[EDIT] I see this has been moved, I wasn't sure where this would get the most views. [/EDIT]
At several different times over last weekend's Calico run the idea of a point to point run was brought up. This is the usual type of run that I go on, so that probably was why I was included in those conversations?
More than a few would like to go on a Mojave Trail run. A relaxed pace would be 2.5-3 days on that trail, so possible in a long weekend. There is a lot to see and experience on the MT, I have been over it three times and I can say with certainty that I've not seen everything along the way. Most, but not all, run it West from the River. We top off everything at the Avi Casino's gas & convenience store.
At roughly 170 miles (I've forgtten the exact distance & we don't usually run that lest section West of Afton Cyn.) it is within the single tank range of most rigs. Some will need a can or two to get from the end to a fuel station.
Unfortunately it is victim of too many knowing about it. It is an extremely popular "Overlanding" route. The SxS's use it for day runs. Some wannabe desert racers use it for a "race track". All of that traffic has made the route pretty rough. I'd hate to see someone turned off by those conditions when this may actually be something that they really enjoy.
I'll suggest that another route be chosen for the first such trip and can help with that or plan it outright. I have several routes 'in the can,' depending on the eventual group's wants and the time of year, that may work. We're blessed in this area to have a lot of options for this. Gaia and OnX, and even google maps can be used for route planning. From experience I suggest that such a trip be limited to six vehicles. More than that and it becomes a lot more work to keep all of the cats going in the same direction and it is harder to find places for the whole group to camp.
Two semi-flexible rules: Limit each day to max of 100 miles, and shoot to be in camp, set up, by 4PM. Can drive further if the route has particularly good driving conditions, but even a 4:30 camp set-up can make the day feel a lot longer. If 100 miles/day seems ridiculously short, some of the OG here can tell you what a 100 miles in the dirt is like. That picture that Dusty posted of all of the OG at Flash II above Barstow was near the end of a 100 mile day, and most of us were feeling every mile. That day was too ambitious on my part. Keep it under 100.
Something to prepare yourself for, with trips like these you can find yourself with either a long pavement trek to the starting point, or a long pavement trek to get home, sometimes both. Plan and budget for that. As an extreme example, a couple years ago the Bronco Horde ran a trail from Bend, OR to the Alvord Desert. For me being in SoCA, the shortest route to the starting point was ~850 miles, and it was about 730 miles to get home. That was a pretty extreme trip, even by my thinking, but it WAS worth it! All of those pavement miles means that you need to make your Bronco comfortable for longish drives on pavement. Maybe not 800 miles worth, but for a couple hundred at least.
Pic of the group on the Alvord Desert:
At several different times over last weekend's Calico run the idea of a point to point run was brought up. This is the usual type of run that I go on, so that probably was why I was included in those conversations?
More than a few would like to go on a Mojave Trail run. A relaxed pace would be 2.5-3 days on that trail, so possible in a long weekend. There is a lot to see and experience on the MT, I have been over it three times and I can say with certainty that I've not seen everything along the way. Most, but not all, run it West from the River. We top off everything at the Avi Casino's gas & convenience store.
At roughly 170 miles (I've forgtten the exact distance & we don't usually run that lest section West of Afton Cyn.) it is within the single tank range of most rigs. Some will need a can or two to get from the end to a fuel station.
Unfortunately it is victim of too many knowing about it. It is an extremely popular "Overlanding" route. The SxS's use it for day runs. Some wannabe desert racers use it for a "race track". All of that traffic has made the route pretty rough. I'd hate to see someone turned off by those conditions when this may actually be something that they really enjoy.
I'll suggest that another route be chosen for the first such trip and can help with that or plan it outright. I have several routes 'in the can,' depending on the eventual group's wants and the time of year, that may work. We're blessed in this area to have a lot of options for this. Gaia and OnX, and even google maps can be used for route planning. From experience I suggest that such a trip be limited to six vehicles. More than that and it becomes a lot more work to keep all of the cats going in the same direction and it is harder to find places for the whole group to camp.
Two semi-flexible rules: Limit each day to max of 100 miles, and shoot to be in camp, set up, by 4PM. Can drive further if the route has particularly good driving conditions, but even a 4:30 camp set-up can make the day feel a lot longer. If 100 miles/day seems ridiculously short, some of the OG here can tell you what a 100 miles in the dirt is like. That picture that Dusty posted of all of the OG at Flash II above Barstow was near the end of a 100 mile day, and most of us were feeling every mile. That day was too ambitious on my part. Keep it under 100.
Something to prepare yourself for, with trips like these you can find yourself with either a long pavement trek to the starting point, or a long pavement trek to get home, sometimes both. Plan and budget for that. As an extreme example, a couple years ago the Bronco Horde ran a trail from Bend, OR to the Alvord Desert. For me being in SoCA, the shortest route to the starting point was ~850 miles, and it was about 730 miles to get home. That was a pretty extreme trip, even by my thinking, but it WAS worth it! All of those pavement miles means that you need to make your Bronco comfortable for longish drives on pavement. Maybe not 800 miles worth, but for a couple hundred at least.
Pic of the group on the Alvord Desert:
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