# Crossing the Mojave Desert **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032 "2012-09-07T20:23:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/21 "2012-09-08T17:23:42Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > At least it keeps you out of the rain. ahhh…are you going to remember your name? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/22 "2012-09-08T19:54:13Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > ahhh…are you going to remember your name? Sure, there isn’t anyone there to give me any pain. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/23 "2012-09-08T20:05:14Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Sure, there isn’t anyone there to give me any pain. You know, the desert is really just an ocean with its life underground. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/24 "2012-09-09T01:45:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You know, the desert is really just an ocean with its life underground. And a perfect disguise above. I used to love crossing the Mojave. We’d set out from Vegas, exit at Nipton, go through Kelso (stop at the museum, visit the Kelso dunes too!), down to Amboy, and further south to 49 Palms. Neat trip. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/25 "2012-09-09T02:05:53Z")
I love the Mojave…stop in every chance I get (except for summer–I’m too wimpy for that :p). It does get damn cold out there–I’ve had water in my ice chest freeze overnight in the late fall. And the wind will kick your ass any time of year. I-40 and I-15 let folks pass through in an hour and a half. You can look out the window and be glad you don’t have to deal with sun and the cacti and the snakes. If you want a little more excitement and want to see what it used to be like, the old road is still out there. Back before the interstates, there was the[Mojave Road](http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/nov/stories/mojavetrail.html). ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/26 "2012-09-09T03:55:56Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Back before the interstates, there was the[Mojave Road](http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/nov/stories/mojavetrail.html). As an aside, from the link: > [@](#): > > The Mojave Road was a main wagon trail for only a relatively short time, two decades after the civil war, when the railroads came, as the railways created an easier route to the south complete with oases on the bitter-dry deserts. Spare a thought for the poor slobs who had to hand-fire steam locomotives in 125° or higher heat, though the Mojave wouldn’t be the only place in the world like that. But the engineers could stick their heads out into the breeze, at least. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/27 "2012-09-09T04:10:44Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Sure, there isn’t anyone there to give me any pain. Ooh, look at Mr. Fancy Pants with his perfect grammar! 😛 Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet – the major interstates have [call boxes](http://www.freeimageslive.co.uk/files/images006/highway_call_box.jpg) placed every few miles, so you can call for help if you’re out of cell phone range. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032/28 "2012-09-09T13:43:47Z")
I moved north almost nine years ago. I’d wondered if the call boxes were still being maintained, since so many people have mobile phones now. I’ve seen many call boxes that were OOS. IIRC, the boxes are spaced every quarter-mile. (And yes, I’ve used them.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-mojave-desert/634032.md?page=1)