UPCOMING EVENT
SCORCHfest III:
The Movaje Road
10/18/2024 @7:30am
Ready to tackle one of the most iconic trails in the Southwest? SCORCHfest III is here to push your off-road adventures to new heights as we journey along the historic Mojave Road. This special three-day event, our 38th group ride, is a rare chance to experience the vast beauty, rich history, and remote challenges of the Mojave Desert with fellow SCORCHers.
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Starting bright and early on Friday, October 18th, we’ll gather for a drivers' meeting, then hit the trail to explore a diverse mix of landscapes. Our journey takes us from vast open desert plains to rocky outcrops, through historical sites like Fort Piute and petroglyphs, and into the heart of the Mojave National Preserve. Along the way, we’ll visit famous stops like the Money Can Tree and the Mojave Desert Mailbox, ensuring every day is filled with excitement and discovery.
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This adventure is more than just a drive – it’s a three-day experience that includes breathtaking vistas during the day combined with nights spent under the pristine desert sky. Our Friday night side-by-side campgrounds at Black Canyon Group Campground and the Equestrian Group Campground will give you the option to choose your perfect evening – whether it’s an early night of rest or a lively bonfire gathering with fellow off-roaders.
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​SCORCHfest III promises something for everyone, from history buffs and adventure seekers to those who just want to get away from it all. As always, we are committed to respecting and preserving the environment, ensuring this beautiful landscape remains unspoiled for future generations. With limited spots available, make sure to secure your place for this unforgettable weekend on the trail!
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We are managing our RSVPs on Meetup. Come on out! Read on for more info.
BUILD YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Our flexible event format lets you tailor the adventure to your preferences. Here are some options:
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Two-Day Adventure: Join us at the meetup point at AVI casino, spend the day exploring the first half of the trail, join us under the stars on Friday night, then join the group Saturday morning until your first chance to bail toward Baker to catch the 15 freeway home.
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Two-Day Extended Adventure: Same as above but stick with the group throughout the day on Saturday then bail onto the 15 freeway later in the day to skip Saturday night's very primitive camping experience.
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Full Weekend: Stay with the group from the start of the ride by the Nevada border on Friday morning all the way through to Sunday's crossing of the Mojave River.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Friday (70-80 miles)
We’ll begin our journey at 7:30 AM sharp with a drivers’ meeting at the Avi Casino parking lot by the Avi Smokeshop. After going over the route and trail safety, we’ll aim to hit the dirt by 8 AM, heading westward along the legendary Mojave Road. This iconic trail is a journey through history, following the footsteps of Native Americans, explorers, and settlers across the Mojave Desert.
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The first leg of our adventure covers 70-80 miles of stunning desert terrain, with stops at notable landmarks including Camp Rock Spring, Fort Piute, Piute Creek, and more as we roll deeper into the desert. By afternoon, we’ll enter the Mojave National Preserve. We’ll gather up for a lunch stop in the middle of nowhere, taking in the desolate beauty of the landscape while catching up with fellow SCORCHers. We’ll wrap by heading toward our camp at the Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground with more sightseeing along the way.
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Saturday (60-70 miles)
We’ll break camp at 10 AM and continue our trek through the Mojave National Preserve. Day two promises plenty of exploration, with stops at fascinating sites like lava tubes and the crossing of a picturesque dry lake bed (conditions permitting).
Around midday, we’ll exit the Mojave National Preserve, continuing west along the Mojave Road. Saturday night will be a very primitive camping experience – expect no water or toilets as we camp under the desert sky. For those who prefer more comfort, there will be opportunities during the day to exit the ride and head to nearby Baker to catch the 15 home (or to Vegas) for a return to civilization.
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Sunday (15-30 miles)
Our final day will be a short but exciting one. We’ll break camp early and tackle the last stretch of the Mojave Road, including a crossing of the Mojave River, which is likely to be no more than 1-2 feet deep. The ride will conclude with easy access to the freeway, making it simple for everyone to head home by midday after an unforgettable weekend in the desert.
HOW HARD IS THIS RIDE?
SCORCHfest III: The Mojave Road is designed to be accessible to a range of off-road enthusiasts. There are some minor challenges along the way such as loose sand, loose grapefruit-sized rocks on the trail, extensive washboarding, and significant moguls that require a slower pace to avoid overheating your shocks (yes that is a real thing) and bottoming out. The route covers a mix of terrain, from wide-open desert flats to rocky trails and sandy washes. We scouted the route back in April, and it was in good condition at that time. However, conditions in the desert can change rapidly due to weather and other factors, so be ready for anything.
We did encounter one moderate-to-difficult short descent that we recommend only for high clearance vehicles with experienced drivers. We will lead the rest of the drivers around this one spot while the rest of us make our way down this one challenge.
Here’s what you’ll need to handle the ride:
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Tires: No street or bald tires, please. You’ll need off-road tires with good tread to handle the rocky sections and soft sand.
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Clearance: A high-clearance vehicle is helpful for navigating the larger rocks and washboard sections along the trail. Sunday’s water crossing should only be about 1-2 feet deep.
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Tow Points: Make sure you have tow points in case you get stuck. We’ll be able to pull you out, but only if your vehicle is equipped for recovery.
ABOUT CAMPING
SCORCHfest III offers two distinct camping experiences over the course of our three-day adventure, giving you a taste of both developed and primitive camping in the heart of the Mojave Desert.
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Friday Night: Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground
Our first night’s campsites are at the beautiful Black Canyon Equestrian and Group Campground, located within the Mojave National Preserve. Surrounded by sculptured volcanic rock walls, this campground offers a unique and picturesque setting to unwind after a full day on the trail. It’s a perfect blend of convenience and remoteness, giving you that "middle of nowhere" feeling while still having some modern amenities.
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Amenities: The site is equipped with vault toilets, fire rings, trash receptacles, and picnic tables, making it ideal for larger groups. At 4,400 feet in elevation, expect a cool evening where overnight temperatures can dip into the low 40s.
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Two Camp Zones: We’ll have two large side-by-side areas reserved: The Black Canyon Equestrian Campground for those who want to enjoy a quiet evening and turn in shortly after arrival, and another for those who might want to stay up later and share stories around the bonfire (if fire restrictions permit).
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Saturday Night: Primitive Desert Camping
Saturday night’s camp will likely be a true back-to-nature experience. After a day of exploring the Mojave National Preserve and beyond, we’ll set up camp in a remote, primitive area of the desert in or near Afton Canyon. This means no water, no toilets, and no services—just you, your rig, and the vast, open desert sky.
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What to Expect: With no amenities at this site, you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient. Bring plenty of water, bathroom options (shovel or portable toilet) and be prepared to pack out all of your trash. There’s nothing like the peace and quiet of desert camping, and we’ll be miles away from any crowds.
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Optional Bail-Out: For those who prefer not to rough it, you’ll have options throughout Saturday to break off from the group to end your ride early, head toward the freeway, and sleep in your own bed.
BE PREPARED
Here are some recommended items to bring along. We get a little kickback from Bezos if you buy any with our links. You can also visit our store for more gear suggestions.
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Food for camping
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VHF Radio (good one / better one)
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A Camp Chair for Chilling (like this one)
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Sunscreen
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Water
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Camping Gear
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Tools (if you got 'em)
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Electric Camping Cooler (like this one)
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Portable Power for Cooler (like this one)
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SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS
This adventure includes travel through the Mojave National Preserve. This required a lot of work, time, and some money to secure a Special Use Permit from the National Park Service for SCORCH. Traveling through this beautiful and protected area comes with a few restrictions.
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This ride is limited to 50 vehicles and 80 people max, no exceptions. If you RSVP and can't make it, you are required to un-RSVP on Meetup.com (even at the last minute) so someone can take your place. We usually get a lot of solo travelers. Be mindful about how many people you bring along. If half of us come solo and the other half brings someone, we will be just fine.
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We will be moving in groups of 10 at least 1/4 mile apart while we are in motion. This will minimize dust and make it easier to spot protected desert tortoises on the trail. We can gather up for our meal stops and sightseeing. This only applies while we are in motion.​
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Drones are prohibited in the Mojave National Preserve.
THURSDAY NIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
We highly recommend you drive into Laughlin, the Nevada town on the California border where we will meet up, on Thursday night. It's a long drive to the meetup point then we'll be driving off-road all day on Friday. That's a lot for one day.
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If you want to camp out, there is a KOA campsite right across the street.
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For the shortest drive in the morning, stay right at the Avi Resort and Casino.
If you are looking for a livelier location, the Laughlin strip about 20 minutes away is full of casino / hotels right on the Colorado River, such as Harrah's, Tropicana, Edgewater, and Aquarius. Rooms are usually pretty cheap on a Thursday night.
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If you are looking for something away from casinos, it's also only 20 minutes from the meetup point to Bullhead City on the Arizona size of the Colorado River. There you will find a Days Inn and a Motel 6 if you like 2-star hotels.
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THE DISCLAIMERS
At Your Own Risk: The organizers of SCORCH meetups are not responsible for any damage done to your person or vehicle at the events, getting to the events, or after the events. We are a group of adults meeting up for an activity that takes a high degree of personal responsibility. All participants must do so at their own risk.
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Flood Risk: If there is any risk of flash flooding in the area, the ride will be canceled for everyone’s safety. Please check back here closer to the event for a final trail report and updates on conditions. Safety comes first!
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Behave: If you act like an asshat, douche, idiot, jerk, or in any way behave or operate your vehicle in a manner that is a risk or annoyance to others or does not respect the rules of the land we are on, you will be asked to leave the ride (or campground) and be possibly ejected from SCORCH.
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