2016 Eastern Mojave Scenic

by Merri Melde-Endurance.net
Monday February 15 2016

The main thing you need to know abut the Eastern Mojave Scenic endurance ride is that Joshua trees are not your friends. To be sure, they are fascinating, bizarre, intriguing; but a Joshua tree is like a steel pole with sharp fangs. Or a medieval mace with wicked spikes. (In Spanish it is zote de desierto, or "desert dagger".) You don't want to get clubbed by one nor grazed by one when you ride by. You certainly don't want to hug one. They are to be admired from afar, far enough that your body doesn't come into unwanted proximity.

And you have plenty of chances to make contact with these mighty beasts, as the Joshua tree forest on Cima Dome - part of the Eastern Mojave endurance trails - is one of two the largest and most dense anywhere on earth.

The Yucca brevifolia belongs to the genus Yucca. The name Joshua tree came from Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave desert in the 1800s, since the tree's shape reminded them of the Bible story where Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer. If Joshua was ever riding in the Mojave desert, he was certainly praying that his horse didn't duck into one.

The other thing main thing to remember is that the Duck and Annie and gang have been putting on this ride in the Eastern Mojave National Preserve for 14 years. The 1.6 million-acre Mojave National Preserve is managed by the National Park System, so between the NPS, BLM, and some private land, the Duck has to jump through quite a few hoops to continue putting this ride on.

Continuing on Steph's #WinterWimp road trip, we headed west from Scottsdale for this ride on the California/Arizona border with Smokey and Jose.

We reunited with Gretchen, the third member of our Unofficial Unauthorized Uninvited Bluegrass band - "U3". At least our horses didn't break away from the trailer and run off.

It's been 8 years since I rode the Eastern Mojave. The trails are still as awesome, the unique desert flora still fascinating, the history of the area still intriguing to ride through. The interstate near which we camped was the only thing that had changed - it's even more full of humanity racing between Los Angeles and Las Vegas 24 hours a day, zipping obliviously by this desert jewel.

There's evidence in some areas of this vast Mojave desert of inhabitants from 12,000 years ago in the form of petroglyphs, but our trail on Day 1 took us past more recent historical visitors and inhabitants...

Read more here:
http://merritravels.endurance.net/2016/02/2016-eastern-mojave-scenic.html

The Duck family and friends welcome you to the Eastern Mojave National Preserve and the tenth annual ride in the Eastern Mojave National Preserve. We hope that you will take the weekend to relax and enjoy the unique and varied scenery of the Eastern Mojave. Please inform yourselves about the event.

If you are unfamiliar with our rides, please look over the veterinary information, the XP Rider oath, and the discussion on Riding vs. Racing. This will give you an opportunity to decide if this is really the kind of event and the kind of people that you want to be involved with.

Certified Weed Free Hay: Is required. If you need hay, contact otdumas@gmail.com and let Crockett know. He will bring a limited amount of hay to those that have made reservations. $13 per bale.

Directions: This is a very easy camp to find. It is located on the southwest corner of Interstate 15, also known as the Las Vegas/Los Angeles freeway and Cima Road. Everything at this intersection belongs to the Young family as is part of ride headquarters. You can get gas, diesel and snacks at the store.

Coming from the North: Continue on I 15 south of the California line. About 28 miles from the Nevada border you will be coming down a long straight hill. Take the Cima Road exit. Stop at the stop sign. Turn left and go over the top of the freeway. You can look to your right as you go across the bridge and see the camp on the south side of the freeway. Go just past the store and turn right on the first road. After a couple of hundred feet, turn right through the gate. You are now in the camp.

Coming from the South: Continue northbound, past Baker, CA on I 15. About 26 miles past Baker, you will pass a rest area in the bottom of a long straight hill. Two miles past the rest area, turn off on Cima Road. As you are slowing to turn off you can look to your right and see the ride camp. Turn right at the end of the off ramp and go just past the store and turn right on the first road. After a couple of hundred feet, turn right through the gate. You are now in the camp.