Hualapai Mountains, AZ: July 23rd - 25th

[Chazz Layne]

I'm headed up into the Hualapais at the end of the month to escape the heat and do a little exploring. I know it is a bit of a hike for most folks here, but you're welcome to come along. This is mostly an easy trail, with a "moderate" stretch when we climb out of the desert, but I haven't seen the trail since last summer so we might have a few surprises left over from winter. The weather should be warm days and cool nights (last year H: 96.0 °F L: 58.0 °F).

Friday night we'll be camping around (at) Boriana Mine, which is about 12 miles (an hour) of dirt from the tiny interstate town of Yucca, AZ, and will give us a chance to explore Boriana in the morning before it gets hot. Saturday we'll take our time winding our way up into and north along the mountain ridge towards Hualapai Peak, we're we'll find a place to camp Saturday night (there are many great spots, it is all BLM land up there). Sunday morning, depending on how bad the trail really is, I'd like to head down to Moss Mine/Mansion (I've never been) before returning to Kingman for a late lunch at the Dambar & Steakhouse.


Here's some pics from our trip last year (yeah, it rained, but it was nice)...

About 5 miles outside Yucca, AZ:


Boriana Mine:


Boriana Mine Road / Hualapai Mountain Road:


Good chance of camping here Saturday night:


Flag Mine Road (headed back to Kingman):

[Willie H]

Do you think a stock Grand Cherokee will make this? The family and I might come along if no serious crawling is involved.

[Chazz Layne]

Do you think a stock Grand Cherokee will make this? The family and I might come along if no serious crawling is involved.

The first time I ran it I was stock and on low-profile tires...



The only area you might have trouble is Moss Wash, but my understanding is that it is a very short hike. I will look up the details this weekend (and try to get a pre-run in for that part).

[Willie H]

Good deal Chazz. I wana go, but I want to bring Crystal and The Bear. She is concerned it will be just wheeling all day long. What else is on the itinerary?

[salad_man]

Hey Brogan and I would like to go, do you happen to know the round trip in miles from Joshua Tree? So I can plan for gas, ha ha!

[Chazz Layne]

Good deal Chazz. I wana go, but I want to bring Crystal and The Bear. She is concerned it will be just wheeling all day long. What else is on the itinerary?

Boriana Mine will take anywhere from 1 to 3+ hours to explore, it all depends on how we handle the heat and how much we enjoy exploring old ruins. The drive from there to Saturday's camp is 3-5 hours depending on how many stops we make, all of it through total wilderness (easy dirt road... more "driving" than "wheeling" ). Sunday should only be a couple hours of driving, we'll be pretty close to pavement. I've never been to Moss Mine, so I'll let you know how much there is to explore there after this weekend.

Hey Brogan and I would like to go, do you happen to know the round trip in miles from Joshua Tree? So I can plan for gas, ha ha!

If you're coming from Joshua Tree we can convoy... I'll be leaving from there too.

From the corner of Park Blvd and Highway 62 out to Friday's camp is 201 miles. You'll want to fuel up at the Pilot off AZ-95 shortly after crossing into Arizona, it is the last reliable fuel source. The loop through the mountains is approximately 60 miles, and we'll be travelling up hill for at least two-thirds of that.

[Willie H]

If gas prices don't get too crazy in the next couple of weeks the Harmon crew is in. Little Bear's first camping trip!

[Chazz Layne]

Little Bear's first camping trip!

As of now, campfires are still allowed.



The bulk of the trip should be no problem with a stock GC. I just got back from the Moss Wash area, it'll get interesting for that portion. However, this is the last stop on the last day so if it gets too hairy we can just turn back and head to the steakhouse. I'm fairly confident we can get you within a couple hundred yards of the Mansion though (and I'm fairly sure Bert is the only one that can make it any farther ).

[salad_man]

Little Bear's first camping trip!

As of now, campfires are still allowed.



The bulk of the trip should be no problem with a stock GC. I just got back from the Moss Wash area, it'll get interesting for that portion. However, this is the last stop on the last day so if it gets too hairy we can just turn back and head to the steakhouse. I'm fairly confident we can get you within a couple hundred yards of the Mansion though (and I'm fairly sure Bert is the only one that can make it any farther ).

Looks like I better go so everyone can pile in, ha ha. Ill get a taxi sign for the top, he he.

[Chazz Layne]

I am going to have to postpone this trip, unfortunately. The ideal time is probably going to be September, as I'll be preoccupied with a move in August.

It seems Vegas drivers don't care to look before changing lanes, and one of them tried to turn right into my driver's door. At first the damage seemed cosmetic, but on the trip back it developed an odd vibration and is pulling really bad to the left... It'll have to get fixed before I take it that far into the wilderness.