Sonoran-Mojave-Deserts Trip

[MarkBC]

I haven't even posted a trip report yet for my last trip...and I'm already thinking about another trip plan.

RicoV's mention of his visit to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument reminded me again of how much I enjoyed that area on my last visit (two visits in the '90s)...and offline discussion of it with him got me excited and maybe kinda committing myself to going there this year.

In March, I think.

That map isn't necessarily the route I'd take -- not for both directions, at least, but it is the route I took when I drove there in the early '90s...and it's a likely route again.

If I'm going that far (~1250 miles one-way), I'll definitely be hitting other spots, too -- either on the way down or way back...maybe revisiting other desert places I've enjoyed on previous far-south trips...KOFA NWR, Mojave Nat Preserve, J-Tree, etc. Possibly venture a little further east to the Chiricahuas, which I've never visited... Too early -- and not necessary -- to have a specific itinerary yet.

I'd probably make this a pretty long trip -- maybe 3 weeks or so. Most of the cost is fuel for getting there (other than paying a cat-sitter at home), so time spent there and on small wandering around off-route/off-axis gets me more bang for the getting-down-there buck.

I just hope ga$ price$ stay down for a few more months!

 

[ski3pin]

Consider taking 6 east from Tonopah to 375 at Warm Springs, then 375 to 93 and then down to Vegas. It is much more interesting than Beatty and Indian Springs.

 

[MarkBC]

Consider taking 6 east from Tonopah to 375 at Warm Springs, then 375 to 93 and then down to Vegas. It is much more interesting than Beatty and Indian Springs.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Years ago on a trip to eastern NV I swung south on 93 and then back up that way. I stopped in Rachel and had an "extraterrestrial burger" at the Little A'Le'Inn...as I recall it tasted a lot like beef.

I'd really like to avoid Vegas completely (that awful cancer that's sucking all the water from rural Nevada), and I probably will take a different route (avoiding it) if/when I visit the Mojave area of SoCal as part of this trip.

 

[generubin]

Mark,

I agree about avoiding Vegas and I will drive miles out of my way to avoid it.

If you're going that far south and you enjoy the Sonoran Desert, consider visiting El Pinacate/El Gran Desierto just over the border:

"The Pinacate Reserve, which includes Mexico's largest desert and dunes, has recently been named a national reserve. Yet this trove of desert ecosystems, stark vistas, and volcanic spires is unknown to most Mexican and American hikers. In February and March, this desolation turns into a madness of blues and lavenders and reds and yellows. In a good year, the desert wildflower bloom of Pinacate is unbeatable."-- http://www.puerto-penasco.com/pinacate.html

Photos of Pinacates: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reserva-de-la-Biosfera-del-Pinacate/323593404910?sk=photos_stream

And then March 29th, as we pass through Mexicali on our way south to visit the grey whales of Baja join us: http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/index.php?/topic/6900/

Anne and I just got back from Baja Sur and the diesel and gas was only about $2.70/gallon. The food was as amazing as usual and so inexpensive due to the new exchange that I felt guilty to the point that I insisted on tipping everyone exorbitantly.

You could camp here with us:

 

[MarkBC]

Gene, thanks for the suggestion. I'll consider that.
In my trip of 20 years ago I remember seeing rigs pulling boats passing through Organ Pipe, on the way to Puerto Penasco via Lukeville...but I cautiously stayed on my side of the border.

I've always thought that Sonoran Desert + ocean, i.e., Baja, could be a great combo...maybe I need to find out this year.

 

[clikrf8]

MarkBC and generubin: you are my kind of people, probably most folks on here would agree with you. We avoid LV at all costs when we are in the area. We have had to skirt N LV, that vast wasteland of cookie cutter/strip mall/desert architecture sameness nonsense.

We are heading down to Death Valley in March so want to avoid Reno, too but want to stop near the NE part of Lake Tahoe for some boulder/lake photos. I am not really sure how to get there without driving through Reno. I also dislike driving through the bottleneck mess that is I5 through Seattle but in March we really have no alternatives other than I90, hwy 2. 20 is our preferred way but it is closed until late May.

I am looking at ways to roam around 395 and Dv then will figure out how to get there in our meandering way.

Happy trails.

 

[generubin]

Mark,
If you join us, I'm sure you'll find yourself completely comfortable south of the border. I've been traveling Baja since 1985 and there are others with past Baja experience on the trip. I have female friends who travel Baja regularly. The only danger I can think of is driving the narrow Mexico 1, which is one reason why we take alternative routes.

I just took this picture day before yesterday about 600 miles down:

 

[generubin]

MarkBC and generubin: you are my kind of people, probably most folks on here would agree with you. We avoid LV at all costs when we are in the area. We have had to skirt N LV, that vast wasteland of cookie cutter/strip mall/desert architecture sameness nonsense.

We are heading down to Death Valley in March so want to avoid Reno, too but want to stop near the NE part of Lake Tahoe for some boulder/lake photos. I am not really sure how to get there without driving through Reno. I also dislike driving through the bottleneck mess that is I5 through Seattle but in March we really have no alternatives other than I90, hwy 2. 20 is our preferred way but it is closed until late May.

I am looking at ways to roam around 395 and Dv then will figure out how to get there in our meandering way.

Happy trails.


After Vegas, Reno is my other nemesis. I go around the east side of Reno when headed to Hart Mt.

 

[clikrf8]

That is what we did on our return trip home from Southern Utah. We came up 95 then 50 through Femley then a very roundabout way via 447 along Pyramid :Lake to CA299. We avoided Reno. They can have the glitter and gambling; I like the desert natural.

 

[ntsqd]

Mark,
If you join us, I'm sure you'll find yourself completely comfortable south of the border. I've been traveling Baja since 1985 and there are others with past Baja experience on the trip. I have female friends who travel Baja regularly. The only danger I can think of is driving the narrow Mexico 1, which is one reason why we take alternative routes.

I just took this picture day before yesterday about 600 miles down:

I know that beach in the middle pic! It's waypoint exists two of my GPS', named "Heaven." Ever notice the whale's tail to the south on the cliff face?

I've been to Baja twice and had an immensely good time on both trips. Unfortunately coming home from the second trip I also had an experience that opened my eyes to the reality of their laws. Had I not reacted as I did there would have been no good option, legal or otherwise. Cured me of crossing for the time being.

I despise LV, but I'm willing to drive thru it. Just no desire to stay there or stop there for more than fuel or the Bass Pro Shops.

 

[MarkBC]

I think I'm losing/lost my psych for this trip this year...and if I'm not super-into-it/excited I don't want to spend the time -- nor the considerable fuel co$t.
Not sure why...maybe because I'd already, months-ago, scheduled a trip to Georgia and the southeast (by plane, to visit a friend who lives in Savannah and a region that I've never seen) in mid-April -- just a couple weeks after when I'd return from this trip. I don't want to spend time wandering among saguaro and ocotillo while being distracted by thoughts of Spanish moss and magnolias.

I have not lost my interest in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts in general...but I think a visit will not happen this spring.
It's all good.

 

[LuckyDan]

I'm still waiting on the last east Nevada trip report to see if I won the heater pool.

 

[generubin]

Mark,
You can still join us for the Baja Trip, March 29th thru April 10. I assure you, you'll enjoy yourself and see plenty of Sonoran desert along with the whales.

 

[ski3pin]

<snip> to spend time wandering among saguaro and ocotillo while being distracted by thoughts of Spanish moss and magnolias.


I like this sentence Mr. BC, well done. And, trip reports from the southeast are allowed and appreciated.

 

[MarkBC]

Hey guys, thanks for taking notice.

I'm still waiting on the last east Nevada trip report to see if I won the heater pool.

There's interest in my trip? In that case, maybe I'll get off my lazy/procrastinating ass and process my photos, etc. Umm...what heater pool?

Mark,
You can still join us for the Baja Trip, March 29th thru April 10. I assure you, you'll enjoy yourself and see plenty of Sonoran desert along with the whales.

Gene, it's unlikely that I'll join you guys this year...but it's nice to be invited anyway, thanks.

I like this sentence Mr. BC, well done. And, trip reports from the southeast are allowed and appreciated.

Thanks, ski...yeah, even a injunear like me can sometimes put a few words together in the write order.

As for a non-Western t.r, I think it takes at least two Site Team Members to approve that, and I'd have to abstain due to conflict of interest. Need to get Ted or "the other Mark" to sign off on it with you.

 

[ski3pin]

<snip> Need to get Ted or "the other Mark" to sign off on it with you.

.........consider it done, approved, signed off on.

 

[Ted]

I want to see that trip report. Where do I sign?