Topic: Mojave Rd. (Winter version)

[xxSVxx]

so this will be an exploring trip, nothing high speed?

Oh my friend....you need to attend the TMR trip in April....I think you will find the, um, pace group to your liking

[ultrapc40]

Hahaha. Just trying to decide if I want to take the big truck or the little truck for this trip. I do the Mohave to Avi trip with Kev annually. 1 day out, 1 day back. It's super fun.


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[xxSVxx]

Hahaha. Just trying to decide if I want to take the big truck or the little truck for this trip. I do the Mohave to Avi trip with Kev annually. 1 day out, 1 day back. It's super fun.


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Ok....that makes sense....we have actually stretched it out to a 3 day xcursion now, but we are not shy in the front group....and the slalom course w/ joshua trees is a huge adrenaline rush

[Celt]

Last night at the food truck meet up, I was talking with a few of the guys to ask their opinions. I would like to have community potluck dinners for two of the nights. I would prefer everyone be on their own for breakfasts and lunches. The main reason for this is folks like GeoYota are always volunteering to get up and cook breakfast for everyone. After breakfast everyone is all packed up and ready to go while they are still cleaning up. It's a LOT of work and I just don't want that to happen to anyone or have that pressure placed on them. The main objective I had when I began planning this run is to have a lot of fun.

If we do decide to have potluck dinners, something we need to keep in mind is the sun goes down early and it gets cold fast. That being said, we would need to be setting up our perspective campsites by 3-3:30 each night to allow enough time to prepare campsites, dinners and get the fire going. Along with cooking, please everyone bring all of your own plates, knives, forks, napkins etc. If someone forgets something, we can try to accommodate but I don't want anyone to have to feel responsible to bring flatware for everyone. I know the Lava Tubes are a priority as are other sites we can come up with. What I would ask is we make tracks while on the move until our planned stops. If someone needs to stop that's fine I know there are kids and things happen but we really need to keep those stops to a minimum if possible. I'm not saying we can't stop for pics or watering a cactus. If it's an issue you can fix on the move or wait until a planned stop it might work out best for the group.

Since were having two groups, we won't be so spread out and everyone can congregate at night which will just be a heck of a lot of fun. I would ask that everyone brings at least two decent bundles of wood because it's winter and cold and we will have such a large group so everyone can stay warm. Jayrat kindly told me he would herd cats for my group. When Sage Bromax gets setup he can designate how he wants to run his conga line.

I have a couple of concerns with this El Nino' popping up on the radar. One being the water crossings, we will have to closely monitor and the dry lake bed. That could quickly become a quagmire and downright dangerous. If that's the case we may have to circumvent those because I will not knowingly put anyone in a spot that they could be harmed or damage their vehicle. Sage Bromax and I have already discussed coming up with a good alternate route. Since this is a winter run with the possibility of temps into the 20's/30's at night, please everyone be prepared for this. Anyone who is unfamiliar with winter camping or what they may need to bring please send me a PM. I know Motorpig77 also kindly offered his assistance in this matter. I'd hate for someone to come out there under equipped and get cold when it's unnecessary. I'm going to look into group rates at a couple different hotels in Laughlin if you guys would like and hopefully come up with some good deals.

  What's your thoughts? This is your run and I'd really like it to be awesome!

[Ghost65]

^^^^ A thoughtful and thorough steam of trail leader consciousness...excellent post Erik.




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[ultrapc40]

If the forcast is right and we get large amount of rain. The dry lakebed and Afton canyon might not be passable.
I did the "dry" lakebed one time when it was pouring. If you let off you are screwed.

I honestly would not run those two section again if it's raining or recently rain before the trip. Not trying to be a Debbie downer but doing it once was sketchy enough for me.

[Alex]

To help with planning and to make sure I have this right:

Both groups meet and leave Friday morning gassed and ready to go (one hour apart), Jan 15th
First trail lunch and first night/dinner on the trail is Friday night, Jan 15th
First trail breakfast Saturday, second trail lunch on the trail, and second night/dinner, Jan 16th
Second trail breakfast Sunday, second trail lunch then off the trail sometime Sunday, Jan 17th
Optional night in Laughlin Sunday night, Jan 17th, or drive back Sunday
Drive back Monday sometime, Jan 18th

Is that layout we're thinking?
I'm in for the night at Laughlin.

So two of each: breakfast/lunch/potluck dinner on the trail + individual plates/utensils + trail snacks
Plenty of water; one gallon per person per day: I'd recommend each have a few Nalgene bottles or the similar
Two bundles of firewood
Cold/wet camping gear
Standard Xcurison gear
CB and/or HAM

[steve c]

^^Yep.

And when Eric said 20/30s.  He's not lying.
Last year over new years, we did the Mojave Road.
The last night we camped just after the lake bed in the sand dunes.  It was 15 degrees in the morning when we woke up. 

[Celt]

You got it nailed down Alex, the extra Nalgene bottles on top of carried water is another great suggestion.

[knightrider]

If the forcast is right and we get large amount of rain. The dry lakebed and Afton canyon might not be passable.
I did the "dry" lakebed one time when it was pouring. If you let off you are screwed.

I honestly would not run those two section again if it's raining or recently rain before the trip. Not trying to be a Debbie downer but doing it once was sketchy enough for me.

Yes this was discussed at food truck thursday and an alternate route will be taken to avoid the rivers and "dry" lake bed if el nino is everything they say it will be.

[Alex]

I doubt we'll hit the two group combined capacity of 30 (!) rigs by the time of the trip, but I think it'll be critical that everyone bring a sufficient amount of food for all the days, given that we'll have probably 40 to 45 (!) people I'd estimate.

[Celt]

I doubt we'll hit the two group combined capacity of 30 (!) rigs by the time of the trip, but I think it'll be critical that everyone bring a sufficient amount of food for all the days, given that we'll have probably 40 to 45 (!) people I'd estimate.

 Agreed, that's kinda why I was asking around if folks want to do a couple group dinners or if they would rather fend for themselves? As things get closer hopefully more will begin to chime in here. On a better note, I just got contacted by the Park Service and the permit is approved and they "say" it's going in the mail this week.


                                                      

[steve c]

Agreed, that's kinda why I was asking around if folks want to do a couple group dinners or if they would rather fend for themselves? As things get closer hopefully more will begin to chime in here. On a better note, I just got contacted by the Park Service and the permit is approved and they "say" it's going in the mail this week.


                                                      

[Jayrat]

Agreed, that's kinda why I was asking around if folks want to do a couple group dinners or if they would rather fend for themselves? As things get closer hopefully more will begin to chime in here. On a better note, I just got contacted by the Park Service and the permit is approved and they "say" it's going in the mail this week.


                                                      

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[Celt]

So after some careful deliberation here is the direction I would like to go. Everyone should be responsible for all of their meals on this trip. I don't want to put the stress on a few members to haul extra food and be responsible for the masses and the associated clean up while everyone is already set up or broken down ready to go. In the end we have a lot of people that are potentially going and it would be impossible to do a catered trip. I would love a very big group of folks in attendance. With a group this large, preparing meals for everyone at night is a daunting task that could easily result in disaster. If you want to team up with other members for group meals that's fine, you can work those details out amongst yourselves.

If you are not prepared to go on this trip because you do not have a stove or cooking /camping equipment etc. now it the time to say so. There are many folks who can step up and offer their help (Myself included). What I would like to ask is anyone who has a very large pot who would be willing to boil up enough hot water for the crowd to post up. I'll provide the cocoa and s'more making material for everyone. My whole idea on inception of this trip is to make it a lot of fun and as stress free as possible. I want to cover a lot of desert miles while stopping at places everyone votes to do so and have a great night camping playing Fire Jenga (Randy) with a lot of laughs along the way.