Exploring Eastern Mojave April 2017 Picture Thread

[dzJeepChic 2,309]

Here is a picture to get this tread started. Everyone go ahead and post your pictures from this weekend's exploration of the eastern regions of the Mojave National Preserve here. I can't wait to see everyone's pictures because it sure was a scenic area with lots of great points of interest.

 

 

 

Thanks everybody who braved the cold windy weather to come out adventuring with us! YOU ALL are why this is a fun club, you're just a really great group!

[JeepUniq 5]

Here're some of my pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1515127118497689.1073741835.100000012474934&type=1&l=670b9ddff3

[MzPriss 147]

A cautious fire and fun people!

JeepUniq right behind me.

A stone cabin at Evening Star Mine.

Structure at Death Valley Mine

Smurf Truck getting flexy!

[dzJeepChic 2,309]

Here's some pictures from Group #1 on Day #1, Friday. We met in Searchlight, NV., and went west to Nipton where we got on our first trail: Nipton Desert Road. It goes alongside a working railroad tracks, and a train passed us with a friendly 'toot, toot, toot, toot, toot' just as we finished our driver's meeting.

 

Hitting the trail in Nipton

 

 

 

 

The trail was partially paved for much of the way

 

 

We took a detour to check out the Lucy Grey Mine

 

 

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, shown in the background here, was fascinating and surreal looking from the trail.

 

 

 

We didn't quite make it to the Lucy Grey Mine. The trail was super bumpy and rocky at the beginning, and then it went into a wash. MzPriss' Jeep found itself between a rock and a hard spot, and even though she gave it hell, she couldn't get through so we turned around.

 

 

Excellent views of the power plant on the way back

 

 

We retraced our path to the railroad tracks, went underneath them to the other side, and then continued on the trail to Primm, NV.

 

 

After a while Primm came into view, and we all wondered out loud what it was we were seeing

 

 

Finally we were close enough to see that it was a roller coaster at a hotel/casino! I wanted to ride the roller coaster, but it wasn't running, which was probably for the best because we still had some miles to cover before dark.

 

 

We fueled up in Primm, and from there we took I-15 west about 15 miles and exited the interstate at Mountain Pass. From there we took Ivanpah Mountains Trail due south to a place we found on google earth to camp. We hoped nearby mountains would protect us from the wind in the night's weather forecast, but it was windy there as anyplace else. Finally we resorted to using huge Joshua Trees as ever so slight wind-breaks.

 

Smurftruck is the expedition vehicle to be in on a windy night!

 

 

Absolutely gorgeous scenery

 

 

Here's a link to all my photos from Day 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/41778822@N02/albums/72157679161799493/with/33150810103/

 

Up next, Day 2 visit to Riley's Camp, Morning Star Mine, Death Valley Mine, Thomas Place, Columbia Mine and bumping into Group #2 at the too short railroad trestle.

[kaspily 2]

Here is the link to my photos from Group 2. I will do a write up in the near future. We had a great time camping the two nights despite the never ending wind and cold temps!

 

https://goo.gl/photos/FPEvLAjMeAL4TbAC9

[johnpa 675]

Sarah, awesome pictures.

[kaspily 2]

Thanks. Despite the wind and dust I liked a bunch of them!

[kaspily 2]

On the last day with group two on our way to the Death Valley Mine we were flagged down by two young men. They had managed to get their car stuck in the deep sand. The Ranger they were talking to was not super helpful and we volunteered to recover their brand new leased Dodge Challenger. The guys spent the night in the cold with no sleeping bags and a lack of much to drink other than whiskey. After recovering them ORP gave them water and some snack bars. They were really thankful for the help and hopefully scared enough to not repeat that dumb move. Here is a video of part of the recovery. We had to get them turned around after which required more towing and much pushing. https://flic.kr/p/SsVSCq

[Jeep4Fun 0]

Nice pics. Thanks for posting.

[dzJeepChic 2,309]

On the last day with group two on our way to the Death Valley Mine we were flagged down by two young men. They had managed to get their car stuck in the deep sand. The Ranger they were talking to was not super helpful and we volunteered to recover their brand new leased Dodge Challenger. The guys spent the night in the cold with no sleeping bags and a lack of much to drink other than whiskey. After recovering them ORP gave them water and some snack bars. They were really thankful for the help and hopefully scared enough to not repeat that dumb move. Here is a video of part of the recovery. We had to get them turned around after which required more towing and much pushing. https://flic.kr/p/SsVSCq

 

Yay for you guys! Solid work ORP gang, nice touch giving them food.