PICS from the PAST : The ONE That Started it All

[Mike Pierson]

LOCKWOOD MILLER JEEP TRAIL
If you've been following this thread, you may have noticed that most of the people we used to wheel with weren't Jeepers. Of course, 25 years ago, you didn't need something as capable as a Wrangler to take on most of the trails that were out there. That said, some of our friends started to get the 'i wants' after seeing Cindy and I have so much fun with ours that one by one, they started getting one as well.

This is the first wheeling trip we did with our good friends Yvonne and Eddie (yes, a different Eddie) and soon after they bought their TJ. And, for those of you who know the area, this is in fact Lockwood Miller Jeep Trail and well before it burned to a crisp.

Here's a shot of our friends Yvonne and Eddie with their new TJ.

Just for fun, Yvonne rode with Cindy making it into a girls day out.

Of course, I rode with the guys - Eddie and our good friend Jim.

Yeah, these two were having just a bit too much fun on our way out to the trail.

Making a stop to air down before hitting the dirt.

Heading out to the trail and looking across beautiful Lockwood Valley.

Here we are and as you can see - maybe, the trail marker shows a "Difficult" rating for Jeeps.

Here we are, making our first water crossing and ready to have some fun!

On the other side of water crossing #2 - this is where it all begins.

Back before the fire, the first climb out of the creek used to be a gatekeeper and was lot more challenging.

At the official start of the trail.

Here you can just make out the trail running along the ridgeline.

And, a shot of Cindy working her way up it.

View looking back at the valley below.

And, more valleys and ridgelines to cross ahead of us.

Time for some 4LO fun!

Here's Cindy flexing her way up this rutted section of trail.

Working our way down to the valley below.

What a beautiful day for a lunch along the creek and without another soul in sight. Man, how things have changed!

I know, it's kind of laughable now but back in the day, the climb out and up to the top of the mountain used to be a real challenge. Well, for a TJ running 30" to 31" tires anyway.

Here's a shot of young me giving a spot. And, if you look real close, you can see the compass I used to carry with me around my neck.

In a bit of a bind, Yvonne helped out with a well needed rock to help give Cindy a bit more traction.

Rocking and rolling again and on their way to the top.

At the top at last and here's the view we were rewarded with.

Hope you enjoyed our trip down memory lane!

More pics to come soon

Very cool! Keep’em coming!

 

[wayoflife]

I have to agree with RoadTrout...it's becoming my favorite thread as well...I still carry a compass in my ditch bag whenever I go on a trip to this day...

Can never really go wrong with basic old school tools. Or, at least for those who still know how to use them LOL

Love seeing all these pics of the TJ in its heyday and just how much (or less haha) was needed to get out there and have a great time.

Yeah, it really is crazy how much things have changes. So many trails that used be stock friendly now require 40's and a V8 just to get started. And, I have to say, it's kind of sad especially being that I still find it more fun to wheel a stock or close to stock Jeep than a built up one.

So Cool. Miller was 2nd time meeting with Wayalife Members and my first time on that trail. It's really Neat to see how you and Cindy got started.

That's awesome and glad you're enjoying the trip down memory lane. I just wish I had taken more pics and for more of our trips and/or done a better job of filing them away so that I could find them again LOL

 

[wayoflife]

Very cool! Keep’em coming!

I've been looking and hope to find more

 

[jeeeep]

what great memories

I Still have my Suunto, pack it when I'm on the road but haven't had a use for it in a long time.

 

[Bullwinckle]

Looks like a fun trail out with friends!

 

[wayoflife]

CROSSING THE CADY
Okay, not too many pics of our TJ on this one but some of you might find them to be of interest anyway being that they're of a part of the Mojave Desert that you may know and well. Sadly, many of the routes through this area have since been closed off.

Heading across Route 66 and out by the old Road Runner Retreat.

Out on dirt and making our way to our first real destination.

Always love the vastness and timelessness of the desert.

Almost forgot to take at least one pic of our TJ - LOL

Okay, here we are at our first stop and it was to read the writing on the wall - aka, petroglyphs from a long time ago.

Moving on, I'm sure more than a few of you will recognize this landmark.

Climbing up to get a closer look.

Yup, it's the old Mojave Megaphone and it's been up on this hilltop for as long as I can remember.

Haven't been by in a few years but the last time we stopped by, these old ovens were fortunately, still standing albeit, not as in good of a condition as they were 25 years ago.

Continuing on our way, we stopped to check out what was left of the old Tonopah & Tidewater railroad.

Here's a little guy that came out to say hello.

Working our way though a canyon that we used to visit often back in the day.

These old photos just don't do the colors you can find out there justice.

Another visitor that came out to see what we were up to.

As I mentioned before, a lot of ranchers used to graze their cattle out here back in the day and as you can see here, not all of them could handle the harsh enviroment.

Parting shots as our day came to an end.

More pics to come

 

[OverlanderJK]

What were the cows grazing on? lol sage?

Also something you don’t see often anymore is those tortoises.

 

[wayoflife]

What were the cows grazing on? lol sage?

Also something you don’t see often anymore is those tortoises.

On a good year, there are grasses that grow in the area and in some places, to a point of being lush.

As far as tortoises go, it's a sad thing but very true. We used to come across them all the time. Now, not so much if at all.

 

[Mike Pierson]

Great pics! I am so stoked to get out there with you guys- we had such a great time on the NYKO this year!

 

[WJCO]

Also something you don’t see often anymore is those tortoises.

As far as tortoises go, it's a sad thing but very true. We used to come across them all the time. Now, not so much if at all.

We had a lot of these in our yard back in the 80s. We lived in the az desert. Super cool animals. I think they're endangered now.

 

[jeeeep]

We had a lot of these in our yard back in the 80s. We lived in the az desert. Super cool animals. I think they're endangered now.

same here. az desert as a kid

 

[Bullwinckle]

Awesome pics! The sunset looked amazing, nothing can really top a desert sunset.

 

[wayoflife]

MULE / ODESSA CANYON
Okay, here's one that I just found and it was from a run we did up Mule and Odessa Canyon out by Calico Ghost Town.

Meeting up with some friends over at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner out in Barstow. Hard to believe this place is still around LOL

Before there were smart phones that everyone was glued to, restaurants like this used to provide games like this that you could play.

After a tasty breakfast, we aired down and hit the trails!

As you can see here, I had added a Hi-Lift to the back of our TJ because, you know, every real off roader carries one

Making a stop to explore the canyon.

Andrew decided to get out and have some fun climbing around the rocks but using his hands and feet.

Sizing up the rocks ahead and unfortunately, that's about when I stopped taking pics. It's been a long time but if I can guess, I just wasn't as disciplined in taking pics as I try to be now, especially when we're in tougher terrain. Sorry.

Anyway, here's some final shots of us after all the fun we had.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pics and you can be sure that I'll post more as I find them

 

[Mike Pierson]

MULE / ODESSA CANYON
Okay, here's one that I just found and it was from a run we did up Mule and Odessa Canyon out by Calico Ghost Town.

Meeting up with some friends over at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner out in Barstow. Hard to believe this place is still around LOL

Before there were smart phones that everyone was glued to, restaurants like this used to provide games like this that you could play.

After a tasty breakfast, we aired down and hit the trails!

As you can see here, I had added a Hi-Lift to the back of our TJ because, you know, every real off roader carries one

Making a stop to explore the canyon.

Andrew decided to get out and have some fun climbing around the rocks but using his hands and feet.

Sizing up the rocks ahead and unfortunately, that's about when I stopped taking pics. It's been a long time but if I can guess, I just wasn't as disciplined in taking pics as I try to be now, especially when we're in tougher terrain. Sorry.

Anyway, here's some final shots of us after all the fun we had.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pics and you can be sure that I'll post more as I find them

Good stuff!

 

[DirtHeadDavis]

Awesome pics! I need to get out there and explore the state of it now more.

 

[WJCO]

MULE / ODESSA CANYON
Okay, here's one that I just found and it was from a run we did up Mule and Odessa Canyon out by Calico Ghost Town.

Meeting up with some friends over at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner out in Barstow. Hard to believe this place is still around LOL

Before there were smart phones that everyone was glued to, restaurants like this used to provide games like this that you could play.

After a tasty breakfast, we aired down and hit the trails!

As you can see here, I had added a Hi-Lift to the back of our TJ because, you know, every real off roader carries one

Making a stop to explore the canyon.

Andrew decided to get out and have some fun climbing around the rocks but using his hands and feet.

Sizing up the rocks ahead and unfortunately, that's about when I stopped taking pics. It's been a long time but if I can guess, I just wasn't as disciplined in taking pics as I try to be now, especially when we're in tougher terrain. Sorry.

Anyway, here's some final shots of us after all the fun we had.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pics and you can be sure that I'll post more as I find them

I miss those restaurant games.

 

[waynem]

Great to see where Wayalife started and the old"er" jeep.

 

[Brute]

MULE / ODESSA CANYON
Okay, here's one that I just found and it was from a run we did up Mule and Odessa Canyon out by Calico Ghost Town.

Meeting up with some friends over at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner out in Barstow. Hard to believe this place is still around LOL

Before there were smart phones that everyone was glued to, restaurants like this used to provide games like this that you could play.

After a tasty breakfast, we aired down and hit the trails!

As you can see here, I had added a Hi-Lift to the back of our TJ because, you know, every real off roader carries one

Making a stop to explore the canyon.

Andrew decided to get out and have some fun climbing around the rocks but using his hands and feet.

Sizing up the rocks ahead and unfortunately, that's about when I stopped taking pics. It's been a long time but if I can guess, I just wasn't as disciplined in taking pics as I try to be now, especially when we're in tougher terrain. Sorry.

Anyway, here's some final shots of us after all the fun we had.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pics and you can be sure that I'll post more as I find them

Great pics...is that the same Peggy Sue's Diner you pass on the highway in Barstow?...I've always wanted to stop there...

 

[wayoflife]

Great pics...is that the same Peggy Sue's Diner you pass on the highway in Barstow?...I've always wanted to stop there...

Yep, the same place. Hard to believe it's still around.

 

[wayoflife]

DEATH VALLEY
Nothing too special but here are a few pics from a trip we did out to Death Valley during Christmas break and while visiting both our families.

Getting close to the end of the canyon.

From here, it's all on foot.

And a parting shot before we lost all our daylight.