The “Heart of the Mojave” Caching Series is located along California State Hwy 62 and Amboy Road, within the Mojave Desert. The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Named after the Mohave Native Americans it occupies roughly 54,000 square miles in a typical Basin and Range topography.
The Mojave Desert receives less than 6 inches of rain a year and is generally between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation. Although infrequent, flash flooding can occur very quickly. Appropriate caution should be exercised whenever it rains in the desert.
The Mojave, like all deserts in general, is known for its summer heat, however, there is wintertime cold. The coldest wintertime temperature ranges below freezing yet above 0F. Many parts of the Mojave typically range from highs of around 95-105F in the summer to lows of around 20-30F in the winter.
The Mojave Desert is home to a variety of wildlife, including but not limited to: Tortoises, Lizards, Snakes, Scorpions, Coyotes, Rabbits and rodents. Please be mindful that this is their home and try not to disturb them.
Resources are very limited within the Desert. Gasoline, Lodging, Food, and Groceries are available to the East in Parker, Arizona and to the West in Twentynine Palms, California. Limited Resources, including Gasoline and some groceries are available in Amboy to the North and Vidal Junction at the intersection of Hwy 62 & US 95. Whenever you travel in the desert, you should carry food, water and any other emergency supplies you think you may need.
There are several areas along the roads where I have not placed caches. This is primarily because I have tried to avoid the areas where the road shoulder has very deep sand. The road has very little traffic, but there is enough so that someone should pass by within a few minutes if you somehow run into trouble. If you attempt to do these caches at night, please be mindful of the soft road shoulders, they are very difficult to identify at night.
There are three caches along the route which are Ammo Cans containing additional caches containers in case they are needed : These are HMD-0000, HMD-0400, and HMD-800.
In case of an Emergency, there is a Hospital located in Joshua Tree, California. Hi-Desert Medical Center is at N 34 07.897 W 116 16.535. There is also a Hospital in Parker, Arizona. The La Paz Regional Hospital is at N 34 08.110 W 114 16.826.
