2WD Trail Expeditions
- Thread starter thetaxguy
- Start date
mangus7175
New member
thetaxguy said:NICE! Have fun and take A LOT of pictures
You should come out...I'm leaving Friday night from Burbank and returning Sunday morning.
It will be a 2WD friendly event and a good way to meet other people who enjoy the outdoors
mangus7175
New member
Trail Report up...link below:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43416
I didn't include all the pics for obvious reasons - too many taken. Really had a blast and I wished that more 2WD T4R's where there...I was the only one running 100% stock among all the TTORA members and the only 4Runner representing...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43416
I didn't include all the pics for obvious reasons - too many taken. Really had a blast and I wished that more 2WD T4R's where there...I was the only one running 100% stock among all the TTORA members and the only 4Runner representing...
Pikeman
New member
Another fun trail is Indian truck trail, and when it is open (closed seasonally for fire) is Silverado Canyon all the way across Main Divide road and down indian truck. I make this run with my 3 year old and 5 year old going on "bumps" as they call it. Fun morning part afternoon run.
thetaxguy
New member
I'm always down to do some off-roading. plenty of the trails around here are 2WD accessable as long as you don't get to "ambitious." Got any trails down in SD that you've done?
-Shawn
shuly
New member
I've been thinking about 2wd Options...
In the past I know I have said I'd like to do some runs but timing just hasn't worked out. Anyway, I thought I would post these ideas and see what people think. Feel free to comment or PM me. Personally I love spending time in the Eastern Sierras/Owens Valley/Inyo Mtns...if you haven't figured that out by now from a lot of my pictures.
Of course everyone that went would be responsible for their own vehicles and their own welfare..etc..etc..etc...if you do something stupid its your own fault
That said...
I was thinking about the possibility of doing something in May or June. Two or three months out so that we it could be well planned. For those that like 2wd stuff there is plenty to do that won't kill you but shouldn't be boring. I wouldn't want this to turn into a huge event though. Those require just too much organization and sometimes land management, forest rangers, etc get all excited if 20 trucks go heading down a trail at once.
For those interested we could spend a weekend up in the Owens Valley area. There is plenty to see and easy enough trails to run that aren't just going to camp sites. My recent run to Mazourka Canyon is a nice drive. There are mines along the way and places to stop and have lunch. Santa Rita Flat or Badger Flats are both nice. Getting to Papoose Flat would require probably most of people to have 4wd...but I haven't scouted it yet this year. Going in the back way from the road out of big pine will also get you there but the last time I was out there the brush was thick! evil desert rash...But it is also a great place to visit. Rocks to climb on ... etc.
I was also thinking about, for those that haven't been out to Lone Pine and spent time in the Alabama Hills, that is all basically 2wd stuff and you can spend the days bouldering and exploring the rocks. There is also some old mining stuff out that way to explore. There is also BLM camping in the Alabama Hills.
Out of Big Pine, there you can head up into the White Mtns and see the Bristlecone Forest. If it is open in May, but it should be open by June. The road down through Silver Canyon (last year) was suitable for 2wd. However!!!! I will caution you it is a steep grade...so w/o low range (4wd Lo) gearing you will probably have a lot of fun coming down the mtn! I still won't forget the lady with her dog who was in a 2wd Taco followed us down and was grinning from ear to ear after that run and says "HOLY S**T!" It was so funny...but she had a blast.
Also there is the Coso Mtn Range. By June it starts to get rather warm so it's not a great place to camp. There are a couple of tricky spots that would certainly be challenging for a 2wd vehicle, though they are technically doable and with a spotter aside from the lack of 4wd should be no problem. If they did turn out to be a problem it is easy enough to head back the way you came in too. The Coso Range has a dry lake bed and more old mining claims.
These trails would be suitable for 2wd stuff and if people were interested I wouldn't mind planning something. Though I would much prefer doing this stuff on a long weekend. For example leave Friday and meet up somewhere for an easy run at a fixed time say 1pm or something. Spend the day exploring and then people can make their own accommodations and the next morning meet up for another full day run...have a picnic lunch on a mtn top somewhere and then head back down and maybe do a half day trip on Sunday and head back. If I get laid off then I could even do a trip like this during a weekday.
If people are interested let me know. I would want to know what people want to do as in difficulty level, stuff to see along the trails, length of runs, hotel/camping/geocaching, time frames (day or weekend trips.) Right now I am also looking at mid May or mid June. I know Memorial day is in May, but many people have plans so I haven't considered that weekend.
Let's see what kind of interest there is and go from there.
Schuyler
In the past I know I have said I'd like to do some runs but timing just hasn't worked out. Anyway, I thought I would post these ideas and see what people think. Feel free to comment or PM me. Personally I love spending time in the Eastern Sierras/Owens Valley/Inyo Mtns...if you haven't figured that out by now from a lot of my pictures.
Of course everyone that went would be responsible for their own vehicles and their own welfare..etc..etc..etc...if you do something stupid its your own fault
That said...I was thinking about the possibility of doing something in May or June. Two or three months out so that we it could be well planned. For those that like 2wd stuff there is plenty to do that won't kill you but shouldn't be boring. I wouldn't want this to turn into a huge event though. Those require just too much organization and sometimes land management, forest rangers, etc get all excited if 20 trucks go heading down a trail at once.
For those interested we could spend a weekend up in the Owens Valley area. There is plenty to see and easy enough trails to run that aren't just going to camp sites. My recent run to Mazourka Canyon is a nice drive. There are mines along the way and places to stop and have lunch. Santa Rita Flat or Badger Flats are both nice. Getting to Papoose Flat would require probably most of people to have 4wd...but I haven't scouted it yet this year. Going in the back way from the road out of big pine will also get you there but the last time I was out there the brush was thick! evil desert rash...But it is also a great place to visit. Rocks to climb on ... etc.
I was also thinking about, for those that haven't been out to Lone Pine and spent time in the Alabama Hills, that is all basically 2wd stuff and you can spend the days bouldering and exploring the rocks. There is also some old mining stuff out that way to explore. There is also BLM camping in the Alabama Hills.
Out of Big Pine, there you can head up into the White Mtns and see the Bristlecone Forest. If it is open in May, but it should be open by June. The road down through Silver Canyon (last year) was suitable for 2wd. However!!!! I will caution you it is a steep grade...so w/o low range (4wd Lo) gearing you will probably have a lot of fun coming down the mtn! I still won't forget the lady with her dog who was in a 2wd Taco followed us down and was grinning from ear to ear after that run and says "HOLY S**T!" It was so funny...but she had a blast.
Also there is the Coso Mtn Range. By June it starts to get rather warm so it's not a great place to camp. There are a couple of tricky spots that would certainly be challenging for a 2wd vehicle, though they are technically doable and with a spotter aside from the lack of 4wd should be no problem. If they did turn out to be a problem it is easy enough to head back the way you came in too. The Coso Range has a dry lake bed and more old mining claims.
These trails would be suitable for 2wd stuff and if people were interested I wouldn't mind planning something. Though I would much prefer doing this stuff on a long weekend. For example leave Friday and meet up somewhere for an easy run at a fixed time say 1pm or something. Spend the day exploring and then people can make their own accommodations and the next morning meet up for another full day run...have a picnic lunch on a mtn top somewhere and then head back down and maybe do a half day trip on Sunday and head back. If I get laid off then I could even do a trip like this during a weekday.
If people are interested let me know. I would want to know what people want to do as in difficulty level, stuff to see along the trails, length of runs, hotel/camping/geocaching, time frames (day or weekend trips.) Right now I am also looking at mid May or mid June. I know Memorial day is in May, but many people have plans so I haven't considered that weekend.
Let's see what kind of interest there is and go from there.
Schuyler
shuly
New member
Hmm...I could easily spend a week up there...Lake Sabrina opens April 25th!!! Can't really be fishing and offroading at the same time though. What type of trip are you looking for? day/weekend/camping+4wheeling(well 2wd in ur case)...?
thetaxguy
New member
Sight seeing and camping are always at the top of my list. Even if I had a 4WD I would not really be into rock crawling. No need to leave the established trail... but I would not mind exploring away from graded trails.
thetaxguy
New member
Did Main Divide Road to Indian Truck Trail two weeks ago. Pretty nice trail with decent slope. I was not able to get up to the radio towers though. Unfortunately the gate was locked.
I also ran the Cariso Truck Trail from Lake Elsenor to the top of Ortega. The recent storms have washed a lot of the trail to the rock base. tumbled trees make the trail a little hairy in some parts (I still like my paint). Although it's still a better option then dealing with all the crazy motorcyclist on Hwy 74 going up to the lookout.
-Shawn
I also ran the Cariso Truck Trail from Lake Elsenor to the top of Ortega. The recent storms have washed a lot of the trail to the rock base. tumbled trees make the trail a little hairy in some parts (I still like my paint). Although it's still a better option then dealing with all the crazy motorcyclist on Hwy 74 going up to the lookout.
-Shawn
shuly
New member
I didn't notice you posted this....put up some pics!
