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The Amargosa Opera House

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Destination4x4

Recently, on a whim, my wife and I loaded up the jeep and opt to just explore the desert West of our home town of Las Vegas. Our original intent was to drive to the winery’s in Pahrump, Nevada and then drive up the visit the town site and mines of Johnnie, Nevada. The best laid plans were for not, when we discovered that the mines of Johnnie, Nevada are located on private property.

The Arargosa Opera House is located in Death Valley Junction, California.

Honoring the wishes of the Johnnie mine site property owners, we opted to do some exploring. We headed easy through the small town of Crystal, Nevada and drove past the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Sadly, again we were turned away due to a Government Shutdown which prompted the Federal Government to once again, close outside. <sigh>

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The Hole in the Wall Ring Trail

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Destination4x4

The Hole in the Wall Ring Trail is a short is a 1.5 miles loop trail around a hill top and through a slot canyon in the Mojave National Preserve. The trail it self is well marked and very easy going, with the exception of 1/4 mile at the north end, through a slot canyon. Rings are bolted into the rock to serve as hand holds and give the trail its name.

The Ring Trail is a short fun little hike in the Mojave National Preserve.

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California Juniper ( Juniperus californica )

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Destination4x4

The California Juniper ( Juniperus californica ) is a common tree found in California, western Arizona and southern Nevada at medium elevations between 2,460 – 5,250 ft. Commonly growing 10 and 26 feet in height, the grayish shredded bark Juniper may reach a maximum height or about 33 feet, although this height is rare. Growing up in California and frequently camping in the Mojave and High Sierra, the California Juniper has frequents my memory and photographs.

A Juniper bush decorates the Mid Hills Campground in the Mojave National Preserve.

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Mid Hills Campground, Mojave National Preserve

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Destination4x4

Located in deep in the heart of the Mojave National Preserve there is an abundance of campsites to suit everyone. The Mid Hills campground was an after thought on a recent trip in March, 2018, however the location and charm of this spot make it a new favorite destination.

Mid Hills Campsite in the Mojave National Preserve March 2018 after a rainstorm.

In March 2018, I decided to take my son on our first father and son camping trip, just the boys. We scoured maps and picked destinations and points of interest. He was very excited to hike the Ring Trail and we opted over-night at Hole in the Wall campground.

I picked him up from school with the Jeep loaded and we drove down Nipton Road deep into the isolated areas of the Mojave. We arrived at Hole in the Wall campground and with the sun starting to set discovered that the campground was full of motor homes and jeepers. No place to camp. We opted for ‘Plan B’ and headed north.

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Speckled Rattlesnake ( Crotalus mitchellii )

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Destination4x4

The Speckled Rattlesnake is fairly common pit viper found in southern California, southern Nevada, western Arizona and south-western Utah and down the Pacific coast into Baja California. A moderate size snake, this animal typically does not exceed 39 inches in length. As with most animals, the Speckled Rattlesnake is a master of disguise and commonly are colored to compliment the surrounding rock. This viper can range from pink, cream, tan or pale blues and grays. This feature I can personally attest to as I witnessed and entire Cub Scout Pack literally step over the specimen photographed below while hiking on a camping trip in the Valley of Fire State Park just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.

A Juvenile Speckled Rattle Snake found in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

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