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| On the run | Short Cuts | |
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| Len Wilcox |
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Len Wilcox |
March, 2000
Death Valley on the run
Last month, we had the pleasure of making a 4-wheel drive 'run' - my first group run ever. We met up with our group in Ridgecrest, then wheeled together over the mountains to Death Valley.
I've done a lot of wheeling, some in this area, but this was my first trip through Goler Canyon. It was magnificent. But the part of this trip that made it unique for me was that I was with a group.
No one in their right mind recommends wheeling alone, especially on the desert, and even more, definitely not on Death Valley trails - they are very, very lonely and help is a long way away. But, I confess that's what I do. I'm a bit of a lone wolf by nature, and my opportunities to head out into wild country often come up spur of the moment. So the group run was new for me, and required a bit of an adjustment for me.
And it was worth it. We all had a lot in common, and the relaxing joy of being outdoors, away from the cities, put us all in the right frame of mind. We shared information on the unique history of the places we were traveling through, the geology of the beautiful rocks around us, and the best way to overcome the obstacles of the trail. These were fun and knowledgeable people, and I'd wheel with any of them again.
That's a new term I learned: obstacles. When I go out by myself, I'm cautious; if a tough spot looks like it might damage something - or I might not get through without getting stuck - I turn around. Rock piles, too-steep climbs, too much sand, were disappointing trail-enders; but not any more. Now they are obstacles. The obstacle of the waterfall in Goler Canyon would have stopped me if I had been alone. Now it's a victorious memory. I would never have attempted it without Terry's big truck and winch sitting at the top of the climb. I made it through, and felt like I'd won a championship.
My fellow editors and writers here at ORN always promote club membership, and group activities. Now I see why. There are a lot of good reasons, safety among them. But there is one reason that's best of all: It's one heck of a lot of fun. I truly enjoyed our group excursion, and I hope I get to do it again. Thanks for taking me along, folks.
I highly recommend that, if you haven't gone out with a group yet, that you do so. Check our files for a club near you and give them a call. You won't regret it.
Happy trails!
PS: My book, Desert Dancing: The California Journal, is finally out. You can order an autographed copy through my website, or, soon, buy it through Amazon.com and local book stores. For more information visit my website: Desert Dancing.
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