Carrizo Plain National Monument, 2021

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     With a growing laundry list of items I need to buy, fix or replace landing in SoCal. has its advantages, but the cost of fuel is not one of them...totally insane!!   My brother and sisters live in this area as well as long time friends plus there's a plethora of shops to accommodate my long list of needs.  Wheel alignment (Bear Wheel and Frame), flat tire repaired & mount (Manny Moe and Jack aka The PEP Boys), computer fixed (William's Computer Repair) HOORAY and the purchase of a new phone (T-Mobile) RTT welcome mat (Dollar Store) pair of jeans (Pacoima Swap n Shop Flea Market).  "POW!" "Holy great consumers Batman!" 

    After all that consuming I was anxious to go back in the bush, "so I loaded up the rig and headed-out-of-Beverlee...  Hills that is, swimming pools, mall crawlers".  

    I was planning a 5 day overlanding trip and what better time to check it out.  My trail tested, Taco driving friend also joins me on this epic overlanding tour through Monuments, Plains, Forests, Mountain Peaks, Valleys and Deserts so hot you can't touch your phone without dropping it like a hot mic.

    Our journey begins leaving the LA area due north from Tujunga Canyon Dr cutting through the twisting San Gabriel Mountains.  The two lane road deposits us north just below Palmdale on SR14.  Our first stop is northwest of here through many of the old style rancheros and small farming spreads passed on through generations.  Pushing on we are literally taking a driving tour of the fault line on N2 along Portal Ridge and the San Andreas Fault Zone in the Antelope Valley.  Driving in a northwest direction we pass through the San Emigdio Mountains on 9N06.  Lots to see along these mountain roads as we climb into the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. We finally get on Elkhorn Rd and turn north (driving a loop route) we entered the Carrizo Plain National Monument from the back door.     

 
At the top of the fault zone we navigate a fantastic drive of wombat holes ruts and whoop-Dee-doos into Wallace Creek.  Once at Wallace Creek we hiked a hot, dry trek up the hill to view the shift of 420ft (we took a moment) of creek that the fault line has moved in the last 485yrs. 

  The side we were standing on is slipping towards San Francisco at a average rate of 3/4 inch a month, might take awhile but hey, the day was getting on and we'll need to find camp. 

     We press on to Soda Dry Lake for some pics on a Salt Pan and find a unmarked trail that leads across the plain to KCL Ranch Campground.  Cruising across the plain we encountered small mostly abandon corals and cattle pens.  The limited free National campsites located in the Carrizo Plain National Monument are a excellent spot to bed down for a couple of days.

   The campground has trails to hike old horse stables to explore, equestrian camping, huge trees, abundant wildlife, fire pits BBQ's and drop toilets.  Just one other camper parked as we grabbed two connecting spots and made camp next to a really huge tree.  A couple of cold ones in cheers, that was one epic drive today.

   In the morning we have coffee do some bird watching before breaking camp and head out of the CPNM.  Our loop trail exits on Soda Dry Lake Rd exploring the southern edge of the plain.  We are setting our compass north towards Lake Isabella and over to MT. Whitney Portal.


 

Hope to see you on the Trail!!..

🚙.....