The Bonanza Trail and Four Wheel Drive- continued...

By

Scott Schwartz

Certainly, it is possible to damage your vehicle when driving off-road.  Potential hazards abound on most off-road trails.  Most of these hazards take the form of large rocks, unforeseen ruts and ditches, and loose sand.

However, if you take some basic precautions, you should be able to enjoy many years of incident-free off-road driving.  I have.

The Bonanza Trail and Four Wheel Drive- Continued...

By 

Scott Schwartz

You should be aware that, in most cases, Low Range is intended for use on slippery or loose surfaces only.  Use of Low Range on paved surfaces can result in severe damage to vehicle’s drive-train.  I urge you to your vehicle’s owner’s manual prior to any off-road excursion.

 However, despite the long stretches of graded and smooth dirt road, there are several places along the Bonanza Trail that require the use of Low-Range.  These spots will be discussed in the following chapters. 

CAUTION:

During my life, I have met many people who have bought four wheel drive vehicles for purposes having nothing to do with off-road exploration.  Some have needed these vehicles simply to get to and from their homes during winter weather.  Others have bought Sport Utility Vehicles (“SUV’s”) simply to haul their families around.  Yet, many of these people were only vaguely aware that four wheel drive can open a whole new world of exploration and fun.  In some cases, they had no idea where to go and/or thought that taking their vehicle off-road would surely damage it.

The Bonanza Trail and Four Wheel Drive- continued.

By

Scott Schwartz

 “Low Range” is essentially another set of gears (contained within the transfer case) that slow the vehicle down while multiplying the torque (the force that causes things like axles to rotate) supplied by the engine.  This enables the vehicle to “crawl” over certain obstacles, or up steep, rocky grades.  It also enables the driver to control the vehicle’s speed more precisely, and it greatly amplifies the engine-braking effect when descending steep grades.  Why is that important?  Because it reduces the need for the driver to “ride” the brakes in order to keep the vehicle’s speed from building up.  

Bonanza Trail and Four-Wheel Drive....Continued..

By 

Scott Schwartz

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE…..       

Earlier, I wrote that the Bonanza Trail can be negotiated with a stock four-wheel-drive vehicle.   “Stock” means that no special modifications should be needed in order to safely drive along the trail-and this holds true for the Bonanza Trail at the time that this is being written.  However, many Sport-Utility Vehicles are equipped with “all-wheel drive”, as opposed to “four wheel drive”.  In the literal sense, “four- wheel” and “all- wheel” drive are the same in that power can be delivered to all four wheels for better traction.  The two terms, however, have different meanings in practice.  Most “all-wheel drive” vehicles are designed to be driven primarily on the pavement, with their transfer cases (the second gear box that distributes power to all four wheels) being optimized for traction in the snow, rain, or for limited off-road use.  “Limited off-road use” means travel on terrain that does not require the use of “four wheel drive” or “low range” gearing.  Typically, this means driving on dirt roads, or slightly rocky roads, and along routes that do not require the vehicle to climb steep, rocky or sandy grades. 

“Four- wheel-drive” usually refers to a vehicle with a transfer case that is optimized to provide better traction off -road.  What’s more is that the transfer cases in these vehicles usually have a “Low Range” gear setting.

El Paso Mountains and Four Wheel-Drive- continued...

By 

Scott Schwartz

The old mining camps and town sites aren’t the only interesting stops along the Bonanza Trail.  Some of these old sites are miles apart.  Nevertheless, the trail passes through vast tracts of relatively unspoiled land. Some of these spots resemble the prairie lands; tall grasses grow along flat plains here.  You can drive a little further and find yourself surrounded by large hills dotted with Yucca.  There is usually plenty of room to pull over and get out of your vehicle.  I encourage you to do that, if time permits it; we tend to miss a lot while concentrating on our driving.  Feel the desert air on your skin.  Listen to the wind rustling some of the tall grasses.  Look at the surrounding hills; is that an old head frame on the side of that mountain?  Take lots of photos.     

To be continued next week

El Paso Mountains and Four Wheel-Drive..

By 

Scott Schwartz

Sitting approximately thirty miles south of the China Lake Naval Weapons Station, between Highways 14 and 395, the El Paso Mountain Range is, to some extent, shrouded in mystery.  There is a four wheel drive trail that runs through the heart of the El Paso’s, and it links several of the old town sites, as well as a few of the mining camps.  There are dozens of off-road trails winding through the El Paso’s, but this trail has been designated by the Federal Bureau of Land Management as The Bonanza Trail, and it can be negotiated with a stock four wheel drive vehicle-provided that some basic preparations of driver and vehicle are made.  There’ll be more about that, later.

California's El Paso Mountains..

The scenery varies from the truly stunning to the merely intriguing.    

Native peoples made their homes here for thousands of years; during the mid-nineteenth century, prospectors came to the area in search of gold.  Eventually, small towns sprang up.  Most of them have vanished, but a few remnants and some old cabins remain.  Abandoned mines dot the hills. Their rotting head frames stand like silent sentinels.

Parrot Drone- Afton Canyon...

Ok folks, this is one of my first forays into the world of aerial footage with my new Parrot drone.  I obviously have a lot to learn, but bear with me.

Afton Canyon...

The first cave....

For over two thousand years, people have taken shelter in The Caves.

Photo by Scott Schwartz

Afton Canyon...

As we hiked to The Caves, I paused for a look back at the trestle under which we parked our vehicles.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Afton Canyon...

Doggedly, we make our way to "The Caves".

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Afton Canyon...

In search of "The Caves" on October 12, 2013, we had to hike through this lush (for the Mojave Desert) area.  Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Joshua Tree-one of my first desert trips...

I moved to California from Long Island, NY in July, 1989.  Shortly after I arrived, I drove out to Joshua Tree National Monument (I was living in Glendale, CA at the time, and I think that the park was still a state park, then) in my brand-new Dodge Daytona.  This photograph was shot with slide film, during a time when I was still honing my photographic skills.

Photo by Scott Schwartz

Mojave Desert- El Paso Mountains...

During the winter months, streams appear in the El Paso Mountains.  They originate from melting snow, high in the mountains.  Photo by Scott Schwartz

A highly-modified vehicle is not needed in order to experience many of these wonders.

Twin Hammers- El Paso Mountains..

I never know what types of rock formations I'll come across, while motoring in the El Paso Mountains.
Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Window into the past....

Forlorn hopes: El Paso Mountains.  Photo by Scott Schwartz.

Where Angels Fear To Tread- the rugged El Paso Mountains..

Photo By Scott Schwartz

Another image from the El Paso Mountain Range.

Lonely Repose, in the El Paso Mountains..

I'm not sure who, or what rests here.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.