RawHyde Explores
(April Ride)

CERRA GORDO and the SALINE VALLEY ROAD:

If you have not been to Cerra Gordo you absolutely & positively must plan to do so, its one of the most remarkable places you will ever go. Its remote, its gorgeous, the views are spectacular, its got a significant history… in other words its everything an "Adventure Rider" could ever ask for!

Day 1 -Thursday:

This ride will begin at the RawHyde Ranch, please plan to arrive on Thursday, around 4-5 pm. You can get your tent set up in our "camping area" and meet your fellow adventurers.

Day 2 -Friday:

after breakfast we leave the RawHyde Ranch start our adventure on the incredibly scenic "Sawmill moun tain road" which begins at the historic "grapevine highway" and follows a series of switchbacks up to about 6000 feet. This stunning segment of our ride parallels the Pacific Crest hiking trail, and runs through beautiful pine meadows, along razor back ridges and has some dramatic elevation changes. We will drop out of the mountains onto the floor of the Ante lope valley for a 50 mile cross country run (off road) to the gritty railroad town of Mojave.

After fueling up in Mojave, we will spend a couple of hours on the pavement as we head for the jumping off point to Cerra Gordo. Keeler California is one of the most unremarkable places on the planet. It's just a small enclave, and can barely be called a town, yet it is the gateway to one of the most remarkable "Adventures" in California.

It's a steep and challenging climb up to Cerra Gordo from the valley floor at Keeler, but the view from the top is nothing less than stunning. Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental US is eye level across the valley, and the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountains reveal themselves in all their glory. Cerra Gordo sits at nearly 10,000 feet elevation, and has a 360 degree view that words cannot adequately describe. Cerra Gordo in Spanish means "Fat Hill" and it earned its name. It is the site of the wealthiest silver strike in California's history, and in large part is why Los Angeles is the "financial center" of California. As millions and millions of dollars of silver flowed out of Cerra Gordo in the late 1800's it all went to LA on a specially constructed stage coach line built by Wells Fargo. The town of Cerra Gordo is perfectly preserved, and is a great place to spend the night. It will probably be cold, so bring an extra warm jacket. We will arrive with plenty of time to set up camp, and look around a bit before settling in to a great Bar BQ dinner and a few fireside beverages.

Day 3 - Saturday:

We'll leave Cerra Gordo around mid morning and head for the Saline valley. Saline valley road is the longest dirt road in California without services of any type. It's about a hundred miles from Cerra Gordo to "Independence via the Saline valley Road. This awesome road snakes along the valley floor between the two mountain ranges that separate Death Valley from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its rough in places, but it's as scenic as it gets… the mountains are spectacular and this is very possibly the most remote place in the state. Enjoy the solitude! We will plan on stopping off at the famous "Clothing optional hot springs" for lunch, and we will carry on toward independence and our campsite for the night.