Odessa Canyon Pictures!

Odessa Canyon is located near Calico, California. Four of us went down it on Saturday during West-X. We covered the 3/4 mile trail in about 8 nervous hours.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487048&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487072&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487080&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487184&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487195&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487225&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55487237&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

There are many more pictures at www.PhotoPoint.com

I've also picked some of my favorite photos and included them on my website .

Enjoy!

!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah!
WOW!
It looks like it wasn't for the tame of heart!

Yowzer!

Brave? Just say plain stupid. I've been to Odessa Canyon and the only thing dumber than driving a Xterra through it would be a Xterra with the steprails and stock tires still on or possibly a stock Durango My wife and kids had trouble walking through that canyon!

Down it ? You're supposed to go up it.

Oh... where are all those pictures of Jackel getting through it in a 2WD ?
Todrick ? Do you understand what 4 wheeling is now ?

I know it's a tough trail, but 8 hours ?

They weren't satisfied with just driving a Xterra down Odessa Canyon, they attempted to do it without damaging their trucks too badly. It took a little extra time. The canyon is actually easier to go up since the latest floods. That is just my personal opinion though since I've never tried to drive up it.

A BLM volunteer ranger had told us that most drive down it. Normal convention is to drive up Doran Scenic then down Odessa. That way you don't have two groups of trucks meeting in the center.

Here's the topo map

Regardless, I still feel it was a great accomplishment for a Nissan Xterra despite what you may have to say.

For sure! That looks like a fun trail. I am wondering if (as you mentioned) the 7+ rating was for a particular direction on that trail? (not wantin to flame, just wondering)

Nomination for Xterra of the week pic (to replace your Xterra of the month Ian...Just f ckin around) Amazing picture guys [img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1485609&a=13898789&p=55486910&Sequence=0[/img]

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: DGX Factor ]

Nice pics as always Snoop! That trail is a 7? Yikes! You must have a more liberal rating system, looks to be a bit harder than the 7's I have done in CO.

Not for me. I was thinking of doing it. But after what the ranger and the jeep guys said I decided not to. I know what my X can and can't do. I choose to leave it parked.

the BLM officer actually said:

"It is not possible to drive it"

he had recieved complaints from jeep clubs about the trail being undrivable...

it was incredible to see how much it changed...

the section that Jackel drove up lasttime in 20 minutes took almost 3 hours to drive down on saturday...

i will admit i was wrong jackel didn't drive it, but in my defense that is no longer the same trail

Odessa rocked as we pushed the X's to the limits and beyond at times to conquer a trail that everybody told us was too difficult for all but the most built rigs with 20" of travel, lockers, clearance, skids, etc like the jeeps on the trail or the lifted XJ with 33's that opted out because of the potential for body damage with the longer wheelbase.

Yeah we took our time and had a blast running it a leisurely pace taking time to spot, hike, mine explore, let the kids play, rest during a long lunch, relax and enjoy the scenery, etc…

Odessa was rated Moab 4+ before the recent flashflood that make this trail even tougher, although I would personally rated it ~ 7+ out of 10, but that's just me. In any case, regardless of direction the challenges are many IMO some spots are tougher for the X to go down then up and the BLM now recommend the descending route partly because the trail gets less chewed up that way according to some of the jeepers.

Overall another fun day Xploring the great outdoor, meeting new friends, sharing, fully utilizing the X, etc…man I love those challenging sun filled days surrounded by some unique scenery and fantastic people

Running this trail at night might make me nervous a bit, perhaps I will during the Barstow Poker Run's on 10/27-8. For now a couple of sample pic's until I have the opportunity to post more:

I think it was rated a 7 BEFORE the floods around labor day.

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: LAXterra ]

If there was such a competition, I would vote that run as "Most Extreme" for 2001. Good stuff guys and gals!

Its too bad those Jeeps can't hang with the Xterras anymore :p (yeah, I know....but again, I couldn't resist).

seriously... this trail is nuts...

it qualified as xtreme before... now it is just plain nuts...

to give a bit of perspective, part of the conversation with the BLM officer went like this:

"so what is the sissiest vehicle to make it?"

"before the flood?"

"yeah"

"stock dodge durrango"

"really, he made it?!?!"

"yep made it all the way... and had 10 grand in damage to show for it."

"how bout after the flood?"

"jeeps clubs are complaining its impassable"

"so an xterra cant make it?"

"they'll never make it"

see in the few months since the last trip the trail went from "impossible for a 4x2"(and we know jackel could have done it) to "impossible for an X" and again the X proves them wrong...

way to go guys, the last part i got to watch was simply amazing

[ 10-22-2001: Message edited by: Todrick ]

What do you expect from a BLM officer ?

Yes it's chewed up and washed out, but it's no where near what "undrivable" looks like.

I would say he was justing trying to scare people away, so they wouldn't have to go in and tow people out.

Pick a date Ian, you can stay at my house and I'll go out with you to run the trail. It shouldn't take you more than 2 or 3 hours to run it. I'll video tape you and we can show these goofs what losers they really are

thanks Xterrian... i needed that

I offer to edit the tape to 8 minutes and put it on the net

Hell let me mount my cameras and I could get some great multi-camera live to tape shots. I will even sacrifice ONE camera as a Smash camera.

Cool pics. Can someone explain why you guys say going down is harder than going up?

You might not notice it in the pics, but as the flood went down the canyon it built rocks up behind any blockages and cleaned out the water falls that were clear. Driving down leads to more upward crawls over the loose tough stuff and steep bare water falls to drive down. Very different from the norm. I'd be happy to drive up it if you'd like to join me

You're missing my point, I'm not saying the trail isn't difficult. What I'm saying is that the BLM guy is full of shit, so he doesn't have to deal with anyone getting stuck in there.

I'm also waiting for Todrick to finally admit that he himself has been full of shit for about 2 years now.

Xterrian, I'll be there next year.

Toolbox I am down for a night crawl next weekend if I can get sliders by then

That trail was the best thing I have been down in a long time, definetely makes me want to go tackle John Bull.

maybe so but that doesn't explain the jeepers who thought the guys were nuts...

besides when i told the BLM guy(saw him on another trail while the group was in odessa) that they were running odessa and had been gone 7 hours(with sunset approaching), he only suggested we hike in looking for them... he was pretty clear that he doesn't pull people out.... actually he couldn't... he said he only runs odessa in a 6x... wont even take the jeep in there



glady... as soon as you admit the same

Um... you're the one who has been saying for 2 years that a 2WD will go where a 4WD will go depending on the driver.

I'm glad you finally got to see what a real 4WD trail looks like.

i have seen 4x4 trails before.... and i have always said that a 4x2 will not go everywhere a 4x4 can.... i have said a 4x2 will go a lot further than you give it credit for...

as for the "driver" issue:
do you honestly think a complete novice with a novice spotter could have ran that?

at the same time, obviously a 4x2 can not run a trail like odessa in its current condition... it was very different in may

we've covered all of this and it is a tired debate...

why not just agree that Odessa is one bad ass trail and it is quite an accomplishment that the x's were able to run it... and just be happy that the X again proved it is more capable than most people think

[ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: Todrick ]

[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: Todrick ]

I never disagreed with that statement, or anything similar to it. I know Odessa is a tough trail.

The Xterra is just as capable as most any other SUV. Less so than a 4Runner, Amigo, or Rodeo, but more so than most.

You're just whiny because you bought a station wagon.

This is a funny post. The reason I say that is I went to check for a personalized plate today on a website for the State of AZ. It asks for your original plate number and the last two digits of the V.I.N. for verification. When I put it in, the descrition of my vehicle was 4DSW (4 door station wagon). It's a four wheel drive, go figure......

One odd thing I noticed in calico was the descriptions jason and I were getting were so different.

The ranger jason asked told him no way an X could make it.

I asked the same ranger about odessa canyon and he said it was tough but I could do it.


I met the jeepers that ran the canyon at the opening of the canyon and they said I shouldn't have a problem.

Now I wonder whether all these people just wanted me to ruin my truck? Or whether they thought I just looked crazy enough to do it.

Who knows maybe the hair threw them off.

ok that was good.... old and tired but still funny...

so i can expect to see you next year at WEST X?

would be neat to get 2 or 3 groups wishing to run odessa... one group could go each day... then all the people who dont want to do it would have ample time to hike it and witness it

he dd vary a couple times but what it came down to i think was you would make it but not without serious damage



are these the same ones that were in odessa with the X's... they very deffinately said "you shouldn't have driven those in here" & "you guys are nuts... but thats cool"



this is quite possible... maybe they saw that you already ripped the trim off your truck in that wash and figured you didn't care

Add mud to that and you have Tellico difficult rated trails.

How VERY true about that "Add mud" comment!!

That's because the ranger saw the difference between Jason's low rider, and your 4X4 D:

You coming to Moab or what ?

hee hee. Actually with my torsion bars goin out and my leaf springs flattening I am the low rider. Looks like I will be attending the moab madness possibly with jackel running along with me. By then the springs will be replaced under warranty and new torsion bars will be installed so I will be all good.

That'll never happen Cheech!

You do have to consider the changes that Odessa Canyon will go through in the course of a year...flash floods, erosion, etc.
Maybe a rainstorm will clear out the debris or make it even harder to drive through, but then again, we drive Xterras and we have Xtreme drivers on the wheel!

honestly i think if odessa changes before the next event it will become tamer...

i have been visiting the area for 9 years and this last trip has been the only time i have seen it like that... its conditions usually vary but generally it spends a while becoming more mellow and then some huge flood makes it a monster...

this last flood must have been enormous