, I keep forgetting as I double check my gear and go over my lists to be sure tomorrows adventure runs smoothly.
There are several people I wish could join us on this run, but they will be home soon and we can do it all over again in celebration of their return.
If you don't hear from me by 7 pm July the 5th, you may want to send out at a search party....
The Oh Shit bags are packed a little fuller than normal and we are being accompanied by my cast iron which will be making dinner in the camp fire. Joe Stein Stew and Apple cobbler on the menu. Bacon and Eggs for Breakfast. Camera batteries are charging, and memory cards are formatted to be sure we don't miss a shot.
My excitement is in overdrive! It is nearly 10 PM and I haven't eaten dinner yet, I keep forgetting as I double check my gear and go over my lists to be sure tomorrows adventure runs smoothly.
There are several people I wish could join us on this run, but they will be home soon and we can do it all over again in celebration of their return.
If you don't hear from me by 7 pm July the 5th, you may want to send out at a search party....
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