MaddoxPics
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Little drive through the Buttermilks
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- Thread starter evldevil
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Xtremluck
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Nice video! I was there last year with a Downhill mountain bike hanging off the back of my truck. Did the trail in the rain which made that switchback interesting. A couple of years ago a 4runner rolled off that exact spot killing the driver and his dog. A stark reminder that you always need to be careful.
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MaddoxPics
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Yeah wow, didn't know about that. Just found photos of it. Definitely a wreck. Sad to see.
Angonemoto
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What level of difficulty would you give that trail? I am trying to gauge my comfort zone as I have not gone into terrain like that yet.
MaddoxPics
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Which trail? Laurel or Buttermilks?
Angonemoto
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How about both, as they were equally awesome?
Thanks!
Thanks!
MaddoxPics
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First off, my best advice to you is to learn as you go along. I came from a CR-V and I still started at the stuff I was doing in that to what I'm doing now when I first got the 4R. Didn't want to get myself into something I wasn't comfortable with.
If you can, go with a couple of people who know how to off-road and will help guide and spot you along the way when necessary. I did that with some of the OC Overland guys and it really helped me learn how to navigate on the trail better.
As for the trails they carry different ratings per books, if I'm going off my own, I would rate Laurel Lakes a 4 and Buttermilks a 2.
Laurel is definitely the hardest of the two I posted, but there's not really anything technical about the trail. There are a few spots where you need to drive over rocks correctly (I'm stock so had to do that a few times), but otherwise it's pretty simple.
I'd say the hardest part about the trail besides it being single lane with minimal turnouts, is the switchback portion. That first switchback is very sharp, like a V, and for 4Runners you have to do a fair amount of turns to get down. Keep in mind you're on a big drop off so if you mess up down you go. On the way up I hit three wheels because there's a big drop off on the inner corner. Panicking there could cause issues.
Buttermilks needless to say is simple and easy. Flat for most of the trail minus areas where water runs causing ruts and leaving rocks. I did this at the end of snowmelt, but during peak in Spring that one water crossing can be over a foot deep.
I'm still learning so maybe down the road these will be nothing to me, or maybe I don't find them as scary as others do.
For what it's worth Laurel Lakes is considered Moderate and Buttermilks Easy in my off-roading book.
Angonemoto
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Thanks for your response. I definitely do not want to get in over my head, nor go alone as I am a total greenhorn. Some of those areas within your videos did give me the willies.
What kind of communication devices were you and your buddy using as he guided you in some spots? I couldn't see any hardware...
What kind of communication devices were you and your buddy using as he guided you in some spots? I couldn't see any hardware...
MaddoxPics
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I did those two trails solo as I'm comfortable with trails like that (though it's still not recommended as you're out in the middle of nowhere with zero cell reception). The video below is one where I was spotted and communicated with. We use HAM radios. We all have the BaoFeng UV-5R.
Angonemoto
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I gotcha. I studied for the license a few weeks back and then realized my wife would need to license too, so we have some walkie talkies instead. I'll go take the exam anyway. Thanks again.
MaddoxPics
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If I’m being honest I don’t have a license.
itsdchz
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:lalala:
Oneluv13T4R
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There's a 5th gen in it..haha @2braveo
Some wheelin with some friends/fellow members past weekend
Some wheelin with some friends/fellow members past weekend
Here is a little video edit of my camping trip last weekend. I'll post up the full trail from start to finish soon.
Courtright Reservoir/Dusy Ershim Trail to Voyager Rock CG
https://youtu.be/jFSlBRqR-L8
Courtright Reservoir/Dusy Ershim Trail to Voyager Rock CG
https://youtu.be/jFSlBRqR-L8
itsdchz
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Thanks buddy. That's cool...missed ya by a week
MaddoxPics
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Excellent. I've been meaning to go around the other side of Courtright. Didn't trust that road in my CR-V though. Even though it's probably painless now with all the trails I've done.
tarouszars
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Here are the videos' my brother made for our latest trip in southern Utah.
westcoastrunner
New member
El Cuervo on the sand dunes in Mexico
Went down to Mexico Puerto Penasco aka Rocky Point this last week and took El Cuervo onto the sand dunes and up competition hill. Had a blast hitting the hills and riding the bowls.
Went down to Mexico Puerto Penasco aka Rocky Point this last week and took El Cuervo onto the sand dunes and up competition hill. Had a blast hitting the hills and riding the bowls.
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