All Another Riding Area Gone

[Agent2]

Not the most popular area, a little controversial (Bean Canyon area), but the Joshua Forest west of Mojave has been pretty much been shut down due to the expanding wind energy project. The windmills used to be all north of Oak Creek road, now have jumped to the south side by the railroad tracks that go to the cement plant.
For those of you not familliar with the area, it is one of the largest collection of Joshua trees anywhere, not a tree here and a tree there, but a forest, as in you can get lost in it. Used to be a fun place to ride and camp, now the new windmills are popping up all over.
I noticed all the new windmills last time I was in Mojave a few weeks ago, there were so many, I thought it was a mirage, unfortuately not, and many more are scheduled to be built. I have not rode there lately, but have heard of reports of LEO's ticketing bikes on Aquaduct Road, something that was rare, if not non existant in the past..
Enjoy it while you can, it's slowly disappearing.

http://altawindenergycenter.com/background.html

 

[timoyz]

So you're against renewable energy. Think of all the jobs this will create.

Just trying to imitate all the A holes that would respond over at the other place. Sad to say, the next area to go will be Copper City. But I think that's because of some weed. Not even the kind you can smoke.

 

[CDA]

Bean Canyon is my favorite place to ride. I have not been out there in a couple years though because of the reports of the heavy policing. I may have to make a run out there soon though before it all goes away...

 

[slowerthanu]

those windmills are fugly! I wonder if they really matter in terms of useful energy.it seems like you would need a shitload of those ugly things to light up a city.its amazing that so-called enviromentalists will accept a massive amount of those ugly wind machines on a pristine hill side, but cannot accept any bike trails on them.wtf

 

[timoyz]

What really gets me, is that all the old ones that don't work anymore, are just left to rot. There's no regulation on dismantling the old ones, and restoring the landscape to the original condition. So eventually, hillsides and the dez, will be littered with broken down windmills.

 

[Naturaledge]

What really gets me, is that all the old ones that don't work anymore, are just left to rot. There's no regulation on dismantling the old ones, and restoring the landscape to the original condition. So eventually, hillsides and the dez, will be littered with broken down windmills.

Interesting that you say that Timo, when I was driving into Anaheim over the holidays on #10 outside of Palm Springs, I couldn't believe the numbers of turbines that were inoperable. Sadly, wind farms are not the be all and end all that the Greenies would have you believe.

 

[cleonard]

Those windmills and solar plants are about to spring up all over. The result will be loss of a lot of riding. I can't believe that they are ticketing on the aqueduct road. That just sucks. There is some cool stuff there.

I like my plated bike.

As far as the dead windmills go, I imagine that most of those will be replaced in the not too distant future.

 

[timoyz]

Those windmills and solar plants are about to spring up all over. The result will be loss of a lot of riding. I can't believe that they are ticketing on the aqueduct road. That just sucks. There is some cool stuff there.

I like my plated bike.

As far as the dead windmills go, I imagine that most of those will be replaced in the not too distant future.

The problem with the old ones, is that it's cheaper to make a free land withdrawl, and build new, then demolishing the old, and reinstalling new technology. Like Nedge has already said, the 10 freeway, and highway 62 is littered with dead windmills.

 

[Weathergeek]

Not the most popular area, a little controversial (Bean Canyon area), but the Joshua Forest west of Mojave has been pretty much been shut down due to the expanding wind energy project. The windmills used to be all north of Oak Creek road, now have jumped to the south side by the railroad tracks that go to the cement plant.
For those of you not familliar with the area, it is one of the largest collection of Joshua trees anywhere, not a tree here and a tree there, but a forest, as in you can get lost in it. Used to be a fun place to ride and camp, now the new windmills are popping up all over.
I noticed all the new windmills last time I was in Mojave a few weeks ago, there were so many, I thought it was a mirage, unfortuately not, and many more are scheduled to be built. I have not rode there lately, but have heard of reports of LEO's ticketing bikes on Aquaduct Road, something that was rare, if not non existant in the past..
Enjoy it while you can, it's slowly disappearing.

http://altawindenergycenter.com/background.html

You said west of Mojave right? Does that mean north of Mojave into the forest on that jeep road too?

 

[cleonard]

You said west of Mojave right? Does that mean north of Mojave into the forest on that jeep road too?

Eventually. Pretty much the entire area all the way to Jawbone will get windmills over time.

I love that spot. So few know of it. It's close. You can ride up there on a holiday weekend and only see a few groups of riders.

Ride while you can.

 

[Agent2]

You said west of Mojave right? Does that mean north of Mojave into the forest on that jeep road too?

The switchback up to the treeline is safe, for right now, all the new wind turbines are going up due west of Mojave. Next trip up to the dez, I am riding that area with the camera, who knows maybe for the last time. I am thinking Horned Toad Hills - the riding area next to the 58 / railroad main line will be next for windmills. There was a lot of surveyor stakes in that area last time I was there. As Carl said, it's only a matter of time before that whole area (including the switchback) is all off limits due to energy projects.

 

[timoyz]

The switchback up to the treeline is safe, for right now, all the new wind turbines are going up due west of Mojave. Next trip up to the dez, I am riding that area with the camera, who knows maybe for the last time. I am thinking Horned Toad Hills - the riding area next to the 58 / railroad main line will be next for windmills. There was a lot of surveyor stakes in that area last time I was there. As Carl said, it's only a matter of time before that whole area (including the switchback) is all off limits due to energy projects.

If I remember correctly, I'm not too sure it is all that legal now. I do seem to remember a certain RR at the other place, where WG got chastised, and his report pulled after a Ranger posted that he was in a "no ride" zone.

 

[Weathergeek]

If I remember correctly, I'm not too sure it is all that legal now. I do seem to remember a certain RR at the other place, where WG got chastised, and his report pulled after a Ranger posted that he was in a "no ride" zone.

Your memory was good except for the part of the ride report which I was in but not the author of. I wonder who it might be? Somebody who likes a good "rack" I think.

 

[timoyz]

Your memory was good except for the part of the ride report which I was in but not the author of. I wonder who it might be? Somebody who likes a good "rack" I think.

I knew you were involved somehow. I should have realized it was that troublemaker Mr. Rack.

 

[Agent2]

If I remember correctly, I'm not too sure it is all that legal now. I do seem to remember a certain RR at the other place, where WG got chastised, and his report pulled after a Ranger posted that he was in a "no ride" zone.

The trail up to the tree line is still "legal", but according to the F.O.J. map, everything west of the trail is already closed to all off road vehicles. The trail is the boundry line.