Snaggletooth
A Desolate Mountain View
We left what is called the Snowbird Mesa a few weeks back as we began our trek toward the very southern regions of California.
The Winnebago Micro Minnie at Sunrise on the Snowbird Mesa in Nevada
The Snowbird Mesa is a relatively famous location that is run, I believe, by the Bureau of Land Management. It may, however, be Utah State Trust land.
A few years back, while visiting The Valley of Fire state Park I drove by this area as I drove south from Overton Nevada. Overton is a small town with most necessities. They have a nice grocery store, a McDonalds, a Maverik fuel stop, a Napa auto parts and so on.
Sunrise at The Fire Wave in The Valley of Fire State Park Nevada
I observed this might be a good spot upon which to park in order to sleep over a few nights while visiting the Valley of Fire making a mental note for the day I may return.
As we left Kanab, Utah, we decided to make this the final destination for the day.
We set up our camp, parking the Micro Minnie 2108DS FLX. I was surprised at the vast expanse of the Snowbird Mesa. I was also surprised at just how many RV-er’s were on site camping and staying. It appeared a number of them were what I would call long term residents. Although the instruction pamphlet handed to us by the camp “host” indicated they do force it closed during the summer months. I fully understand as this area get’s deathly hot come about May.
I didn’t at all like the entire area from a Boondocking standpoint. It felt dirty. The rocks and gravel are large and sharp. Even Watson, our dog, hated trying to walk around the site.
The entire region is mostly void of any vegetation. Just very hard, dry, rocks everywhere.
We stayed 2 nights as we thought we may want to visit Valley of Fire. Joelle wasn’t too excited to go to the park. On the day we left we were getting some pretty nasty rain/sleet. Not ideal for visiting and photographing anyway.
Our drive out took us through Henderson, Nevada, to the southeast of Las Vegas. Home of Lake Mead Recreation area and very close to The Hoover Dam We continued south on Highway 95 for the rest of the day. I didn’t at all like the drive. It felt dirty. It wasn’t pretty, and the landscape was very unappealing. Often, in a number of the locations we had to stop; rest rooms, coffee, fuel, we felt it to be unsafe and not somewhere we should hang out for long.
Ditto once we crossed the border into California. Interestingly, coming into CA, it felt even filthier if that were even possible.
We made our way through the town of Needles and continued further south for a short while until we finally ventured to our dispersed camp spot. A lovely BLM managed property on the very edge of the Snaggletooth wilderness. We were close to the Lake Havasu area and I wish now we had jutted over there to see the area for a few days. All I kept thinking about was the cartoon character from my youth, Snagglepuss the cat.
The Winnebago 2108DS FLX at Base of Snaggletooth Range, California
It was a very strange place. Flat, mostly, with a few giant rock cropping formations bordering on mountains dispersed across the desert plain. This BLM campsite was sourced using Campendium, our choice app for finding free, dispersed, boondocking. I-Overlander coming in at a close second.
As we drove in we noted the Bureau of Land management manicures these sites and even has them numbered for easy identification. The sites were flat, large, and easy for any sized rig to call home for an over night or even an extended sale. I actually really liked the spot, minus the strewn around broken beer bottles and cans. I simply can’t comprehend or understand who and what kind of person purposely tosses beer bottles to the ground to break them into pieces leaving them behind to cut and harm dogs, cats, or any human not wearing shoes in the area.
At any rate, the night we parked and set up I decided I’d scale the rocks to see how high I could ascend.
Once up there, watching the sun set alone, I looked and noted a further rock outcropping that was to my right. it was a steep climb up it’s back, but I knew I was going to have to make that trek up the following day. I knew instinctively it would test my climbing along with pushing the limits to my fears of heights and sheer drop offs.
The following morning, I invited Joelle to join me on the ascent. She gladly said yes and we both made it to the top. I was proud of her for coming along and sticking with it. It wasn’t the hardest we’ve done, but it was work. She never, ever complains on the trail and that is one thing about her I so very much appreciate.
Our View from one of the Highest Points On the Snaggletooth Mountains, California
After the climb, we came down, gathered our stuff together and started the remainder of our drive to our next spot, Glamis North RV park near Niland CA.
I’ll update you on that adventure next post.
Until then, thanks for stopping by.
rob out
