Future Trips
Here we list trips scheduled by the Desert Explorers for the near and distant future. Also listed are some trips that are organized and led by our members but which do not require membership in the Mojave River Valley Museum (MRVM) and are, therefore, not MRVM-sponsored Desert Explorer trips.
Some trips, such as those involving stays at private residences or visits to obscure rock art sites, are posted only in the Desert Explorers' Newsletter. Conversely, some impromptu trips will be posted here and not in the Newsletter.
Most Desert Explorers trips involve caravanning to destinations, and dry camping wherever the trip leader decides is appropriate at the end of the day (it is at the leaders whim and discretion) . Four Wheel drive and/or high clearance is usually required.
M.O.E.Trips are run by Mojave Outback Explorations, which is another group affiliated with the Mojave Desert Valley Museum. Postings described as M.O.E. trips usually operate from a base camp location, and day trips leave & return from that base camp. The base camp can usually accommodate most R.V.s (check with leader).
Scheduled Desert Explorer Trips
Trip descriptions are usually published in the newsletter at least one month before they are posted on this website.
All Desert Explorers trips require a four-wheel drive vehicle and a working CB unless otherwise specified by the trip leader.
We welcome newcomers, but IF THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST TRIP, please talk with the trip leader about your vehicle, camping gear, and off-highway driving experience; you won't have a good time if you get stuck, cold, wet, or hungry! Also, please read the "fine print" which describes the rules we follow on our trips.
We now have a satellite telephone for use where conventional telephone or cell-phone service is not available. See the Satellite Telephone Policy. For each trip, the decision to bring the satellite telephone, and if it to be used only for emergencies, is made by the trip leader. Talk with the trip leader if the use of the satellite telephone is important to you.
--------------------------------------------------
White Mountains and Ancient Bristlecone Pines
July 19-20
Leader: Jay Lawrence
This is a pretty significant jaunt for a weekend
trip from the L.A.
basin, so if you can tag this onto an Eastern Sierra area trip for
trout fishing or camping or exploring, so much the better... Past
years have been beautiful and this year should be no exception.
Leave from Big Pine east on 168 to the site of White Mountain City.
Up Wyman Canyon through Roberts Ranch the "back way" into the White
Mountains and on to the Patriarch Grove. Camp overnight and potluck
creekside in Cottonwood Canyon. Sunday visit Schulman Grove and park
HQ. Good short hikes near HQ ranger station and pavement exit for
those who need a quick exit to get home. The more intrepid can join
leader to head to Silver Canyon for a spectacular descent from
11,400' to 4,200 feet into Laws (4 miles east of Bishop). Be
prepared for high altitude, cold and hot weather and very scenic
trip. BRING A CAMERA!!! 4WD with decent clearance and CB required.
Meet Saturday 8:30 a.m in Big Pine at the junction of highway 395
and 168 at the base of the three flagpoles in front of the
campground. Contact trip leader for details and signup.
Contact Jay at:
----------------------------------------------
Leaders: Nan Savage & Bob Jacoby
August 23-24, 2008
Come to Benton, California, for an August base camp weekend excursion in the White Mountains. Located northeast of Bishop, Benton was established in 1852 as a silver mining town connecting the nearby towns of Bodie and Aurora. Once boasting 5,000 inhabitants, today Benton is a small town with a few historic structures left and it's cemetery still standing, plus a bed & breakfast picturesquely called the Old House at Benton Hot Springs, where DE members may either book a room (6 rooms furnished with antiques) or a camping space on the property. Although warm in the summer (could be 100+ degrees), the Inn at Benton has a number of refreshing pools fed by their natural hot springs. During the day we will travel into the higher country for welcome cooler temperatures.
Saturday we will traverse the White Mountains, a full day's journey across the northern end of the range that bisects the California/Nevada border. At the top of the pass the elevation will be close to 10,000 feet with spectacular views of the Sierra Nevadas to the West. Sunday we will visit Mustang Point and Gold Hit, sites with rich mining history. At the crest of the ridge at 8,900 feet, we will be rewarded by magnificent panoramic vistas. Return to Benton Sunday afternoon. If interested, email Bob Jacoby or Nan Savage to sign up. Limit : 10 vehicles. Make reservations directly with the Benton Inn if you desire a room or campsite (760) 933-2287. High Clearance 4WD vehicles required; ther may be some rough areas at the higher elevations.
Contact Bob at:jacoby.r@worldnet.att.net
or Nan at:
Some Email addresses on this page are encoded to avoid being harvested by spam robots.
This was officially updated on July 10, 2008
