I'm thinking that's all that's really wanted since the orig. idea was to drive around Iowa Hill. I don't care one way or the other. Ruffian and I are down for anything.

I'll research some trips out of my 4x4 trails books this weekend and see if I can find any other trips that sound more exciting. But I still think the North Bloomfield trip is still sounding ideal to what the Bay Area guys want to do.

well, I can handle blue sqaures. I did a black diamond and I really don't want to try anymore until I have money to replace parts.

I think rock crawling is out of the pictures...I mean u've got the same truck as most guys, so whatever your down for that seems fun and challenging, but won't kill a truck is great.

I've been checking trails.com, and there are TONS of trails all around that area. It's hard to pick.

Jamie

I agree with you. Ruffians weather stripping around the cowl under the whindshield wipers is coming up, so that's going to be an unexpected expense for me.

I'll check out that website you mentioned as well as looking at my Nor Cal trails books.

I didn't think the North Bloomfield drive was dull at all. Such a beautiful area. Long drive maybe, but just as you leave Alleghany, the next 2 hours or so has more challenging parts, but hell no it's not enough to do damage unless a driver drives off the mtn! So it's just driving slow and being careful. I really liked the run both times I've done it and am looking forward to taking the trip again in the future.

Sounds good. Let's hone in on the trail/trails that we are definitely going to take, so we can start planning better. I dont think the run time of the trail matters; we all expect to be out all day.

Jamie

so is this still active or ??? Im still down to go, just let me know where and when.

I think I have to postpone. My brakes are shot from the last trip, and I shouldn't do another trip without getting them fixed.

umm... ok... so??? trip is off then?

I'm still available and willing to go on a trip. I think though it's still early in the year that we should avoid anything high in the Sierra's.

Jamie, I'm sad now that you're not going to be able to make it up. I'm still hoping that you'll be able to pull the Easter rabbit out of your hat and make it up. Please let me know!!

For the others who want to go, pm me and I'll send you my email adrs. I'm thinking to do the same as what we do with the 4WD club. Meet at a restuarant right off 80 for breakfest, gather up, tune the CB's if need be, and hit the road by 9 or 10 am. That way, doing the speed limit, we'll be in Nevada County by noon. If we haven't gathered food for lunch, we can do that in Grass Valley, and then be on North Bloomfield road and hit the dirt!

Let me know who else is going.....I hope people aren't bailing all out now.

step up....

j

Ok Guys & Gals,
Since Jamie hasn't posted yet, and I'm not sure what's going on with the rest of the Bay Area folks, I'm willing to hijack this and state I'm willing to lead a run or join one for Tues the 14th. Any Sac. or other locals want to go play Tuesday?

Pritch....?

If people don't want to do the North Bloomfield/Alleghany run, I found at least 3 others that are still fairly local and won't be a snow run that we can try. I've never done them, so I don't know how well of a trail master I would be. But I have the trail book, so I can try to find the trail!!!

like i said, im down. i just need to be back in Roseville for class by 645. but to be honest i dont think many people will be going because its kinda short notice. maybe plan for a little while down the road.

Folks, for any who wish to come, Ruffian (Melinda) and I are meeting at 10am at Brookfields restraunt on 80/Eureka - on taylor http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um...num=1&ct=image

if your up for it, come out for a nice day in the trees, it wont be hard

joe

bring a CB or FRS radio's if you have them and what ever recovery kit you might want to bring. I have enough, so we can get out of anything we might get into

Andrix, When we meet up at Brookfields, we'll talk over what trail we want to take. We can try something new out, or pick a trail that isn't as long as North Bloomfield.

We'll chat over coffee in the morning. I'll be there about 0930 to get breakfast. I'll tell the hostess that there are members of a 4Runner group meeting up, that way she can direct everyone to the same table.

Melinda

4 of us met for this little trip on Tueday in Roseville, Mel, Dan, Dan Sr. and myself.

We decided to do a trip that the capital city goats did last summer, a loop that goes thru a little town called Alegheny in the area of the big gold diggings during the California gold rush era.

Around sunset Tuesday (7 pm or so) on this off road trip, both Mel (Ruffian) and I got stuck in deep snow on Tyler Foot trail, Dan and Dan Sr, managed to get their 4runner thru the last obstacle and get out onto a good road. So we agreed they would head home and Mel and I would double back and go out the way we came in. Which did not work.

Around 10pm after Mel and I tried 3 other routes to get out and failed, we went back to where we had cell phone coverage and called Dan, who was on his way home and got him to come back and pick us up. Mel and I left our 4runners in the bush and walked out. Dan picked us up around 11pm after a 3 or so mile walk thru snow and a bush track and carted our sorry asses down to grass valley, where my wife (not very happy about it) picked us up and took us home.

It was a bit scarey in the early evening, trying the different routes to get out and failing each time, it was snowing lightly and the temp was below 32.

The next day, Wednesday we went back up to the trail above Aleghaney with Zack from the local 'We Build it' 4X club and he managed to drive right to our trucks in his very modified 4Runner. Both of our trucks were then able to drive right out of this mess - no winching, no chains, no snach straps.

I think the secret being late afternoon sloppy snow / ice melts easily and its very easy to get stuck in, especially when it high centers the truck. You just have to wait for it to re-freeze so it can be driven on.

Hopefully Mel will post some pics, she had a camera and I didnt.

If there wasnt the possibility of something going wrong, it wouldnt be an adventure....

Special thanks to Dan, Dan Sr and Zack for their help in getting our sorry asses out

Joe

happy to help ;)