Strawberry Pass Aug. 1
Bit curious how your Strawberry run go...
Sorry for the late response; been forgetting to read the forums. Now that Strawberry Pass is likely burnt and closed again, I'll fill you in how my trip went on 8/1/2021.
I didn't have any issues. I drive a 4th gen with a 4-5 inch lift on 32s and didn't have any armor at the time. There are a couple obstacles, but it is mostly just a dirt road, some with ruts. Going up the obstacles, I had to be careful with my line. I touched my side steps a few times but didn't put enough weight on them to do any damage.
I ended up going solo, but I tend to run faster than others, so I caught up with a family of 4 rigs (FJ, 5th gen, 3rd gen, and a Sequoia). They ranged from mildly built to stock with drivers of minimal to good ability. No one had to winch, but there was some momentum and bashing to get over a few of the rocks. Its not how I drive, but nothing was damaged, so I guess it worked.
We did encounter a stock Jeep CJ7 that was hung up on the worst obstacle (closest spot to the pass). He was coming down from the pass as we were going up it. The driver chose a poor line and slipped down to high center himself. He was trying to winch set to a rock, but was just moving the winch rock. When we set the winch to one of the Toyotas, he freed up but then got stuck again. Winches are good; he winched off the second time and was clear. I turned on my radio and we got to the same channel so if he ran into further problems, he could let me know and I was going to turn back and help. He never called, so I'm guessing he chose better lines.
After we all got over that last obstacle, we drove to the pass and stopped for lunch.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191884721@N02/51797652304/in/datetaken/" title="1.Poser Shot"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51797652304_84f49e00d7_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="1.Poser Shot"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Poser shot at the top of the pass.
- YouTube I put together a quick video.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191884721@N02/51797652149/in/datetaken/" title="2.Lunch time"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51797652149_8c9ebd836a_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="2.Lunch time"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Lunch with a view to the south. If you know where to look, you can see the straight line of Hwy 88 coming down the exposed pass and the western edge of Kirkwood Valley.
I hiked down the motorcycle trail a little and really enjoyed the view everywhere.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191884721@N02/51796336672/in/datetaken/" title="3.North view"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51796336672_f0a7647e87_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="3.North view"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Looking north from down the motorcycle trail a bit.
From there down to Hwy 88 is just a dirt road. I pulled over at Caples Lake and floated around a while in a lifejacket with a beer. It was a great day!
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/191884721@N02/51798016145/in/datetaken/" title="4.Relaxing"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51798016145_b450ccbbdb_z.jpg" width="640" height="481" alt="4.Relaxing"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This is how to relax!