Another DV trip report??

[Tomas Tierra]

Yes it is.. Captain K's report inspired me as we were in DV about the same time..

First time trip for My wife and I to DV.We had our 15 month old son with us, his first camping trip.

We came in through ridgecrest from the south and ended up in Balarat for some info..We headed up surprise canyon for the night hoping t find some level ground. We made it to the top of the road only to find very little level area to pop up. The only place was in the middle of some freshly burned mining ruins, kinda spooky- but level!

The only real surprise up surprise canyon were the big horn sheep we saw in the morning, cool.

We went on through wild rose the next day and up to Mohagany Flats campground. 8200 feet and chili. (is this where you were CaptK??) Beutiful up there. we were lucky to get a site, the grounds filled up shortly there after. Pretty good climb in 4bylow to get up there, although an el monte RV rental came up it.

Next Am, after a cold night, we were hell bent to get into some heat. Down the hill and back up to the top of Titus Canyon for the one way jeep track trip. WOW, what a neat drive.. I think its 25 miles or so, with a few tricky spots, but overall very enjoyable driving off road. Incredible views!
out the bottom of titus and on to mesquite springs campground..nice but, mmmmm, a campground..(we like the bush)..Nice night! bout 75 degrees..beer drinkin weather.

Next AM off to Eureka dunes for our last night.. what a spot! So beutiful in the afternoon light, stunning..THe wind switched on us at the dunes..I set camp for one wind direction and about an hour before dark we got 40 knots from the oppostite direction...ouch, broke my 10 year old kelty sun shade, boo hoo..(kelty warrantied the broken poles when I got home, cool)..

The next Am we split for the Nard, terrible head winds on the way home,yuck..
Overall a great trip.. I am continually amazed at how many cool things are about 6 hours from Oxnard..
It ended up being our last trip in our old FWC Fleet...will miss it, hold on let me go look in the driveway again, nope wont miss it!

A bit long winded, sorry... hows about some piccie's??

Big horns, and Titus canyon..check out the exit from Titus, all the sudden you just pop out! crazy

 

[Tomas Tierra]

More Piccie's

Mas DV.....

mesquite springs campground,eureka dunes..

 

[captainkettel]

Yes, I was at Mahogany campground during the day. March 13th and then camped at the next campground at he lower level (7300') Thorndyke. Still got very cold, but what a night sky. Only a couple of us camped in that area. Several times I was camped at Wild Rose, 11th and 12th. Talked with the Toyota Tacoma FWC Eagle owner. I Thought I saw a rig very similar to yours at Mesquite evening. On the 14th. I was in DV from the 11-16th of March. A little warmer than I am use too coming from the Pacific NW. But really cool trip...

 

[Tomas Tierra]

Cappy,

We were there at the end of March beginning of April...Can't wait to go back this fall..

 

[pvstoy]

Nice trip report Tomas. It can never be worded long enough. Cool pictures of the big horns. They just started letting you camp at the Eureka dunes, neat place off the beaten path. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Tomas Tierra]

Didn't know the dunes were off limits to camping.. I guess we got lucky.. We weren't even planning to go out there, but saw the turn off and said what the heck..Glad we did!

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

Back in the days this trip report was written, you could camp at the dunes either in the designated campground or anywhere just off the sandy path if you continued south toward DeDeckera Canyon. The Park Service has been tightening their regulations on dispersed camping, so if you're thinking of heading that way check their website.