Post by Explorer 1 on Feb 2, 2014 14:45:44 GMT -8
Another great adventure complete with some exploring some places I've never been! Thanks Murrie for putting this trip together.
We camped just a short ways off of Kelbaker road just west of Granite Pass. There are some great rock formations like Joshua Valley to camp next to and even a few fire rings.
The weather was cooler but once the wind started it would be considered by most as cold. We all brought lots of wood so the fire burned big and bright that evening as we tried to keep warm.
The next day it was a trip around the desert, Murrie wanted to take the following route:
Back down to I-40 west to Ludlow, top off the tanks, over to Broadwell Dry Lake, up to the pass, follow the High Power lines east to the unnamed sand dunes, through Jack Ass Canyon, over to the Lava Tubes, and then to the Aiken Mine before we made our way back to the Kelbaker road and to the campsite juts before 4 pm.
Early on this day trip Neil heard some noise coming from the rear of his Cherokee just in time to see in his mirror his spare tire complete with holder and the two attached gas cans fly off and land in the sand next to the trail. (Good think this didn't happen on the Interstate!)
Nothing was damaged except the pivot pin that held the whole thing to the rear bumper. It just snapped off. Looked like it has been slowly been weakening over the past several years and finally snapped off.
We quickly found a new place for his spare, rack and cans on top of his vehicle and as far as I know, they are still there right now.
We made our way to the sand dues where the trail disappears and all made it through with only the 2wd FJ Cruiser needing a little pull in the end.
From the Dunes it's just a short distance to the entrance to Jack Ass Canyon.
Through the canyon and up out the other side,
Back across Kelbaker Road and across the old Mojave Road into the Volcanic area where we found some Lava Tubes:
Interesting how the light shaft looks like a real shaft,
Back out and on our way to the Aiken Mine:
Not sure what was mined here, but they sure move a lot of lava rock!
Getting later in the afternoon it was time to head on back to our camp where once again we blazed a fire and enjoyed an evening with good friends.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 3
We camped just a short ways off of Kelbaker road just west of Granite Pass. There are some great rock formations like Joshua Valley to camp next to and even a few fire rings.
The weather was cooler but once the wind started it would be considered by most as cold. We all brought lots of wood so the fire burned big and bright that evening as we tried to keep warm.
The next day it was a trip around the desert, Murrie wanted to take the following route:
Back down to I-40 west to Ludlow, top off the tanks, over to Broadwell Dry Lake, up to the pass, follow the High Power lines east to the unnamed sand dunes, through Jack Ass Canyon, over to the Lava Tubes, and then to the Aiken Mine before we made our way back to the Kelbaker road and to the campsite juts before 4 pm.
Early on this day trip Neil heard some noise coming from the rear of his Cherokee just in time to see in his mirror his spare tire complete with holder and the two attached gas cans fly off and land in the sand next to the trail. (Good think this didn't happen on the Interstate!)
Nothing was damaged except the pivot pin that held the whole thing to the rear bumper. It just snapped off. Looked like it has been slowly been weakening over the past several years and finally snapped off.
We quickly found a new place for his spare, rack and cans on top of his vehicle and as far as I know, they are still there right now.
We made our way to the sand dues where the trail disappears and all made it through with only the 2wd FJ Cruiser needing a little pull in the end.
From the Dunes it's just a short distance to the entrance to Jack Ass Canyon.
Through the canyon and up out the other side,
Back across Kelbaker Road and across the old Mojave Road into the Volcanic area where we found some Lava Tubes:
Interesting how the light shaft looks like a real shaft,
Back out and on our way to the Aiken Mine:
Not sure what was mined here, but they sure move a lot of lava rock!
Getting later in the afternoon it was time to head on back to our camp where once again we blazed a fire and enjoyed an evening with good friends.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 3
