Mojave Road - March 19th-21st 2009 - Final Information

We'll guys, it's almost here. Our Mojave Road trip is exactly 15 days away so it is time to lay down all the final details in one spot, so here goes. And please please PLEASE read this WHOLE thing if you are going, don't just skim it.

Schedule

The trip is scheduled to take place from Thursday March 19th till Saturday March 21st 2009.

We will be meeting at 8am on Thursday March 19th at "Slash X" in Barstow California. "Slash X" is located at 28040 Barstow Rd. Barstow CA 92311. Basic directions are take 15 North to Barstow CA, Exit Barstow Road, Turn Right, Slash X will be on your right approx 15miles from the 15 freeway.

After meeting at "Slash X" we will depart as a group at 8:30 AM and proceed back towards the 15 freeway where we will stop as a group and top off the fuel tanks and ice chests before saying goodbye to civilization.

At Approx 9:00am we will hit the freeway and head for the trail head to begin the MR Trail.

At the trail head will will split into two groups. One group comprised of the "fast" vehicles that can maintain an average of at least 30mph, and one "slow" group that will consist of stock, stock lifted, unimogs, and motorcycles. If everybody shows up this will leave us with a near perfect 7 and 7 split. We will spend Thursday exploring the desert and driving the trail to our campsite for the night at the Cinder Cones (same spot as last time, if you weren't there it's a good site, trust me). We should have no problem making it to the camp site with plenty of time to get set up before sun down.

Friday morning we will pack up and set off on the trail earlyish in the AM, as the second half of the trail is longer than the first (the camping spot isn't a true half way point). We are going to run the trail all the way into Laughlin Nevada.

Quick Note - Two Groups: To make it clear for all here is the reasoning for splitting into two groups. It's two fold and pretty simple. First after doing the trail several times it is apparent that some vehicles are faster than others on this type of terrain, open desert, so to ensure that those that want to go faster aren't held up and to be sure that those that don't want to go fast aren't rushed into driving a speed they are uncomfortable with we are going to split the groups. Second it is to maintain our legality while crossing the Mojave National Preserve. With two groups of 7 we are ensured to be under that limit. Also, on the way there we will be stopping as a group to check out the land marks along the way, so the entire group will be together many times each day. Ok, back on track.

Once in Laughlin Nevada there are two options to return to Barstow via the Mojave Road, or Highway 40, but more on that later.

When we arrive in Laughlin on Friday March 20th we will be staying at the River Palms Hotel (www.river-palms.com. The River Palms has plenty of good parking for us, is centrally located, has a nice hotel, and is reasonably priced at $39.99 for the night, as opposed to most of the rest of the hotels.

Here is the other catch, there will be a group of people returning on the MR (baring any major mechanical failures) that will include Myself, Jon, Nick, Brian, David, Josh, and Kevin that I know of for sure. Anybody is welcome to join us but be warned it will be a real quick trip, sub six hours. There will be no site seeing and limited stops, just wheeling. If you would like to join us we ask that you stay at the River Palms on Friday night. We DO NOT want to split the group up again this year, we did last year and it was a huge nightmare. If you do not wish to return via the MR and are sick and tired of hanging out with us then it is a free country fell free to make accommodations anywhere you please.  

The return trip will meet tentatively at 9am in the River Palms parking lot, we will then fuel up and hit the trail to return to Barstow, hopefully arriving by 4pm.

That is the schedule in a nut shell.

What should I bring?

You will need to bring everything to be self sufficient in the desert for two days +. This includes all food, water, toiletries, camping gear, spare parts, and spare fuel. Remember too, Pack It In, Pack It Out, so bring trash bags.

Fuel, if your vehicle can not make it more that 300miles per tank on the highway or 200 miles off-road you will need to bring spare fuel, as there are no gas stations between Barstow and Laughlin. At least not that I have any desire to have to drive out to.

Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. You have 15 days, do that oil change, check your belts, check your hoses, check your tires, top off all other fluids. If there is even a doubt, fix it now. I don't want to be wrenching on the trail on my rig, or yours.

Full Size Spare. Have one. On the pre-run we lost 3 tires in one day. It's a rocky trail at parts and there are evil joshua trees waiting to kill tires the whole way. So have a FULL SIZE spare. And don't count on getting tires in Laughlin or Bull Head, we tried.

CB Radio. This will be our main form of communication. There is no cell service where we are going. Make sure you have a working CB. I just bought a new one for $29 so there are no excuses. Also we will be using 2m HAM, if you have it bring it, if not, no biggie.

Camera. It's a very scenic and beautiful trip, March is probably the best time to do it so don't forget a camera!

Who is leading this anyway?

Good question. This trip is nothing more than a group of friends hitting the desert together. It is in no way, shape, or form, connected or affiliated with Four Wheeler Magazine, FourWheeler.com, or Source Interlink Media.

That said, I will volunteer to take the lead of the group, and the "fast" group. I have traveled the trail from end to end four times and have been on various parts of it more than I can count. I also have it marked on a GPS and have the .gpx file. Kevin will likely be 'Tail Gunner' for the "fast" group.

For the "slow" group I will need a leader. Any volunteers? George maybe? It is super simple to follow and we will stop at all crossings, t's, and forks, along with monuments and sights. And we are going to need a 'Tail Gunner' for this group, Doc maybe?

Who all is going on this trip?

Here is the list from the last roll call, if you are going and your name is not on the list, let me know, if you are on the list and not going, let me know too so we don't wait for you. Also, if you are going please PM me with your cell phone number so we have a way of getting in touch with you.

1.  Kevin and Craig - 02 TJ
2.  Josh  - Long travel ranger
3.  Jason - Long travel ranger
4.  John  - Long travel ranger
5.  Nick - "JeepSpeed" XJ
6.  David - Long travel Yota
7.  Brian -  long travel yota or chebby
8.  Damian - 4wd Dodge megacab deisel on 37s
9.  Doc (Frank) - Unimog
10. Kyle - Chevy Zr2
11. Justin - 2500 dodge Ram
12. George - YJ
13. Edgar  - F150
14. Arthur - Moto


Alrighty, we have now covered the when, where, why, how, and who. Any questions? This is going to be an awesome trip and I can't wait!  
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Long Travel 4 Wheel Drive - The Best of Both Worlds!

Questions? Comments? Concerns? PM Me!

MY BAD!!!! I thought you were going through to Sunday, is it too late just to show up and hang out with you all?  

What do you mean show up and hang out?  
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Long Travel 4 Wheel Drive - The Best of Both Worlds!

Questions? Comments? Concerns? PM Me!

what kind of terrain is this Jason? lots of rocks/hill climbs/drop-offs? Any pics?

GUNS - can we shoot'em?

also, is this a fascist type run, or can we mess around? meaning, since I'll be on a bike, can I run around back and fourth, catch up with the fast group, go back to the slow group? or we must follow strict group rules?  

The terrain covers Various types of high desert.   soft sand to hills, to joshua trees.  

Id like to keep the run a little on the fascist side just so it doesnt get sloppy and dumb. especially since we can get ticketed for being out of ratio.  but at the same time open to have fun.  thats the whole point of the trip.  get out and have fun.  

I will be bringing my guns and plan on a little target shooting at the camp site.  

Im thinkin for thursday dinner i will bring a BBQ or if someone has a big BBQ to use post up.  I wanna bring like 10lbs of Carne asada, beans and flour tortillas.  so please if you want some carne asada pitch in a couple bucks when you see me.

but for breakfest and lunch and snacks everyone is on there own.     friday night i hope to grab food in laughlin.  
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02 TJ with lots of extra junk

"Respect my authority"  (cartman)

 
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02 TJ with lots of extra junk

"Respect my authority"  (cartman)

doesn't look too bad

if possible, I'd like to run with the fast group. if a jeep can make it 30mph, I should be able to keep up

Don't want to go 15mph, ya know...  

Spare Parts:

I know anything can fail at any time, but are there common things (besides tires) that can break while doing this trail?

Alcohol:

Not sure how this is viewed, but is a little booze allowed for when we camp at night?



Kevin I'll get in on that meat.  Let me know how much you need for me to picth in.  

I'd say make sure your cooling system is in check, hoses, fluid, etc.

I don't see why it wouldn't be viewed ok.. Nothing like getting drunk as a skunk and popping off targets  

you should be fine arthur with the fast group but you will be suprised how well the jeep handles and how fast.  (for a jeep)

im bringing a few beers for my dinner.

Just no drinkin and drivin  
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02 TJ with lots of extra junk

"Respect my authority"  (cartman)

spawn_x:
I'd say make sure your cooling system is in check, hoses, fluid, etc.

I don't see why it wouldn't be viewed ok.. Nothing like getting drunk as a skunk and popping off targets

Arthur,
If you are referring to drinking and shooting, I think it that is a bad idea.

No offense but that is a recipe for accidents.
A beer or two AFTER the trail is welcome.
just my opinion...  

hehe I was kidding about drunk as a skunk part, but I can tell when my judgement is impaired, and it takes a bit more than a couple beers..

I'm going to put a cuphold onto the bike and sip a cold one while I ride... (jk, don't have time to make one!)  

lol you must be from pirate4x4  
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02 TJ with lots of extra junk

"Respect my authority"  (cartman)

Guns are okay in the National Preserve but the don't like them to be discharged. Hope you shooting gallery is on BLM land.  
94 YJ Spring over with custom springs.
44's both ends with 4:56 gears. Auto 3speed and Atlas 11 (4.3). 35" Mud Terrians.
Detriot in rear and Lock-Rit in front.
Warn 8,000

"is this a fascist type run"

No, it's not. We have three places to be, Barstow at 8am on Thursday, Cinder Cones Thursday afternoon, and Laughlin Friday afternoon. Other than that I couldn't care less how we get there as long as we do.

"if possible, I'd like to run with the fast group."

Here is the only problem I see with that. None of the vehicles in the group have a bed. So there is no way to carry extra fuel with us (beyond our own), and there will be no way to carry a bike if the need arises. That is my concern with that. And if you do go with the "fast" group you'll need to ride at the back, because if you go down I don't want to come ripping around a corner just to find you laying in the trail hurt, then run you over. Make sense?

"but is a little booze allowed for when we camp at night?"

If you can make it survive, and not be stupid. And if you're passed out the next morning we're leaving your ass... lol  
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Long Travel 4 Wheel Drive - The Best of Both Worlds!

Questions? Comments? Concerns? PM Me!