Gear
What's In Our Rig Right Now — Full Kit List, September 2026
Current build and full gear inventory on the JKU as of spring 2026. Updated annually. Everything listed has been used in the field — nothing is aspirational kit that lives in a garage.
All Articles
Knowledge & Skills
This Winter’s El Niño Could Be the Strongest on Record — Here’s What That Means for Camping in the Mojave
This winter's El Niño has a 69% chance of being the strongest on record. Here's what NOAA's outlook actually says,…
Gear
The Swagman Roll Poncho — Why I Never Camp Without It
I got into camp in the dark, wet, mid-30s, wind cutting straight through whatever I had on. I slipped on…
Vehicle Prep
Choosing the Right Tires for Desert Terrain — What Works in the Mojave
Tire selection for desert running comes down to a handful of factors that most tire guides gloss over — heat…
Knowledge & Skills
Why I Camp Alone in the Mojave (And Why You Should Try It Too)
A first-person guide to solo camping in the Mojave — why the freedom is worth the extra prep, and exactly…
Park Alerts
via NPS.gov
Ghost Towns
Historic Mining Trails and Ghost Towns of the Mojave — What’s Still Out There
The Mojave corridor was ripped open for silver, gold, borax, and copper between the 1860s and 1930s. Most of the…
Mojave Desert
Astrophotography from Desert Camp — Shooting the Night Sky With What You Already Have
Phone astrophotography doesn’t require a telescope. You need a dark enough sky, a way to hold the camera still, and…
Trip Planning
BLM Land Access Rules — Where You Can (and Can’t) Camp in the Mojave Corridor
Public land isn't all the same. Here's how BLM land, national preserves, and designations like ACEC and WSA actually affect…
Knowledge & Skills
Desert Survival Skills and Emergency Preparedness — What to Know Before You Need It
The Mojave corridor is remote in ways that catch people off guard. Cell service drops out, temperatures swing 50 degrees…
Desert Almanac
November 12, 2026
Sunrise
6:14 AM
Sunset
4:38 PM
Daylight
10h 24m
Moon
Waxing Crescent · 7%
Dark Sky
6:05 PM – 4:47 AM
Times for the central Mojave — varies about ±10 minutes across the region.
Knowledge & Skills
How to Find Places to Camp — The Map Tools and Sources We Actually Use
We don't rely on one app. Here's the actual stack we run to find campsites and trails — OnX Offroad,…
Trail Reports
Hamilton, NV — Three Days in White Pine Range Wilderness Country
Cherry Creek to Preston, NV — three days, two rigs, 125.9 trail miles through the ghost towns of Treasure City…