Red Rock, El Paso Wilderness via Last Chance Canyon

cory8926 · 08-16-2009, 02:20 PM

I've seen a few posts about trips through this are but the trip was quite different from what I expected. As a qualifier this was my first real trip with the 4runner and my old 85' P/U only saw fire roads and a hand full of trips up Drinkwater flats.

Myself with the 93' 4runner and a buddy with an 07 Xterra set off hoping to clear Last Chance Canyon and get into the El Paso/Bickel Camp area to camp just after sun set. We ended up not pulling off of the pavement until just before sun down and virtually the entire trip through Last Chance Canyon was at night. Based on a book I have been reading "Southern California SUV Trails:Volume I,The Western Mojave" by Mitchell the route seemed no worse than a sandy wash road with a handful of obstacles.

As it turns out we ended up going a walking pace for a majority of the time during the first 3 miles. The 4runner did much better than I had expected with old tires. I never got hung up for long. The XTerra had issues with travel and clearance issues in a few areas. The biggest issue in this canyon is choosing the route that your rig is capable of passing, and this is very difficult in a pitch black canyon. I think this canyon is great for noobs like myself and is probably a bit easier in the day. You will get some challenges and a fun hill in the middle of the trail. I think it was roughly 11 miles from the entrance of Last Chance to the Bickle camp area. My friend took some awesome pics. Here is a sampling.

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BigBluePile · 08-16-2009, 02:36 PM

Great shots!!!!

scuba · 08-16-2009, 03:13 PM

Nice pics man, Looks like a great time !!

bigarms23 · 08-16-2009, 07:33 PM

nice great scenary

cory8926 · 08-26-2009, 02:06 PM

I don't know if many people use Picasa and Google Photos online but it has a useful tool to put your photos on a map. So often you see pics of off road trails and know the general location but not exactly. I've mapped out some of the images (see the link below), when you get to the gallery there will be an option on the right side to see on maps or Google Earth.

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelc...eat=directlink

seanmearse · 08-26-2009, 02:53 PM

I put my truck in the caves first!!! Seriously, how did you like the Narrows at night? Im up in ridgecrest, that WHOLE area is our weekend play area. You guys meet the bickle camp curator? Cool guy with some amazing stories. Next time you are up here let me know, I will show you some other places of interest out there, plus a very knarly trail, less than 400 feet where you came through the Narrows. check out my pics running through there in the day time, friday night heading out there.

cory8926 · 08-26-2009, 03:11 PM

Is Last Chance the "Narrows"? How is Goller Gulch?

The Canyon was a blast at night. It took a long time but well worth it. We want to go back during the day to see where we actually were. There was no moon light and we couldn't see a thing except for what our lights lit. Bats everywhere. There are a bunch of alternate routes which are difficult to identify at night, in other words I couldn't tell if my truck could make it over certain obstacles until I was right up on it. Great time overall.

Curator at Bickle was interesting - I don't know how he lives out there all the time.

I had some great pics at holly but accidentally deleted them.

seanmearse · 08-26-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cory8926

Is Last Chance the "Narrows"? How is Goller Gulch?

The Canyon was a blast at night. It took a long time but well worth it. We want to go back during the day to see where we actually were. There was no moon light and we couldn't see a thing except for what our lights lit. Bats everywhere. There are a bunch of alternate routes which are difficult to identify at night, in other words I couldn't tell if my truck could make it over certain obstacles until I was right up on it. Great time overall.

Curator at Bickle was interesting - I don't know how he lives out there all the time.

I had some great pics at holly but accidentally deleted them.

He comes in every so often to kragen, it would be pretty lonely. We are going out friday if you guys want to make a trip up.

08-16-2009, 03:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
scuba Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Temecula, Or on the rocks Posts: 6,968	Nice pics man, Looks like a great time !! __________________ Screw you guys I'm goin to TTORA Mods, please be mature and leave my sig alone, thanks. No, I will not be your friend.

08-16-2009, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigarms23 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: mountains of truckee ca Posts: 1,010	nice great scenary __________________ 1988sr5 4.3v6 4runner with chevy axles 513 gears dual cases overall 300to1 ratio 36mtzs 5inch lift detroits 1972 stepside jimmy d44/d70 425hp 1995 green range rover

08-26-2009, 02:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
seanmearse Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ridgecrest, Ca Posts: 1,137	I put my truck in the caves first!!! Seriously, how did you like the Narrows at night? Im up in ridgecrest, that WHOLE area is our weekend play area. You guys meet the bickle camp curator? Cool guy with some amazing stories. Next time you are up here let me know, I will show you some other places of interest out there, plus a very knarly trail, less than 400 feet where you came through the Narrows. check out my pics running through there in the day time, friday night heading out there. __________________ The Internet, where men are men, women are men, and children are FBI agents. Proud sponsor of the re-poster thread. http://www.yotatech.com/f5/you-re-poster-193103/ 84 SR5 pickup, Mostly stock 22R, K&N air filter, Mobil 1 oil filter, Cherry Bomb, Mobil 1 engine, Royal Purple diff and trans fluid, 15X8 street locks, 3 inch procomp front springs, waiting to buy rears, rancho RS9000XL's up front. 2003 Vstar 650, straight pipe, loud and fast baby!

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08-26-2009, 02:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
cory8926 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Santa Clarita, Ca Posts: 64	I don't know if many people use Picasa and Google Photos online but it has a useful tool to put your photos on a map. So often you see pics of off road trails and know the general location but not exactly. I've mapped out some of the images (see the link below), when you get to the gallery there will be an option on the right side to see on maps or Google Earth. http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelc...eat=directlink

08-26-2009, 03:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
cory8926 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Santa Clarita, Ca Posts: 64	Is Last Chance the "Narrows"? How is Goller Gulch? The Canyon was a blast at night. It took a long time but well worth it. We want to go back during the day to see where we actually were. There was no moon light and we couldn't see a thing except for what our lights lit. Bats everywhere. There are a bunch of alternate routes which are difficult to identify at night, in other words I couldn't tell if my truck could make it over certain obstacles until I was right up on it. Great time overall. Curator at Bickle was interesting - I don't know how he lives out there all the time. I had some great pics at holly but accidentally deleted them.