4runner_kid
Senior Member
Sounds like a normal day on the trail to me.
Nor Cal Wheeling, Camping and BS - 2018
- Thread starter j0shu@
- Start date
Sounds like a normal day on the trail to me.
theoutbackdream
New member
Yea, we were very fortunate to come across the Jeepers... without them, i'm sure we would've been there overnight...
True.... LOL
theoutbackdream
New member
Ehhh.... Maybe im just a b*tch then.. LOL
Bodie the Dog
Banned
Gates opening this week
Gates are opening this week at various high-altitude locations in the Lake Tahoe basin. These roads are rarely open, due to fawning season and snow, so now is a brief (I hope) opportunity to get in some epic views and easy summit hikes. Tinkers Knob can be a 6 hour hike most of the year, or 45 minutes now, for example.
Newly open gates can be found throughout, here's a link:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/...000000000000&ttype=detail&cid=STELPRDB5291839
I'll be going out myself, this week, if anyone wants to tag along.
(on edit) LOL, just read about the fun on Fordyce. Sorry I missed the earlier posts or I might have warned you. Next time after Signal, go out to Mossy Pond, or try to find a path down from Lola Montez to I80. Reasonably difficult 4l0 without so many granite boulders and steps. Here is a link to the local FB 4x4 recovery page. There are some very helpful people who really like to do recoveries: https://www.facebook.com/groups/412330832456303/?ref=bookmarks
Gates are opening this week at various high-altitude locations in the Lake Tahoe basin. These roads are rarely open, due to fawning season and snow, so now is a brief (I hope) opportunity to get in some epic views and easy summit hikes. Tinkers Knob can be a 6 hour hike most of the year, or 45 minutes now, for example.
Newly open gates can be found throughout, here's a link:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/...000000000000&ttype=detail&cid=STELPRDB5291839
I'll be going out myself, this week, if anyone wants to tag along.
(on edit) LOL, just read about the fun on Fordyce. Sorry I missed the earlier posts or I might have warned you. Next time after Signal, go out to Mossy Pond, or try to find a path down from Lola Montez to I80. Reasonably difficult 4l0 without so many granite boulders and steps. Here is a link to the local FB 4x4 recovery page. There are some very helpful people who really like to do recoveries: https://www.facebook.com/groups/412330832456303/?ref=bookmarks
Last edited:
4Reak Show
New member
I'm always INTERESTED but being able to swing it is another story. I'm gonna see what all our plans are for TG weekend. I want to say my Saturday is a floating free day... If I had a vote it would be for whichever trail requires the least travel time. Which looks like Strawberry but Im not familiar with any of them. Probably too cold for an over-nighter I'd imagine so this would be a single day trip correct?
Edit: just confirmed plans for that weekend include staying over at inlaws Friday night in Cameron park, meaning I can bring my offroad rig up there and leave Saturday morning. So it's a very real possibility if we get serious. How far are you from Bass Lake Road? That's the inlaws exit.
Last edited:
RDOOGZ89
New member
If we (wife and kids) don't have to go down to LA that weekend I'm interested. Although I want no part of the trail difficulty from the Sunday shenanigans.
Looks like I dodged a bullet by getting hammered with my neighbor and waking up late
I'm sure I would be crying over a repair bill right now too.
rochmpr
Senior Member
Pretty sure I mentioned Fordyce is no joke. So much so, I said count me out to run that trail. It makes the Rubicon look fairly tame.
Glad you all made it out at least safely. Look forward to reading this write-up!
- Always go prepared for the trail you are going to run.
- When in doubt, get out and walk sections of the trail to be certain you can make it and pick turn around points.
- Never be afraid to admit defeat and turn around, even in a group.
- Remember, if you drove your truck there, you need to drive it home, it's not worth being stupid.
- Breaking crap costs money, only push it as far as you can afford.
Glad you all made it out at least safely. Look forward to reading this write-up!
Last edited:
RDOOGZ89
New member
I agree, I always stop and walk parts of a trail if I have never run it before.
I just got around to watching the videos, that trail looks crazier than anything I've ever seen in person.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
Or you care about your rig more then me. Haha
theoutbackdream
New member
As much b*tching as i've done, I've gotten over the fact of how much damage has occurred, and just happy we got out in one piece... well missing a few pieces, but for the most part, one piece. And i'll take whatever shit you want to give me for being that stupid. :rofl:
Honestly, we got up driveline hill, and came up to the split, Eagle lakes on the left, and Meadow Lake on the right. We took Meadow Lake since we thought it was just another innocent trail, that was just 10 miles long.. Boy were we mistaken.. We got about 6miles+ in, and some jeepers caught up to us. They were shocked that [MENTION=173212]dietsoap[/MENTION] got there on 35's, but were even more surprised that I got to where we were on 33's. At that point they explained to us that we were on Fordyce, and thats when it struck us... We didn't think we were on Fordyce up until that point, and I didn't have any issues getting to that point. They informed us that the way forward was closer, and easier than turning back, so we took their word for it. Boy were we mistaken...
We carried forward, and it was easy up until a point, where we were way closer to the exit point, past winch hill one. We figured it'd just be smart to just carry on since we were informed that if we could get to Winch hill 1, and take the by pass, it'll be easy to get to that exit point.
I think the last 3 miles took the longest, because there was constant winching to get up obstacles, and with [MENTION=173212]dietsoap[/MENTION] CV blown, we needed to pull him/winch him up every obstacle. Throw in the fact that we did get out and walk practically every section and it being dark, it just made that last 3 miles way longer than it should've. I've damaged/broken quite a few things, but i'm more than happy to foot the bill even if it won't be cheap. At the end of the day, I'll admit, I was freaking out and scared we wouldn't make it out before the sun fell. But looking back, that experience was something to reflect upon, and was one hell of a fun trail. Although I won't be going back, any time soon as I have nightmares of that place, I'll probably stumble across that split and reflect back at that bittersweet experience.
And hey, on the bright side... At least I know the limits of the rig are way past my personal limits. Also, thank god for public transportation! :lmao:
Last edited:
I think I may have more damage, it looks like my front LCA is bent up but I"ll find out later once I drop it off at the shop to get an alignment done.
I will agree that we had no idea what were getting into and our faults for not actually planning out the routes ahead of time. I will say for what we have I think did fairly well and be able to "drive" home on the beating our rigs took is god send in itself. I'm eternally grateful for the jeep guys because I have no clue as to what we would done. Well we would of pushed through until we no longer can but still.
This for sure has left a bad taste of wheeling in mouth but I do know it's only for now. I legit have bad dreams being on that trail and possibly being stuck. At least now we know right! [MENTION=157695]theoutbackdream[/MENTION].
Overall experience, fun but shitty. I say I'm done with wheeling for awhile, at the same time I feel like If I make the repairs and just get out there (NOT FORDYCE) I'll start to enjoy it again.
I will agree that we had no idea what were getting into and our faults for not actually planning out the routes ahead of time. I will say for what we have I think did fairly well and be able to "drive" home on the beating our rigs took is god send in itself. I'm eternally grateful for the jeep guys because I have no clue as to what we would done. Well we would of pushed through until we no longer can but still.
This for sure has left a bad taste of wheeling in mouth but I do know it's only for now. I legit have bad dreams being on that trail and possibly being stuck. At least now we know right! [MENTION=157695]theoutbackdream[/MENTION].
Overall experience, fun but shitty. I say I'm done with wheeling for awhile, at the same time I feel like If I make the repairs and just get out there (NOT FORDYCE) I'll start to enjoy it again.
Last edited:
SilverTEP
New member
Bald Mountain OHV with the Tacos was fun. There also was damage as half of the trail is granite. I’ve slightly bent my rear lower control arm, I think it came from dropping down a steep step. More scrapes and dents on my front armor.
The trail has a few harder optional obstacles. I’m not sure how stock rigs made it up, but they did. I’m sure they banged up their underside.
The drive there is super long and a day trip is not doable. Also I think the first night the temp dropped to 15. Fully clothed, 15 degree bag, fleece bag liner and I was still cold inside my rig.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The trail has a few harder optional obstacles. I’m not sure how stock rigs made it up, but they did. I’m sure they banged up their underside.
The drive there is super long and a day trip is not doable. Also I think the first night the temp dropped to 15. Fully clothed, 15 degree bag, fleece bag liner and I was still cold inside my rig.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Folsom4Rnr
New member
Sounds good - hope you can make it out... but I totally understand its a holiday weekend, so Im not expecting too much...
yeah ... Im always INTERESTED too ... but life... :lmao:Agreed on lowest possible travel time ... Strawberry is reasonably close, as is Pardoe. And, no, Im not planning on spending the night out there ... have to be home for family stuff Sunday.
Cameron Park is really close to me... Im off the last exit in Folsom ... so a couple miles from Bass Lake Road ... would be a super close meet up.
Cool ... I'll keep this thread updated.
And agreed ... I want no part of that level of difficulty either... My ride is my DD (35 mi one way to work) so I cant have that kind of carnage.
MarkamisPrime
New member
Bald Mountain OHV with the Tacos was fun. There also was damage as half of the trail is granite. I’ve slightly bent my rear lower control arm, I think it came from dropping down a steep step. More scrapes and dents on my front armor.
The trail has a few harder optional obstacles. I’m not sure how stock rigs made it up, but they did. I’m sure they banged up their underside.
The drive there is super long and a day trip is not doable. Also I think the first night the temp dropped to 15. Fully clothed, 15 degree bag, fleece bag liner and I was still cold inside my rig.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You didn’t get any pictures of me almost flopping? [emoji23][emoji1787]
That’s obstacle was awesome but boy was I sweating on that first attempt
My cousins taco is 100% stock and without his locker and crawl control he would have had a lot more than just some scraps on his skids.
SilverTEP
New member
Sorry man, I know there were some people filming and taking a ton of pics when we were doing the obstacles. Hopefully, it will get posted on TW. But damn was I impressed with your rig, also 2beersplease made it look way too easy.
I would have done it, but I need bumpers, after trying it for a bit my plastic bumper was touching the rock and it wouldn't clear it.
MarkamisPrime
New member
Yeah he did and that’s what made me try it.
Once you get the right line it looks way easier than it really is.
My next set of tires I’m definitely doing KM3s
KO2s are excellent but don’t give the grip you need climbing bigger obstacles like that one.
I was surprised my bumpers cleared honestly
And if I wouldn’t of had my spare down below I would of had more clearance. My rig impressed me a lot that trip.
I also went up that bigass boulder the land cruiser went up earlier in the trail.
4Reak Show
New member
Agreed on lowest possible travel time ... Strawberry is reasonably close, as is Pardoe. And, no, Im not planning on spending the night out there ... have to be home for family stuff Sunday.
Cameron Park is really close to me... Im off the last exit in Folsom ... so a couple miles from Bass Lake Road ... would be a super close meet up.
Well shit, lets pencil it in then. I vote for a super early departure since our daylight is very limited this time of year. I could leave the inlaws by 6 or 7 am and we could meet up and then be near the trailhead by what, like 9 or earlier? That would be a damn good start time. I feel confident we could tackle Strawberry. My buddy at work (solid axle 2nd gen) says "that's the trail I take my IFS buddies" meaning it should be able to be handled with relative ease haha.
Bodie the Dog
Banned
creek crossings
Did you use the bypass on Driveline?
Did you plan this trip for low water, or just get lucky? Looks like you went thru during ultra-low flows. If they had done a release, you really might have been screwed.
Thanks for the trip writeup.
Did you use the bypass on Driveline?
Did you plan this trip for low water, or just get lucky? Looks like you went thru during ultra-low flows. If they had done a release, you really might have been screwed.
Thanks for the trip writeup.
Attachments
SilverTEP
New member
I did Strawberry a month or two back with a Jeep buddy. It's fairly easy except 2 parts where boulders block the trail. I used my skid on the first one, second obstacles I took the wrong line and squished my gas tank skid. I would have been fine if I was a bit to the right. Lesson learned don't use the line of a Jeep Rubicon on 35s and unlocking sways.
I recommend to take it from the 88 entrance and go back home on the 50. The obstacles are more uphill and you have more control that way. The 50 start gives you a downhill you can slide into a wrong angle. Although I'm game for both.
theoutbackdream
New member
We didn't use the bypass for Driveline hill. We walked up it without any problems.
We did however use the bypass for winch hill 1... because f that..
And no, we didn't plan this trail at ALL. We originally thought of d*cking around Eagle Lakes, since we knew signal peak was a 2 hr max trail. So we messed around, and ended up on Fordyce without even knowing... Meaning, we got REALLY lucky with the low flows.
