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| 4x4 Trip | 40.40 Miles |
3,713 AEG |
| | 4x4 Trip | 40.40 Miles | 4 Hrs 30 Mns | | 13.47 mph |
| 3,713 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | A true adventure today, as I returned to Cherry Creek Rd at Sierra Ancha to see if it was navigable one end to the other, north to south. I had traversed the entire road more than once many years ago, but a fire in 2016 led to several wash-outs. There was also the matter of an enormous boulder that had fallen to block the road. Finally, there were (and apparently remain) some legal issues regarding the position of the road in relation to a wilderness area, which I have been informed might only be remedied by an act of Congress.
The good news is we made it -- but just barely. As tough as any road I have ever driven all the way through. To anyone considering this attempt, I recommend against it. Were it not for my trusty winch, we would be there still, though in all fairness, my tires are not the best which may have contributed to the problem. But a very dicey piece of road at 33° 52.872' -110° 53.740', and the next couple miles a burned out area of one miserable spot after another. Very stressful here, since I knew there was no longer any option to turn back. Oh well, all's well that ends well.
It is a fascinating area that boasts an entirely unique agave population, consisting of an isolated A. palmeri pop heavily introgressed with A. parryi, perhaps a smidge of A. chrysantha, and possibly even some feral domesticates from pre-Columbian Native Americans. Suffice to say, the agaves here I have seen nowhere else. And that is what I was there for. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
