Drunner97
New member
From what I've seen of gold crown road, you may be able to bring the toy hauler. I'll have to get coords of the campsite and check the route. Probably do a prerun in February to the campsite.
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Joshua Tree 3/17-3/19
- Thread starter Drunner97
- Start date
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BrianSD_42
New member
It's not Rock crawling. You can go everywhere with a stock 4x4. 99% of the total park can be driven with a Suburu or 2WD truck.
I don't know if you can drive quads or motorized bikes in JT. I've been several times and don't recall seeing any. I think the are a few trails for dirt bikes but you should check. Most of the park is cement roads connecting to dirt roads. Dirt roads connect out to mines.
Pictures of Joshua tree off road excursion.
Pics Part 1 (post 420)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-build-maintenance-thread-21.html#post1723193
Pics Part 2 (post 421)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-build-maintenance-thread-22.html#post1723195
:spider:
I don't know if you can drive quads or motorized bikes in JT. I've been several times and don't recall seeing any. I think the are a few trails for dirt bikes but you should check. Most of the park is cement roads connecting to dirt roads. Dirt roads connect out to mines.
Pictures of Joshua tree off road excursion.
Pics Part 1 (post 420)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-build-maintenance-thread-21.html#post1723193
Pics Part 2 (post 421)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-build-maintenance-thread-22.html#post1723195
:spider:
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Drunner97
New member
True but I wouldn't take a toy hauler through old Dale mining district. I also don't know how far off gold crown the campsite is. We'll be camped on BLM land, not within park boundaries so quads and stuff should be fine.
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BrianSD_42
New member
Agree. Gold crown road is the only rough road I've been on and I've been through most all of the park. We even took my parents 99 Tahoe 4WD, stock with running boards and made it without issue. My uncle's stock Tundra made it as well, no issues. As long as you are careful it should be fine. That was in April in 2015 and it was 104 F on Gold Crown trail at 2pm.
My friend is bringing his stock Tacoma and I told him no worries. We've taken that stock 08 4WD Tacoma through death valley, Big Bear and to Moab on Fins & Things. For Joshua Tree no sliders required. 4WD for some roads. Steps or running boards aren't really advised but hardly a deal breaker.
I just talked to my buddy. I'm going +1 other truck unless something comes up. The family is a maybe.
My friend is bringing his stock Tacoma and I told him no worries. We've taken that stock 08 4WD Tacoma through death valley, Big Bear and to Moab on Fins & Things. For Joshua Tree no sliders required. 4WD for some roads. Steps or running boards aren't really advised but hardly a deal breaker.
I just talked to my buddy. I'm going +1 other truck unless something comes up. The family is a maybe.
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Drunner97
New member
Right on. I'll switch you on the list when I get back near my computer. Closing in on 50 people interested across 3 forums. I think we figured at least 25-30 could fit in the campsite my buddy found based on the pics, won't know until I see it. I'll be surprised if even half of these people show up to begin with.
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BrianSD_42
New member
I'm assuming you all will be camping on the high northern side of Gold Crown, not in the valley below.
In the past I've driven up Gold Crown from the south end of the park. Once you get up to the top of the mini-Mtn then drive for 10-15 minutes there are a lot different paths and spots to stop for the night. We could easily split into groups.
I suggest everyone bring a something GPS that isn't a phone OR at least use an app that is not Google or Apple maps. The GPS and cell in Joshua Tree is spotty and a few years ago someone using a Navigation App drove to the far end of the park, ran out of gas and died. It was very sad. Most of the terrain looks very very similar, especially for those who haven't been before.
I use two Android Apps:
* GPS Status (free)
* Backcountry Navigator Pro (free or $9.99)
Also, perhaps I missed it but I didn't see a list of supplies to bring in your first post of the the TW link. I think one thing that you would really warn people about in the first post is water. There is no water in the park at all and it is likely 30 mins - 1 hour to drive from the campsite into town to buy water or supplies. A portable HAM radio ($40 Amazon) is also a highly advised tool. Use of non-repeater channels is easy to setup.
:music:
In the past I've driven up Gold Crown from the south end of the park. Once you get up to the top of the mini-Mtn then drive for 10-15 minutes there are a lot different paths and spots to stop for the night. We could easily split into groups.
I suggest everyone bring a something GPS that isn't a phone OR at least use an app that is not Google or Apple maps. The GPS and cell in Joshua Tree is spotty and a few years ago someone using a Navigation App drove to the far end of the park, ran out of gas and died. It was very sad. Most of the terrain looks very very similar, especially for those who haven't been before.
I use two Android Apps:
* GPS Status (free)
* Backcountry Navigator Pro (free or $9.99)
Also, perhaps I missed it but I didn't see a list of supplies to bring in your first post of the the TW link. I think one thing that you would really warn people about in the first post is water. There is no water in the park at all and it is likely 30 mins - 1 hour to drive from the campsite into town to buy water or supplies. A portable HAM radio ($40 Amazon) is also a highly advised tool. Use of non-repeater channels is easy to setup.
:music:
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Drunner97
New member
I haven't actually been to the campsite so couldn't tell you. I'm sure there's plenty of camping very much near the main site. We have groups coming from Arizona and northern California, Tacomas, and 4runners. I imagine there will be groups of people that would rather camp near each other and I'm sure there will be plenty of space for everyone. GPS to some degree or another will likely be a requirement just to get there, especially for people not coming as a group.
We had 14 rigs in a smaller site than this last year with plenty of space to stretch out. The nor Cal group camped further away from us. 17 rigs total I believe. I've been told this one is much much larger.
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BrianSD_42
New member
Cool. How would I find the backroad campsite, do you plan to upload GPS? I don't see the location listed.
For me at least your picture in post 10 is broken.
For me at least your picture in post 10 is broken.
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Drunner97
New member
I'll get the coords and GPS track from the 62 out to everyone once we do a scouting run next month. Or people can come up the south end and from old Dale is they want once we have everything finalized. We're still pretty early in the planning phase.
The pics were from last year's run. Not sure why they would stop working. Photo bucket sucks sometimes.
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BrianSD_42
New member
Just saw on TW you are holding the coords to keep it low profile. As long as we are PM'd them before the meet should be no problem. Thanks for putting this together.
Drunner97
New member
Haha, as low profile as it can be at this point. It was a great time last year. Should be great this time too. Gonna be an epic good time. Might have something special in the works too. I have to talk to a couple people first though.
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85straight
New member
Speaking of scouting [MENTION=123332]Drunner97[/MENTION] you have weekends off work or how does your schedule look next month
Drunner97
New member
Weekends off. I have a 3 day presidents day weekend. Unfortunately I'm still working around my ex's Sunday visits. Fortunately, she doesn't get him until 11 in the morning, and her place in highland is on my way home.
So I'd be good to drive up early Saturday, wheel around, check out the campsite and area, camp Sat night. Split first thing Sunday morning. Could potentially take a Friday afternoon off and hang out for two nights as well.
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Oneluv13T4R
New member
Like the second idea better ..
Drunner97
New member
Me too. I'm thinking the 17th? Don't think I can swing a half day on the 10th unless my reports are done.
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SoSoRunner
New member
Yeah I have 2 full sized crash pads, 60M rope, quickdraws, harnesses x2 if someone knows how to lead belay?!?!?! I can bring it all :hello:
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85straight
New member
[MENTION=2589]Drunner[/MENTION] I'd be down the 18&19th. If you guys are already there I could find you Saturday morning, can't take off early from work Friday
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Drunner97
New member
Sounds good, we'll work out some details. I'll have to make sure I can get the half day on the 17th anyway.
