- Location
- Las Vegas, NV
Mike Rollins, Charles Stein, Marisha Dieters, Ryan Sullivan and Andy Steiner took a short side trip (SHORT?!?!? How far is it? Like 40 miles?) up to Afton Canyon on Sunday morning. It might have been a whole lot shorter, but after much discussion, (and encouragement on my part) we decided to go as far north as Rasor Road and head south through Afton Canyon.
It was challenging finding the cairns that marked the Mojave Road as it passed across the flood plain from Soda Dry Lake but we did eventually find them. Using a topo map of the Rasor Road OHV area, my copy of the Mojave Road Guide and our GPS units, we followed the road south to Afton Canyon where we stopped to have lunch.
In retrospect, a shorter day can be had by exiting I-15 at Basin Road and coming in that way. Basin Road intersects the Mojave Road just north of the entrance to Afton Canyon. But then again, getting lost in the desert and finding your way to where you want to be is fun! Just using a topo map and landmarks is a great skill to possess and Mike Rollins possesses that skill. (Bravo Mike!):clap:
Funny moment of the day... we're sitting in the shade, under the trestle of the railroad track, enjoying the peaceful serenity of the desert, having lunch. Far off in the distance, we hear a train whistle and realize that in a few seconds, we're going to experience what it's like to be inside a train track as a train goes by. Loud doesn't begin to adequately describe it. Conversation was impossible. Hell... shouting was impossible. The ground shook slightly and the air around you vibrated. We watched the steel girders of the trestle flex as the cars whizzed by. Amazing.
After lunch, we headed into Afton Canyon where the Mojave River snakes freely above ground. It was pedal to the metal and rooster tail time. We gazed at the beauty of the canyon's walls and the different colors of the rocks. We stopped a couple times for pictures and to pose the rigs. We played and played and played. Finally, near the end of the canyon near the campground, there's a couple of deep water crossings that cap off a perfect day.
I forgot my camera at home this weekend but everybody else got pictures. I'm sure they will post them soon.
It was challenging finding the cairns that marked the Mojave Road as it passed across the flood plain from Soda Dry Lake but we did eventually find them. Using a topo map of the Rasor Road OHV area, my copy of the Mojave Road Guide and our GPS units, we followed the road south to Afton Canyon where we stopped to have lunch.
In retrospect, a shorter day can be had by exiting I-15 at Basin Road and coming in that way. Basin Road intersects the Mojave Road just north of the entrance to Afton Canyon. But then again, getting lost in the desert and finding your way to where you want to be is fun! Just using a topo map and landmarks is a great skill to possess and Mike Rollins possesses that skill. (Bravo Mike!):clap:
Funny moment of the day... we're sitting in the shade, under the trestle of the railroad track, enjoying the peaceful serenity of the desert, having lunch. Far off in the distance, we hear a train whistle and realize that in a few seconds, we're going to experience what it's like to be inside a train track as a train goes by. Loud doesn't begin to adequately describe it. Conversation was impossible. Hell... shouting was impossible. The ground shook slightly and the air around you vibrated. We watched the steel girders of the trestle flex as the cars whizzed by. Amazing.
After lunch, we headed into Afton Canyon where the Mojave River snakes freely above ground. It was pedal to the metal and rooster tail time. We gazed at the beauty of the canyon's walls and the different colors of the rocks. We stopped a couple times for pictures and to pose the rigs. We played and played and played. Finally, near the end of the canyon near the campground, there's a couple of deep water crossings that cap off a perfect day.
I forgot my camera at home this weekend but everybody else got pictures. I'm sure they will post them soon.
