The Mojave Road

[SVTRay]

So... what radios are the guys carrying?

I haven't seen mentioned anything but I figured I would post up a suggestion. You can pick up a couple of set of two-way radios for cheap and are good up to 1-2 miles. I've used them on road trips with good success. A lot of these also come with hands free devices. Now they use a rechargeable battery pack but you can remove these and use AA batteries.

Anyhow, it's just a thought.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014DVIL2/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Thanks Ray!

We've used Family Radios on our Raptor Runs with reasonable success. The range numbers provided by all the manufacturers are bull**** but they're good for communicating when we're all driving together. Some of us are going with CB radios and I have a shortwave radio which is actually the best solution because they provide much more reliable and much longer distance communication, and they will enable communications when emergency services are needed. They do require licenses to operate legally which is important.

 

[BigJ]

Dan I have an FRS. Will that work for us, this time? You haven't gone the CB route, correct?

 

[SVTRay]

Thanks Ray!

We've used Family Radios on our Raptor Runs with reasonable success. The range numbers provided by all the manufacturers are bull**** but they're good for communicating when we're all driving together. Some of us are going with CB radios and I have a shortwave radio which is actually the best solution because they provide much more reliable and much longer distance communication, and they will enable communications when emergency services are needed. They do require licenses to operate legally which is important.

Ya, I think those two-ways boast about 5+ miles but I couldn't get much more than 1-2 miles. I'm sure under certain ionospheric conditions you could probably reach further but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Anyhow, I think these should work...especially since at least one of you will have a Ham radio for emergencies.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Ha Ha - Try up to 35 miles! (Claimed)

Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UE6MJ8/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

 

[SVTRay]

Ha Ha - Try up to 35 miles! (Claimed)





Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UE6MJ8/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Ya right, maybe if they it plugged into a base antenna using amplifier on top of a hill during a Skip.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Dan I have an FRS. Will that work for us, this time? You haven't gone the CB route, correct?

Sure Jason, bring your FRS! Us Raptor boys will use FRS while the Jeepers will use CB radios.

I haven't gone to the CB side yet (but I'll still carry my FRS anyway when I do).

Tim has a couple, I've got one, you've got one and Brian, well, he'll use one of Tim's.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

DirTopia has some good info on the Mojave Road:

The Mojave Road is a 138-mile stretch of dirt road through the center of the Mojave National Preserve. The road leads from waterhole to waterhole, and is mostly a 4-wheel-drive trail.

Traveling the Mojave Road is a 2- or 3-day excursion, best made with a group of well-equipped off-roaders. The trip begins at the Colorado River and ends in Afton Canyon near Barstow. The Mojave National Preserve is huge and empty. Except the store at Cima (which may or may not be open) there are no services of any kind available. Take plenty of emergency rations and extra water, and fill up your gas tank. Bring plenty of film for your camera; you'll use a lot.

The indisputable authority on this trip is the book Mojave Road Guide, written by Dennis Casebier. Casebier spent decades traveling the trail and has an insatiable appetite for history and geology. Mile by mile, the book guides travelers over the passes and through the valleys, 138.8 miles.


Landmarks on the Mojave Road
East to West

The Colorado River - Where the trail begins -mile 0
Coordinates: 35.046280° -114.627890° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Piute Creek - Natural spring with trees and plants growing all year round. -mile 23
Coordinates: 35.115020° -114.985260° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Fort Piute - Next to the spring, this fort was built in 1867 by the US infantry -mile 23
Coordinates: 35.115020° -114.985260° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Lanfair Valley - Cattle ranches have been here since 1880. -mile 34
Coordinates: 35.094780° -115.019520° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Indian Hill, Indian Well - North of the Mojave Road at mile 40, there is an old well of debatable origin. -mile 40
Coordinates: 35.143530° -115.154260° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Joshua Tree Forest - The road gets very narrow in this thick forest in Lanfair Valley. -mile 47
Coordinates: 35.143340° -115.291460° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Rock Spring - The biggest watering hole along the Mojave Road. The stream flows down large boulders. There is an old cabin here. -mile 49
Coordinates: 35.152830° -115.327300° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Goverment Holes - Another water supply near Rock Spring, with an old concrete trough -mile 52
Coordinates: 35.147490° -115.359200° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Cedar Canyon - The high point of the trip, you will reach 5,000 ft elevation -mile 56
Coordinates: 35.152900° -115.362000° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Kelso-Cima Road - In the middle of the trip, this is the last road you will see for a long time -mile 62
Coordinates: 35.176210° -115.509010° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Marl Springs - Another spring with a primitive concrete trough. -mile 70
Coordinates: 35.170700° -115.647590° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Mojave Phone Booth - Famous phone booth in the middle of nowhere, also the subject of a movie by the same name - (not actually on the Mojave Road)
Coordinates: 35.285500° -115.684288° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Mojave Road Mail Box - Sign your name at this solitary flagpole and continue on. -mile 74
Coordinates: 35.185400° -115.692840° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Willow Wash - Heavy sand alongside the Cinder Cones lava flow -mile 77
Coordinates: 35.162850° -115.442090° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Soda Lake - A large dry lake, proceed with caution. You may have to drive around in the winter - mile 97
Coordinates: 35.152410° -116.052710° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Soda Springs (Zzyzx) - Small private building on the edge of Soda Lake
Coordinates: 35.142790° -116.104740° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Travelers Monument - Aka Government Monument, travelers carry a rock accross the dry lake and add it to the pile -mile 100
Coordinates: 35.130840° -116.095270° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Rasor OHV Area - Open use area -mile 103
Coordinates: 35.108780° -116.143630° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Sand Dunes - There are a few soft sand dunes along here that you can play on -mile 106
Coordinates: 35.080507° -116.193786° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Afton Canyon - Deep canyon with steep walls and plenty of scenery -mile 116
Coordinates: 35.042720° -116.309500° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Mojave River crossing - The only water crossing on this trail -mile 121
Coordinates: 35.037740° -116.381120° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Manix Wash - The exit point of the Mojave Road -mile 133
Coordinates: 34.974380° -116.540800° Satellite Google Yahoo Topo Geocache GEarth Other

Historic Fort Piute:

All the info and pics here:
http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/Mojave_Road

 

[bstoner59]

it's gona be awesome!!

 

[Falcon]

You guys are going to have a BLAST. I am SO jealous <G>. Watch out for snakes... and take lots and lots of pictures!

Falcon
"Stuck in the mid-west"