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(2022-12-08, 05:26 PM)John Morrow Wrote: (2022-12-08, 12:43 PM)Daymoth Wrote: And just so I dont open another thread, any thoughts on the Mojave preserve? The lava tubes and cinder cones are not accessible right now.
Just got back from there. Here's a couple ideas I just really enjoyed. IMO: MNP is a vastly underappreciated Preserve. Scroll older albums for more MNP ideas. I should have older TRs on Backcountrypost or here but ask if you interest is piqued!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N...0304260484
route maps at bottom of album. Crossover from Burro to Rustler was scrambly but up and back either is worthwhile. The triangle loop of the two Piute Branch canyons is still on my list....
Interest was very much peaked! Im asking questions on your post
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We ended up doing a quick stop to explore mormon point canyon on our way to Az.
That was so good, the narrows go on forever, has a small arch, and a talus cove. And no worries about the car getting stuck.
I need to save a bunch of money and throw it to Farabees for a week of jeep fun. Sometime.
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(2022-12-28, 11:44 AM)Daymoth Wrote: I need to save a bunch of money and throw it to Farabees for a week of jeep fun. Sometime.
Or a trip to Chad
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(2022-12-28, 11:55 AM)netllama Wrote: Or a trip to Chad
OK, I liked that one! The trucks I crossed the Sahara on (Algeria to Niger, long before the road was paved) all carried really long sand ladders, and needed them. Note that you can use pretty much anything in an emergency, including your car's floor mats or trunk liner material. Airing down street tires is not really recommended.
The road out to the mouth of Cottonwood / Marble is highly variable. It's sand that bothers me more than anything. I've seen a lot of it blow around, and have swooshed through it keeping the speech up with a high clearance 4WD rental. I've also been out to the big parking / camping area in a sedan multiple times. That road also gets graded from time to time, which adds to the variable driving conditions.
As Kauri suggested, I would not take anything not ruggedized beyond that flat area, though there are a couple of camping spots downstream from what I call the "Gates" which should be reachable, if you've gotten to the camping area.
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For what it's worth, I called the park to inquire about road conditions a week ago. They said that the road to Cottonwood-Marble was open and people were heading out there regularly. But also that there was a sand trap near the beginning of the road, and that one vehicle (not sure what kind) had gotten stuck there the week before.
Also, West Side Road has been graded, as have the first mile of the roads into the side canyons (Trail, Hanaupah, etc.). Beyond that, the roads are in their "usual rough condition".
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(2022-12-28, 11:55 AM)netllama Wrote: (2022-12-28, 11:44 AM)Daymoth Wrote: I need to save a bunch of money and throw it to Farabees for a week of jeep fun. Sometime.
Or a trip to Chad
A trip to Chad does sound awesome.
