Mojave Road

April 7th 2023

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- Trail: Mojave Road

Description

Soda Dry Lake bed isn't dry. I saw it Sunday 3/12/2023 and it was flooded. It won't be dry enough to cross on a stabdard Mojave Road trip. Also Piute Gorge washed out and there is a detour. Further Kelbaker Road and the visitors center are closed. I'll need to get creative about the route.

There will be a campsite marked with club signs near the river road between Needles and Laughlin where we will stay Friday night. An alternative to camping Friday night would be to stay in a hotel in Laughlin.

Last gas is at the AVi Casino http://www.avicasino.com/ or in Laughlin.

See the directions below. The GPS location is for the turn off pavement to camp. We will hit the road at 8 AM Saturday morning.

In all, you’ll need to make it 200 miles from the gas station in Laughlin to the next gas in Ludlow. Extra gas may be necessary for some vehicles. This is not a trip for tow vehicles as we are not returning to Laughlin. However, any 4X4 can make the trip. I’m taking my pickup truck and leaving my Jeep at home.

Along the way on Saturday I plan to visit the abandoned Army fort and spring, Fort Piute. There will be a short side trip to the petroglyph area just off the Mojave Road in Lanfair Valley. We'll put pennies in the Penny Can, stop at Government Hole and the mail box (bring a letter),

Saturday night we will camp at along the trail somewhere, probably at the rock pile on Wild Hourse Road just off Black Canyon Road.

Sunday we'll make our way to Ludlow using both pavement and dirk roads. Matbe take old route 66 to the Bagdad Cafe as a finish line..

Bring firewood.

References:

Guide Book: BackCountry Adventures Southern California, 2002 edition, D13 and

California Ghost Town Trails (1985) and

Guide to Southern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails and

Mojave Road Guide, June 1986

From Chuck Jones: I will be leaving Friday morning with stops at/near Ludlow to include: Project Carryall marker, Bagdad Chase Mine, Ludlow Sourhtern RR route, Ragtown marker, and Tonopah and Tidewater Shops marker. Let me know if you are interested.

Run Checklist

Always Required

HAM Radio on 146.550 MHz
Full-Sized Spare Tire
Seat Belts
First Aid Kit
Fire Extinguisher
Battery Tiedown
Working Brakes
Tow Straps
Tow Points

Run Requirements

Camping Supplies

Trail Rating

Difficulty Level: 1

	Graded road; Any 4x4 vehicle or higher clearance 2x4 vehicle with no other modifications
	Road rarely maintained; 4x4 with no low bumpers. Anti-sway bar disconnects recommended. Minimum 30" tires and some off-road experience is helpful
	Difficult terrain and road rarely maintained; 33" tires, Suspension lift, Off-road driving experience, body armor and Rear locker recommended. Stock vehicles will likely take damage
	Very difficult terrain, road never maintained; 33" tires, sway-bar disconnects, Rear locker, and Rock sliders required. 35" tires, front locker, Full cage, and 4:1 transfer-case recommended. Chance of mechanical failure and body damage
	Extremely difficult terrain with large obstacles and roll over potential; Full cage required, 37" tires strongly recommended. Good chance of mechanical failure and strong chance of body damage

Location

Rendezvous @ camp

Take I-40 almost to Needles. Exit W. Park Road. Turn left on Needles Highway (the river road). Go 15 miles to the Nevada boarder. After another ¾ mile look for club signs along the road for the left turn to camp. We’ll be camped just past the pole line road west of pavement about ¼ mile from pavement.