- Joined
- Jan 4, 2012
- Posts
- 247
- Reaction score
- 438
Raptor Expeditions “Rudy The Red-Nosed Raptor” Toy Drive.
This is our last expedition for the 2012 year. The Raptor Expeditions crew has planned a perfect end of the year event for 2012. The Raptor Expeditions “Rudy The Red-Nosed Raptor” Toy Drive. This run will be open for all Raptor owners and we are strongly encouraging other Raptor parts manufactures to get involved in this expedition. As all of us know their is nothing better then the gift of giving and what better way then to give a gift for christmas to a young child. The entry fee for this run will be a $100.00 and a donated toy valued at $50.00 for a needy child. (Please remember toy’s for ages 1-16, boys and girls).
Run Description:
Our toy run will begin in Victorville, CA. This is becoming one of our new favorite routes, and adds one of the more exciting of sections this area has to offer. The group will meet up in Victorville at 8AM, and prep the trucks before a quick driver's meeting. We hope to be on the trail by 9AM or so, heading northeast towards our eventual goal of Las Vegas.
This section of the trail is quite a treat for those who have never done it. As the trail turns from straight and smooth, to windy and hilly, the challenge is only amplified by the challenging route that has been carved throughout the hillside! Loose shale, and sudden dips and drops make the trail an exciting surprise for those who normally cruise the power line roads or the wide open desert! From there, we will cross over a a small stretch of highway leading over to the West side of I-15. From here, the path may be familiar to those who have done a Raptor Run with the Expeditions group in the past, as we tackle some of the power line roads heading towards Baker.
The power line road has a great mixture of sandy wash crossings, to high speed graded roads, with the occasional 6-foot deep washout to keep each driver on their toes! We'll make great time on this section as we enjoy the scenery and high speed roads, headed to our midway point of the run in Baker.
South of Baker, the group will pass through a challenging, yet passable section of desert which has seen recent changes due to the massive flooding and thunderstorms of the past few months! The aptly named "Ryckman Riverbed" is a slow, yet challenging section of washed out trail that requires attention to cautions and sudden dips as we weave through the open desert. This section will be short lived, as we head towards the Cima lava fields southeast of Baker, California. After a short stretch of highway, the group will head east towards the lava domes, as the group is in for a treat.
Time allowing, we will make a short stop at the Lava Tubes, which are naturally formed underground caves, carved from lava flows 1,000's of years ago. Those on the run will get to experience a very cool natural formation, at the perfect time of day... this requires descending into a dark cavern (with the aid of a staircase that was politely installed), and into the main "Lava Tube" room about 30 feet below the surface. Great photo op, so bring your cameras!
From there, we will travel some of the more enjoyable roads, some of which many drivers call their favorite sections of trail from anywhere in the Southern California area... truly "Raptor Country". High speed trails with sudden drops, while still allowing speeds of 70+MPH comfortably. Very fun stuff... veterans of this stretch will likely continue to push themselves, as they have in the past. This stretch is littered with Joshua Trees on each side, and multi-colored dirt ranging from white, to red, to black.
From there the group takes our usual favorite route over the mountains into SkyRanch Estates... where we literally have no cautions marked for a good 20-30 mile stretch of incredibly pristine dirt roads, which allow for high speeds and a smooth off-road ride. We'll be passing through some of the most beautiful and scenic roads in this entire area between Barstow and Vegas, which on some of the past runs has been hidden by nightfall… this is one stretch you don't want to miss. A short trip through a challenging and technical section leading towards Vegas, and we'll soon be on the asphalt on the west side of Vegas.
Our hope it so descend into Vegas before nightfall. This will allow for all the drivers and passengers to really enjoy themselves on a beautiful evening in Las Vegas. No agenda, just relax, recover, and enjoy the rest of your evening! Be sure to get your donated toys to Connor at the end of the run.
Date: December 8th, 2012
Meeting time: 8:00am
Location: Victorville to Las Vegas
What's included: Guided event, GPS coordinate provided for those with GPS. On-the-trail support from our Raptor Expeditions crew and mechanics.
Requirements: None! All ages/skill levels welcome. Radio's and GPS recommended, but not required. Available for rent if desired. Helmets will NOT be required on this run.
Notes:
On the event day please keep the toy in your truck until the end of the run.
To register for this event please log on to Registration and register for the run. *
