Calico Hills OHV

[Number 7]

After we ran the Mojave Trail last weekend a few of us stayed to run a few trails at the Calico Hills OHV area with Russ Chung and a California Jeep Club he belongs to.

Calico is a ghost town near Barstow, CA., and there are hills with canyons and old mining operations all over the place. We spent Sunday night at the Calico Ghost Town camping area where we rented simple cabins.

Pulling in off the highway:

http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/23225/2450123050100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2450123050100085335SZxiRd)

At the camping area:

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/20770/2357657690100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2357657690100085335SSTAeM)

Monday morning we took a quick tour of the Ghost Town:

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/21791/2547531870100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2547531870100085335uCLLrz)

The first 'obsticals' after leaving the airdown spot were these arches you could drive through. Really just a photo op, the real challenge is getting the camping gear on your roof to fit, but lots of fun just the same (sorry about the reflection in the glass):

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/23585/2740000650100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2740000650100085335BYAfDS)

http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/19571/2913887370100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2913887370100085335TGuQsH)

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/22634/2156015790100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2156015790100085335ZriLft)

Here's Jim, a fellow member of JeepExpeditions.org emerging from the 2nd arch:

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/21626/2291840300100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2291840300100085335VYkezV)

Entrance to Odessa Canyon:

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/23695/2815298000100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2815298000100085335JErDui)

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/23066/2310469200100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2310469200100085335KfLsoq)

Here's our leader Jessie and and the 2nd Jeeper Paul:

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/21653/2313345900100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2313345900100085335PdwWGP)

Con'd.

[Number 7]

Here's Paul on the first obstical:

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/17163/2307331710100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2307331710100085335XGaVSX)

And Number 7 in the same spot:

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/23693/2896088280100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2896088280100085335ZRQRpL)

Jim got a little tangle up here and needed a yank off some rocks. Then we found that the fan was getting into the shroud anytime the Jeep was needing to flex, so Jim turned around and headed home. Hey, it's a long way to Phoenix from Calico, even if you have AAA!:

http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/22968/2258922500100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2258922500100085335mmczXq)

Paul high-centered on a rock just around the bend:

http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/20256/2104491210100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2104491210100085335lKLyRD)

Number 7 hopping up the first waterfall:

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/21963/2984471000100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2984471000100085335BtejYN)

Here's Russ in the same spot. As some of you know Russ is running open diffs and does remarkably well:

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/12115/2897647410100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2897647410100085335xXiuxO)

What? This used to be paved? That's right! Back in the day this canyon was paved for touristas to drive through. There are still a few places where the asphalt remains:

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/21014/2982214740100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2982214740100085335xNtZxI)

They call this area Calico because of the many colors in the rocks & hills:

http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/23068/2071400530100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2071400530100085335Dribbj)

http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/20133/2170643960100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2170643960100085335FiyZnE)

It doesn't really look like it from my pictures, but this was the most pucker-factor part of the trail. This shelf narrows a lot in the middle from erotion, just barely enough room to get a wrangler through:

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/23455/2109491570100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2109491570100085335YnYujb)

Go to Russ' write-up on myjeeprocks.com where there is some video of everyone traversing this climb:

http://www.myjeeprocks.com/forums/showthread.php?p=86942#post86942


Con't.

[Number 7]

Here's the gang:

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/22719/2803083830100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2803083830100085335oSpzNu)

This was pretty much the end of Odessa Canyon

http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/23876/2453773170100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2453773170100085335kdFhVK)

Everyone else was heading to a place for lunch and then to run Doran Canyon back down. We decided we should start making our way back to AZ, so Russ kindly escorted us to the road we needed to be on to get out.

Russ at the top:

http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/20261/2588868900100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2588868900100085335DoXbJy)

Us at the top:

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/23450/2969983850100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2969983850100085335muUhei)

The road to blacktop:

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/20383/2702402800100085335S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2702402800100085335ZTMrzP)

We were very impressed with the cleanliness of the OHV area. There was no trash or evidence of shooting that was visible to us. Maybe those Californians have a leg up on us about teaching people to 'pack it out'.

It was a fun day with a new group. Russ was very gracious to invite us to stay and play, and was an excellent host. Do take a look at his write up, there are lots of good photos and vids.

Oh, and the rest of the photos I took are uploaded to my Webshots, feel free to take a look!

=)