Traveler III
Why would they remove the bus? Any why couldn't they wait to do it after I visited?
I didn't have a GPS
I didn't have a GPS
First Mojave Trail trip, need advice.
- Thread starter Joseph Mongillo
- Start date
Pathfinder III
- 5,200
- First Name
- Kent
- Last Name
- Reynolds
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1632
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- K6KNT
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- Retired Firefighter
Yep gone, a buddy or mine ran the trail West to East prior to our running it this month and he saw it being towed.
Member III
So sad, I had just done it a month ago and wrote a story on it. I got some great feedback from so many people inspired to head out and see these things on the Mojave Road. Bummer. I get it to some degree it's just trash, a junked bus. And anywhere else, or in great volume, it would be. But on the road, its become a landmark, a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the desert to travelers past, present, and future.
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Member III
According to XMD group "it’s been removed and is now in the Mojave Desert land trusts parking lot"
Pathfinder III
- 5,200
- First Name
- Kent
- Last Name
- Reynolds
- Member #
-
1632
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K6KNT
- Service Branch
- Retired Firefighter
Member III
That is still unknown. But removed from the Mojave Road, and its context, it becomes just a junked bus. Not sure its history can be preserved without its location. Their significance is tied together, imo.
Off-Road Ranger I
- 2,932
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- Dan
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- Rich
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0582
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Before and after the bus.
I came to the conclusion, without any data, that the NPS decided that it was a liability and it was time to go.
Would have been cool to see it get picked up and pulled out of there...
Bus
No bus...
Dan.
I came to the conclusion, without any data, that the NPS decided that it was a liability and it was time to go.
Would have been cool to see it get picked up and pulled out of there...
Bus
No bus...
Dan.
Member III
Traveler I
Off-Road Ranger I
- 2,932
- First Name
- Dan
- Last Name
- Rich
- Member #
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0582
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K6DHR
Yeah but that's only 1 of a hundred cool things on the road. You'll enjoy it for sure.
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At 11am this morning I went through the water crossing going East to West staying just left of center. My Jeep has a two inch lift and 35s to give you some reference. Soda Lake was solid and easy to cross. It looks like Mojave Camp is a great place for shelter from the wind. We ended up camping around mile 88 just across Kelbaker road on the left side next to a big hill. It was very comfortable. Have fun.
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Traveler III
Thanks for asking James. I posted a short post trip report on the last page back.
It was an amazing experience. Me and my one buddy that came with me hadn't done it before, and just got the old '86 version of the Mojave Road Guide book. Didn't use a GPS or anything. We really actually enjoyed navigating just by reading and hunting for the cairns. Was disappointed to find that the school bus had been removed just before we got there though. Also missed the lava flow caves. Water crossing scared me when I got there, but ultimately I couldn't find the bypass that you guys had told me about, so I just hit it anyway and everything worked out fine. Was so in the moment that we forgot to take a picture or video though.
I'll definitely do it again some day!
It was an amazing experience. Me and my one buddy that came with me hadn't done it before, and just got the old '86 version of the Mojave Road Guide book. Didn't use a GPS or anything. We really actually enjoyed navigating just by reading and hunting for the cairns. Was disappointed to find that the school bus had been removed just before we got there though. Also missed the lava flow caves. Water crossing scared me when I got there, but ultimately I couldn't find the bypass that you guys had told me about, so I just hit it anyway and everything worked out fine. Was so in the moment that we forgot to take a picture or video though.
I'll definitely do it again some day!
Glad you made it fine. The bypass is actually just the last road you cross. I want to say it's around 10 miles before the water crossing.
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Member I
Member III
Frank's correct. No permits. No fee. I just did it in March and I'm doing it again in May.
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Member III
You do need follow park rules, like camping in previously disturbed areas and using established fire rings and so on. But that’s pretty standard stuff. The park site has it all laid out. It’s a short read. Good luck, you’ll have a blast. It’s a fun trip!
Member I
Thanks all! ... I thought I had heard Michael #0000 say something about permits in one of the videos on YouTube ... OH WELL...
Member III
I wonder if he was talking about the large group special access. That (I THINK) is only required for the large group campsites at Midhills. But if you're not going with 7 or more rigs, it shouldn't matter. I got that from a google search after your question got me thinking.
https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/mojave-road.htm
Special Use Permit: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/permitsandreservations.htm
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