With the current “COVID climate” affecting just about most places we normally go (Baja, cough-cough-wink), we decided to join a group of friends for a “Raptor-ing” adventure of a lifetime – right in our own backyard.
The plan was set; trucks packed to the nines and families stuffed into their rigs for an eight day off-road trip promising beautiful landscapes, 16th century trade routes, exhilarating off-road trails, abandoned ghost towns, haunted hotels, hot springs, ranches and more (yes, more!) through the southern deserts of California and Nevada finishing just before our Nation’s birthday in the Eastern Sierras, and doing so 90% of the time on dirt.
OLD SPANISH NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL and DATE MILKSHAKES
With one of the first summer heat waves to hit the west coast in 2020, where else would one expect to meet but the infamous World’s Tallest Thermometer in Baker, California. Located in the middle of this small gas-stop of a town usually only visited for Del Taco and fuel on the way to Las Vegas or Dumont Dunes, we began lining up our Ford Raptors under the giant temperature gauge eagerly awaiting our trip to begin. We were fortunate to be joining a group of off-road legends and their families, from Curt Leduc and Johnny Campbell to Cameron Steele and King of the Hammer’s Dave Cole. Steele was the mastermind of the trip, with Leduc, Campbell and a few others pre-running the route and organizing all sorts of activities and conveniences along the way. The thermometer read 102*F and with a dog in my lap, snacks overflowing at my feet, I opened up my OnX Off-Road App to set my coordinates and record our route.
From China Ranch, we continued north and gained some much-needed speed therapy through the dry Tecopa Lakebeds. With off-road legends at the wheel, some racing may or may not have been had.
We finally had an opportunity to have an afternoon stretch once we arrived to Ash Meadows. A National Wildlife Refuge, Ash Meadows is a biodiversity hot spot and haven for rare animals and plants, including a story of survival for an ancient species of fish.
The perfectly manicured boardwalks allowed us to get up close and personal to the protected hot spring waters. Tip: This is a great restroom stop when out on the trails in the area; well serviced and clean! Always a plus when on an adventure distant from civilization.
We finally landed at our pet friendly hotel, the Longstreet Inn Casino & Resort and RV Camp, for some much needed rest. Knowing how action packed day one was for us, we were excited to see what the rest of the trip had in store for us. We were in awe of the places we visited just hours away from our homes (if taking the highway of course).
Stay tuned for Day 2 in the “Raptors Have All the Fun” series. We will explore Big Dune, Rhyolite Ghost Town, lesser known California Yucca forests, elevation changes, Gold Point Ghost Town, the International Car Forest and even the country’s #1 most haunted hotel!
Until next time,
Words and Photos: Coelette Chenier
Sources: US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service