| Take care, | Campy 2765 Sierra Vista Way Bishop CA 93514 |
SCODIE AND EL PASO MOUNTAINS
DESERT COMMITTEE, Jan 25-26, 1992, Walt Wheelock & Maris Valkass
I was invited to a meeting of the Desert Committee, and they had a bit of discussion on locales for desert trips. Found that they wanted new leaders for their upcoming schedule. Thinking it might be an opportunity to show the group the difference between ORV (Off-Road-Vehicles) and OHV (Off-Highway-Vehicles), offered to lead a trip into BLM's Area of Critical Environmental Concern. I suggested leading a trip into the Scodie and El Paso Mtns. Was quickly accepted, but the DC Chairman, Maris Valkass was assigned to assist -- or was it to ride herd on a Backroad Explorer leader.
Starting at Jawbone Canyon, we drove up to Blue Point to explore. Many found it was an easy rock climbing experience and considerable time was spent scrambling over that massive rock. A number picked up samples of the blue rock.
We then continued north on the Kelso Valley road to Butterbredt Spring, a wildlife sanctuary, where the bird watchers enjoyed looking for all possible forms of birds. From here we continued on over a OHV route to the Bird Pass Road and up to the pass. Several scrambled up the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail toward Skinner Peak. Returned for lunch, before dropping down to the Aqueduct Trail and hence north to Horse Canyon. Drove up to the first limited camping site and found it occupied. So took a side road up to a posted campsite, which we had all to ourselves for happy hour and a potluck dinner.
Next morning, returned to the Aqueduct road and continued north until we found a definite OHV route to near Robbers Roost. Quite a lot of time was spent clambering over the rock. From here we continued to the Inyokern Road, and enjoyed a Sunday buffet at the Two Sisters Cafe in Inyokern. Finally we took the well-graded Inyokern-Red Rock road back to Hwy 14, then turned up to the Opal Mine in the El Paso Mountains. The Barretts were most gracious hosts, showing us their prize gems and aided all in searching through the lode.
Also attending were Anna Valkass, Keats Hayden, Bill Gray, J Holshuh, Sue Leverton, Ella Power, Jeanette Hannigan, Mark & Wendy Webster and Vern Hull.
Apparently, I was well-behaved because Maris suggested that we lead a future trip?.
| Nopah and Eagle #2 | Feb 1&2, 1992 | Tidball/Jamison |
16 of met in Shoshone early Saturday, and we left the passenger cars in town and carpooled in the trucks to the Nopah trailhead. Note that in the driving instructions for Nopah that after leaving the "excellent dirt road" and bending North, the road trends back East and you have to make a left turn (North) before you complete the 1.3 mile and make the described right turn an additional 1.3 miles to Twelvemile Spring. We took the wrong (right) turn and when the track