Mojave Desert (and Preserve) Off-Road Adventures

Inspired by @Crom's Death Valley Off-Road Adventures, and Eric's @ETAV8R 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region threads, and a recent suggestion to create a Mojave thread, I figured that now was as good a time as any.

I first explored the Mojave in the same was as a lot of people - along the Mojave Road. At the time, I'd just installed some new suspension. Unfortunately, I'd done such a poor job on the install, that I had to completely remove my rear shocks for the duration of the trip!

Running that road on leaf springs alone was interesting to say the least. Most importantly, it hooked me on the Mojave, and I've been back dozens of times since. (With rear shocks!)

Such a huge place, there are endless opportunities for exploration. From the mysteries such as the Megaphone to colorful rock art left by those who explored before us, this thread can serve as a place to marvel at the Mojave, together!

But for a little maintenance, little in this view has changed since the sound of mining filled the air.


Colorful canvas.​

 

Is "Mojave Preserve" a hard border?

 

Definitely not, which is why it's "Desert." So. Big. Neither of my shots in the first post are from the Preserve.

Never seen Seguaro in the Mojave though...where'd you stumble on those? Beautiful shot btw with the cholla. So green!

 

That was taken at the base of Harquahala Mountain in AZ. Sonoran Desert. Pushing boundaries.

 

Nice. I need to do more in AZ. I like pushing boundaries too .

 

thanks dan…always enjoy getting out that way

 

Mojave meetup.

 

I don't know why you made this page. There is nothing to see or do in Mojave.



No restaurants. No gas stations. No outlet malls.



Whole lot of nothing, folks -- may as well just stay home!

 

In. Such a great place. So much to see and explore. My last trip there was an amazing solo trip.

 

I guess this is a suitable place for this… maybe old news to some, but first I’ve heard of it.
All I can think is WTF.
https://www.latimes.com/environment...g-rare-earth-minerals-in-old-mojave-gold-mine

 

Last time I was buy the Colosseum Mine (about a year ago in Dec 2023), we saw a small operation down in the bottom and there was a bunch of new trespassing signage up top. Hopefully the NPS will "be allowed to" (I almost can't believe I have to say that) continue the fight against reopening the mine; having an active mine there would be awful for the Clark Mountains and surrounding area.

...and just as the Ivanpah is shutting down.


You can see them as a spec near the bottom of the road:



Closer, they were doing some drilling. Apparently for rare earths...

 

I could not agree with you more. Actually as soon as I read Colosseum I thought about your trip report seeing some sort of operations going on there. (EMHT if I’m not mistaken). The Mojave is an incredible and very special place to me and my wife and countless others. So much wrong with this.

 

With all of the BLM, US Forest Service and NPS people being let go arbitrarily, this is going to become all to common. The purposeful deconstruction of NEPA requirements, policies and procedures we have applied for years are being dismantled. So, if you want a chance to save your open spaces and not let them begin to be given to the highest bidder...better speak up now to your congress people. Wildfires this year will be uncontrolled and we simply do not have the people or support to deal with this. I cry for our National Parks and National Forests...they WILL be sold off to the highest bidder! The new Chief of the Forest Service for the first time ever, is not a forest service employee that grew up in the agency, but a Timber company head honcho....sorry for the rant.

And now today, and executive order to cut any and all timber in National Forests without any due diligence as to whats being cut, old growth or any endangered species...PLEASE contact your representatives and tell them this is NOT how we care for the land and secure a future of natural spaces for our children!

 

Man, I wish I was rich, I would LOVE to buy a national park. I would build a huge gigantic house with a helicopter pad and a swimming pool! (But no, not tennis courts, sports are dumb.)

But I can't even afford to buy a national forest. Especially not in today's economy!

Maybe if mining regulations lighten up, I could at least buy a mine for now, and keep saving for the helicopter?


It will be a rare earth mine, too, whatever that means!

Joking aside: Rare earths are indeed a strategic challenge for the US -- Mountain Pass is essentially the only mine and processing facility in the country, and it's struggled to stay in business in recent decades. (For casual readers, this is the gigantic mine at the summit of I-15 between Baker and Vegas.)

Recent events have put rare-earths in the news cycle again, although it's been a strategic issue now for over a decade. Even more critical than digging up the ores is the challenge of refining them. I think we'll see more activity in the Mojave in upcoming years. I've heard blasting echo from Mountain Pass while day-hiking the Cima Dome in recent years.

 

any planned trips?

 

Apologies, not an adventure, but running around the Eastern Mojave with friends.

 

If it involves gravel roads and 4WD, it is an adventure. (I hope some brew was involved)

 

Looks like an adventure to me! I thought that old concrete building with the sheep skeleton graffiti was pretty neat when we ran into it on the EMHT!