Jawbone to Monachee May1-4

Ok I’m about to scramble this whole trip.

I feel like an idiot. Before I set the date, I looked back at my old pics and I have camped in Monachee in late April. And I didn’t think the snow pack was very serious so I figured early May would be safe.
Wrong.
Sherman pass and Monachee are still closed for the winter and likely will be for a few more weeks.

Also I learned from Brian Baker that dirt road through Chimney Peak is closed from rain damage.

The weather isn’t looking good, windy with a chance of rain which will make desert tent camping miserable.

I’m open to ideas, but at this point my plan is to head for the Panamint valley (between Death Valley and 395) to explore some mines and try to snag an adopt a cabin. Shooting for Briggs which is a badass very well maintained cabin, but it’s first come first served so it’s a gamble. There are other. Ice cabins in the area.

Also SpeedMetal is the same weekend. I did that 2 years ago and it’s a damn good time so if anyone wants to bail and head to Speed Metal that’s a solid move.

Ideas?!

First alternate was Coyote flat but that’s under snow too.
 
Lance and i have been going back and forth for a few days now trying to figure out the best options for this trip with recent news of trails still being closed and weather in mind.

As of right now we're taking it day by day, but regardless of any situation that unfolds, Wes and i are heading out Thursday night from Visalia. I plan to either camp at Borax Bill Park or our old CCG camp (DR days) off Cadillac Blvd in California City. I can post coordinates for anyone who'd like to camp Thursday night or would want to meet Friday. There's plenty of fun spots i can take you guys to on Friday to fill the day, or we can meet up and B line to the cabin that Lance will hopefully snag the night before. If it all falls through I'll definitely be heading to Speed Metal on Saturday. Not sure where we'll camp Friday night.

The W is forecasted to be at 20-40mph for Saturday along with possible rain.
 
Wyatt and I are heading early morning Friday and heading to the desert, wherever the meetup spot it.

Briggs camp sounds cool, I have faith in you guys and appreciate the fluid planning. As long as we are putting down dirt miles and making memories, I’m good.

If the whole thing falls apart, we will meet up with whoever shows up for Friday night camping and speed metal on Saturday.
 
I am in, but won't be leaving Long Beach until around 10, depending on how long the DMV takes................I can meet whever as long as I have a pin
 
4lowlance said:
Briggs cabin has a shooting range, and a good set up for shooting at sporting clays. So.
Bring a BB gun, pellet gun, 22, I will bring one box of clays and a shotgun
Click to expand...
I’ll grab a box of clay pigeons and bring some 12ga ammo. I’ll bring a .22 with ammo as well.
 
35°41'46.6"N 117°57'55.7"W or 35°41'33.1"N 117°55'48.7"W are good sites with an old cabin in a wooded area or a grassy field with a big fire pit behind a brewery if you want to meet there Thursday night. I wouldn't mind exploring the valley around Ballarat, even seeing Barker Ranch if you wanted to reach a bit.
 
I can actually work saturday and sunday. Any interest in Speed metal for a bit and then offroad to a camp site second half of the day?

Not to take away from Lance's plans. Just throwing out another possibility
 
Last edited:
Plan as of right now is to camp at Briggs cabin in the Panamint Valley, Thursday night and Friday.

I have a local guy, his kids go to school with my kids, (boys, 10 and 12) who is joining me, In a newer Jeep Rubicon.

We will leave Ojai around three, with a target arrival time of 730.

My dad Dave, 2nd gen raptor, is going to leave Thursday morning, and try to get up and snag the cabin as early as possible.

The cabin has bunks for at least 5 to 8 people, and there’s plenty of area around to set up cots on the deck or tents.

For anyone coming up Friday, I will get some good directions later. Basically drive to Ballarat, take the road south a few miles, then turn east up the canyon.

I’m going to stay flexible, maybe Saturday morning we are ready to move on, reassess the weather and head for who knows where, maybe somewhere else in the Owens Valley

My cell number is 805-798-4915, and I will have Starlink on at the cabin
 
Briggs is badass. Stayed there a couple of times now and its always been great. And theres also the other cabin a stones throw away (if briggs is snagged/claimed). Not sure what the road to it looks like now, but the last time I was there, a 2wd (locked/spooled/or open) was NOT going to make it w/o being strapped through a few spots.
 
I feel like a POS for not committing to Briggs, but i feel Cal City, Speed metal, then back out to the desert to camp will be more suitable for Wes and I. We will be roaming Mojave from Thursday night to Sunday. If anyone needs anything or would like to tag along my number is 5593033199. I hope you guys have a rad/safe time. Please let me know if plans change and you want to head back south.
 
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