2005 Mojave Desert Staff Adventure

Shortly after the mailbox, the road settled in to a wash, where the lava flows and cinder cones were the dominant features of the terrain. Four-wheel drive and aired-down tires quickly became a driver's best ally to get through the deep sand, which was exactly the type of terrain that Robin was looking for to shakedown the newly acquired RTCC Project Nissan Frontier. This portion of the trail follows the southern edge of the lava flows, and if you know where to look, petroglyphs and lava tubes can be spotted from the road. At this point, Douglas informed us of his need to return to society due to something he referred to as "work," so as we crossed over Kelbaker Road, it provided him with quick access to Baker and the remaining three of us carried on.

Our original plans had us taking a leisurely pace and three days to complete our crossing of the Road, with Seventeen Mile point and its clear view across Soda Lake, being our camping spot of choice for night two. As we arrived at mile 87.4, we found that some brilliant person had the same idea as us and had set up camp already, so we ventured on, and with a half day of sunlight remaining, set a new goal of finishing the trail before sunset.

Because of recent rains and the wet conditions of Soda (sometimes) Dry Lake, and the information we gathered about stuck vehicles from other travelers, we decided it was best to backtrack and avoid getting bogged down in the heavily acidic and sticky, truck-swallowing muck of Soda Lake. Back to Kelbaker Road we went, taking Interstate 15 South and exiting at Rasor Road where the Rasor OHV area is. Our new plan was to cut through the Rasor OHV area and rejoin the Mojave Road on the opposite side of the lake and backtrack to Traveler's Monument, which sits on a more solid portion of Soda Lake.

This little side trip took a lot more time than we expected since we decided to play in Rasor for a while, and the intersection of the Mojave Road wasn't clearly marked. Fortunately, with GPS in hand, Sean and Shane found the trail and we headed on to the Monument, where Robin performed yet another Mojave Road ritual by adding a rock from the Mojave Road to the pile. One disconcerting observation is that the plaque that once accompanied the rock pile seems to have been taken. The inscription on the plaque was a treat for visitors, and a secret to anyone who hasn't traveled the road. Unfortunately, someone has removed it, no doubt removing some of the charm from this trail.

From Traveler's Monument we headed back through Rasor OHV area, paralleling the old Tonopah & Tidewater railroad grade. Passing through the Western boundary of Rasor, we came across a rock-hounding couple whose toy hauler and Dodge Ram dualie were hopelessly mired in the sand. After a brief negotiation, we traded delicious homemade tamales for our recovery assistance. With the 37s on the Hummer H1 Alpha aired down, Sean had no problem yanking the Ram, then the trailer out of its sandy predicament.

Racing daylight, we arrived at the entrance to Afton Canyon, which is marked by a railroad trestle. Here we stopped for a bite to eat and after 116.2 grueling miles, we presented Shane with honorary Four Wheeler staff status and placed a rare, and super-cool yellow Four Wheeler sticker on the Bilstein Ranger. Afton Canyon is sometimes called "the Little Grand Canyon" or "Grand Canyon of the Mojave" due to its colorful scenery, and is one of the only places that the Mojave River flows above ground year round. In between its 300-foot walls is a scenic route, which is a refreshing and fun drive at the end of a long trail ride. Our timing was fortunate, as we were able to catch a lumbering freight train as it made its way through the canyon and secured a friendly horn blast from the engineer.

Clearing Afton Canyon and the last couple Mojave River crossings, we took up camp for the evening at the Afton Canyon campground. We had covered 121.4 miles of the 138 miles of the trail in two fast-paced days. We again set up camp, ate burritos, and drank some cold beverages to the setting sun. With good times behind us, a little taste of the old west experienced, the conversation around the campfire naturally turned to, "Where should our next staff adventure take us?"

There are no signs along the route and navigation is purely by rock cairns, carefully placed along the way by the volunteers. For the best experience, we recommend turning to Dennis G. Casebier's Mojave Road Guide, available online, which also fills you in on the historical significance of the area, mile by mile. No other guidebook is as comprehensive for this trail.

While the Mojave Road can be done in two days, it is best enjoyed in three or four, especially if you want to explore the side attractions. Most travelers start out at the AVI Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, where you can both stay the night before and fuel up before the trip. (They even have diesel.)

While the vast majority of the Mojave Road is passable in two-wheel drive, we recommend having four-wheel drive, because of how quickly the terrain or weather conditions can change or vary over 132 miles-especially on Soda Lake, which is encountered on the second half of the journey. Also recommended are recovery gear, five gallons of extra fuel, and enough food and water to last a week. Take note that the elevation change can affect temperatures drastically. During our trip in mid-April, we saw lows in the 40s and highs in the 90s.

Bottom line: Go Prepared.
-Sean P. Holman