OAUSA Net - April 14, 2016 - 5 Minute Destinations

[DaveK]

This week we will be taking a slight departure from our posted schedule as well as a departure from our customary approach to adventure/destination nets. Usually, when we do a destination net, we devote the entire time to a single location. For this net, as the title suggests, we will be devoting 5 minutes to each location. We have about a dozen off-roaders lined up to explain their favorite destinations. Below will be an individual post for each one.

We know that most of you also have a favorite outdoor destination and we would like to include as many as possible during the net. Don't be shy - post up!!!

[John Aydelotte]

Death Valley is one of my favorite locations.I am there in the winter so the summer rush is over and the days are short and the air is cool. I just find this location very relaxing. In late 2015 I was treated to a grand pre sunrise and a whole host of images. I stayed only 8 days and used the camera on only 3 days but it was a wonderful relaxing vacation time which I thoroughly enjoyed. I find the Valley and surrounding area inspiring to say the least.

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[KK6GFF]

My favorite destination is the East High Sierra, encompassing Lee Vining to Lone Pine. The reason is because of its proximity to Los Angeles, the mountain scenery and the incredible variety of things the area has. One advantage of the East High Sierra over the West High Sierra is that the East is much less crowded.

As with anywhere in high altitudes, be prepared for sudden weather changes! Morning might be sunny, afternoon snowy.

Some of my favorite trails in that area include:

Deer Mountain Trail features the Inyo Craters and incredible lava formations:

Inyo Crater

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Lava Formation

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Lava Formation

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White Mountain Road, in the Bristlecone Pine Forest, featuring the oldest trees alive (more than 5000 years old)

Bristlecone

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Big horn sheep

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Kavanaugh Ridge

Kavanaugh Ridge Pond

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Laurel Lakes

Laurel Lakes

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Laurel Lakes

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Bodie Ghost Town

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Horse Meadows

Horse Meadows

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Horse Meadows

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Buttermilk Country

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Cerro Gordo Ghost Town

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Movie Flat Trail also has some neat mines

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[traveltoad]

I love both DV and Eastern High Sierra!!

Another fantastic destination... BAJA. A short trip gains an international flavor within inches of crossing the boarder.

[cruiserlarry]

Living in Southern California affords one an amazing number of environments to explore. While I spend most of my outdoor explorations in desert areas, one of my favorite locations is the High Sierras, specifically the Sequoia National Forest / King's Canyon area. The combination of clean air, beautiful views from higher altitude, and the ability to camp among the giant Sequoia redwoods is hard to top for me.

As with most remote areas, the weather can change on a moments notice, so you always need to be prepared for extremes, as we found out on a trip to the Buck Rock area.

The FJ Hilton parked for the night

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Part of the 360 degree view from camp at 9000 feet

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Exploring among the redwoods

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Night sky

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A winter weather system sneaking in...

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0D6825EC9-20130926-184901-2048.jpg[/attachment]

What ??? Snow ??? Yeah, 8+ inches in 20 minutes after an 80 degree afternoon

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[hmfigueroa]

I was going to say the same as Larry, That is my favorite,

My second Favorite, but only due to the distance is the 50 Mile Bench road in Grande Staircase Escalante.

The wide open space is incredible and photos do not do it much justice. The area is astoundingly beautiful. and from a ham radio perspective the extremely low noise floor make you triple chek that your antenna is connected.

All I can say is wow. Hole in the rock is not to be missed.

50 Mile Bench

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https://www.offroaddance.com/fifty-mile ... t-english/

[KAP]

Dave,
Please check me in. I will be on and looking forward to the Net.

Kevin
KK6DGL

[DaveK]

For me, the American West just has too many great places to declare one as "the" best. Each of the places we have visited have something that makes them the best. So, if I were to randomly pick four from the group, it would be:

• 1. The Parashant (North Rim of the Grand Canyon)
  2. Southeastern Utah
  3. The Navajo Nation
  4. The Eastern Mojave Desert

In this order, here are pictures of each:

1. The Parashant

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2. South Eastern Utah

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3. The Navajo Nation

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4. The Eastern Mojave Desert

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[KK6DYO]

Burro Schmidt's Tunnel is an easy 1-day trip from much of Southern California. There is approximately an hour's worth of off-road travel, one-way, though this can be extended greatly if intersted in exploring the area. Red Rock Canyon provides a nearby developed campground.

William Schmidt took 38 years to build the 2087 foot tunnel by hand, with a little help from dynamite.

El Paso Mountains

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El Paso Mountains Map

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One of the mines along the way.

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Burro Schmidt's Cabin and Caretaker's House - Now destroyed by vandals

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Navigating the Tunnel

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Tunnel Dead End

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Tunnel Exit

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Tunnel Survey

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Tunnel Monument

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Truck at Nearby Bickel Camp

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Burro Schmidt's and Caretaker Tonie Seger's Resting Places - Joburg Cemetery

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Schmidt Tunnel.gpx

GPX File of Area Points of Interest

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http://www.desertusa.com/desert-prospec ... unnel.html
http://www.bickelcamp.org/BurroSchmidt.html

[NotAMog]

I have a loop which which is near by me that is on the other side of Hwy 14 from the previous post. If I want to do a weekend drive or take some folks out to give them a taste of off roading I like to do the loop along the L.A. Aqueduct road up through Red Rock Canyon, Jawbone Canyon, and Dove Springs OHV area. I catch the Aqueduct road where it crosses the Cal City Cut Off. This road basically does a short loop between exit 165 on Hwy 58 and California City Blvd. The Aqueduct road is a Michell Class I road for the most part although you need to not drive it too fast as there can be washouts that are hard to see until you're right on them. The Aqueduct road winds along the foot hills. Once at the Dove Springs OHV area I go west on SC120 up over Bird Springs Pass.

Here is a link to a BLM map showing the general area - http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/c ... il_map.pdf

SC120 can be difficult to find as there are many unmarked roads in the Dove Spring OHV area and many of the road markers are missing. Once you get to the general area you can start heading west where eventually the road is easier to find as it's clearly the only one going up into the mountains. Before you start climbing there is a sandy area which can be a little tricky to traverse. This leads into a very dense Joshua Tree forest. This has to be one of the best stands of Joshua Trees in the area. Its very pristine as the Kiawah Wilderness boarders the road on the north side. As you continue west the road climbs into the Scodie Mountains.

At the top of the pass there is a road to the left leading up to a repeater site. There is a 2m repeater up there in addition to a number of commercial repeaters. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses SC120 at this point as well. There is a water cache for the hikers just north of SC120. It's always nice to leave a gallon or two here to help out the through hikers.

From here the loop continues down the west side of the pass into Kelso Valley. This is mostly private land. There are a number of small ranches down there. Eventually you come out on Kelso Valley Road where I turn left. I follow Kelso Valley Road for a few miles looking out for Jawbone Canyon Road where I turn left again (east). This leads back up into the mountains, over the pass, and descends down through Jawbone Canyon.

The aqueduct road is very easy to spot as the water runs in an above ground pipeline. I usually continue on Jawbone Canyon to where it meets Hwy 14. Just before the stop sign is Jawbone Station on the left. This is a great place to get maps and history books for the whole Mojave and Eastern Sierra areas. I like to stop in whenever I can to see what's new.

Here is the URL for the Friends of Jawbone with information on Jawbone Station -

http://www.jawbone.org/

After my side trip to Jawbone Station I head back west to the aqueduct then head south (left) and follow the aqueduct road back to the Cal City Cut Off.