Hey Celt, can you update the original post with confirmed dates and a rough itinerary?
Meet up times, proposed campsites etc?
This thread has grown quite a bit and I'm having a hard time going through all the posts to get the info I'm looking for.
Thanks!
Sure thing buddy,
What I planned thus far is folks to meet up at the Afton Rd. campground (Just a couple miles east on Afton Rd right off I-15) on 01/14/16. That has no real meet up time as folks will just show up when and as they can due to schedules etc. I'm hoping to be there between 1700-1800. Next morning (01/15/16) we will start the trip with the two different groups. I was thinking the first start time (mine) about 0930 the second (SageBromax) 1000 hours. Go out across the two water crossings and under the railway bridge, through the wash and out through the dry lake bed. If this is not possible due to the lake being flooded we can take the Kelbaker Rd just past Zzyzx Rd and drop down the first dirt Rd to the south and continue on to where it meets up with the Mojave Rd on the far side of the Soda Lake.
From there I know Lava Tubes etc are a big hit so I'm open to whatever the group wants to go see and visit. Continuing on I would like to make camp NLT 1530-1600 so folks aren't trying to set up camps in the dark. I was thinking the place where we all camped the last night on the last run is a good place (Beale Mountains Approx 115' 37'30"-35' 7'10") because it can easily accommodate a very large group and may provide some shelter from the wind.
Next morning (01/16/16) get up and head out (weather depending) hopefully around the same SP times 0930-1000. I'm not sure what folks might like to see on that day so ideas are appreciated at this leg of the trip. At the end of day #2 finally camping over night at Caruthers Canyon or Fourth of July Canyon depending upon if other people are in the area. This is the area we were last year and it's sheltered and forested to help protect from wind. Next morning (01/17/16) I think we could get up and moving maybe a little later because the sun won't hit those spots due to the valleys and elevation folks will be cold. Head out and stop maybe Ft. Paiute the old abandoned movie set/ghost town etc. Head on into Laughlin air up/re-fuel etc and go get your rooms at the Casino. If folks wanted to meet up for dinner somewhere, even at the casino that night I'm all open but I want to shy away from hard and fast times, locations and keep that loosely organized because people very well may be cold, grimy and very tired so a hot shower and a nap may be a priority with them. Not everyone is a shining example in the prime of their youth as I am you see (I hope you can smell the sarcasm there).
Morning of the 18th or whenever you decide to head out is on you or if you want to convoy with anyone, just work that out with them. I'm going to be in the 55-60 MPH convoy crowd headed back home. My goals for this run is to try and keep everyone together but still have it not so hard and fast organized with a bunch of rules as those will fall apart very fast. Some areas I'm firm on is making camps each night so nobody is doing that in the dark and making sure everyone is set up and safe for the cold nights ahead (I will handle that part as best I can). As to the places folks wish to visit, I'm all ears and up for whatever. My big goal is to get out in that awesome desert in the winter and have a blast with some really great people. Any problems, issues, gripes etc can be brought directly to me and I will do my best to accommodate. This is about everyone having a good time and doggonit them beatins will ensue and not stop till everyone does have a blast out there!!! Any bad attitudes will be swiftly dealt with in the Fire Jenga Court of the Mojave.
Hope that helps to answer some of your questions Amigo.
