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Archived Newsletter |
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August 2001
For more trip information, see TRIPS. |
CONTENTS |
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TRIP REPORT BIG BEAR IN MODERATION First of all I'd like to say, the run turned out to be a very easy run, except for one moderate challenge. The plan was to try and string together a series of trails rated as "more difficult." Well, I found out that Big Bear has two kinds trails, easy and hard. There just isn't anything that I could find that I would consider "more difficult." To make the pre-run more interesting, and to get some seat time on my new dirt bile, I decided to use it. I was joined by my brother-in-law Mike and his friend Tim. Everything was going well until we headed up 3N12 and Tim threw his chain for the second time, this time it jammed into the front sprocket. We tried to fix it, but didn't have the right tools, so we towed him back to 3N14, which gets more traffic, and found another biker who had the right tools. After a little cussing, the bike was back on the road, so we headed back to camp. It had rained hard a couple of days before and we were surprised how much it had dried out. While we were working on the bike, thunder was sounding an around us, Oh great! Now we're going to get soaked. As luck would have it, it never did rain. Since we were running late, we never did get to check out the harder part of the run. On the day of the run, we met at City Creek Forestry Service station. It's a nice place to meet, large parking area and port-a-potties! We left there, 7 vehicles in number, and headed to Green Valley, where we would pick up the Andersons. At the intersection of Green Valley Road and 3N16, we aired down and made ready. At about 10:00, we were ready and started down 3N16 to 2N54 to 2N13. By 11:30 we reached the Butler Peak fire lookout just in time for a leisurely lunch and hike up to the lookout. It was really clear and from the top and we had a really good view. From the peak we headed back down 2N13 until we got to 3N14, where we went west and picked up the little more challenging 3N08, across 3N14 from the start of 3N93. 3N08 proved to be a little bit narrower, a few steeper, rockier climbs and it had one dry waterfall that got the attention of a couple of "newbies," one of them being Matt, my daughter's boyfriend, driving my Ranger. He finally got a chance to see what the vehicle is easily capable of. This time instead of staying on 3N08, I decided to try a trail that I had never been on, 3N89, and it proved to be a nice little trail that got us to 3N16 sooner than 3108 would have. We went a couple of miles on 3N16 and picked up 3N12 back to 3N14 and back to 2N13, which we went over in the morning. Traveling back on 3N12, I had the most exciting event of the run. A guy on a motorcycle almost became a hood ornament, stopping just inches from my front bumper. Luckily, I saw him coming and stopped. I think I saw him go up the road a ways stop, and go into the woods to shake out his drawers! His buddies who were following him were a ways behind and, expecting them, I made sure they could see me. We made the general store at Green Valley Lake at 3:15, and made a run on their ice cream. From there we aired up and headed home. Members were: Sherman Wallace with his son Bill and family, Bob & Pat Matula, Jay, Laune and Kevin Anderson, Brad Qtuck with his daughter Sara (I know I spelled it wrong) on her first off road trip at age 2. She had a ball and had to tell her grandma all about it when she got home (as well as a 2 year old can). Bob Day and Sally were also along, as well as my wife Pat! Guests were: Tim Hess & Matt, sorry, I forgot your last name, and my daughter Stacey and her boy friend, Man Brillinger, using my Ranger. Stacey even took a short turn at driving!
MEETING/HOT DOG ROAST I would like to thank Dave Felando for putting together a good, last minute hot dog roast/potluck at our last month's meeting. I'm sure no one went away hungry, I know I didn't!
KENNEDY MEADOWS it's getting to be that time again for Rick Schaffer's annual Labor Day (September 13) Kennedy Meadows run. Kennedy Meadows is a really pretty area at about 8000' elevation with many great Jeep and bile trails. It is northwest of Ridgecrest off of Hwy 395. Be forewarned, if you go and are planning on towing a vehicle, disconnect and drive both vehicles up 9-Mile Road. It's steep and twisty. It's first and second gear coming down! Once you get on Kennedy Meadows Road, there is one hill that had my motorhome going 3 mph in first gear! We'll be staying at the Troy meadows overflow campground (free), and will be doing some moderate runs in the area. Please call Rick Schaffer at (562)427-6093 if you are going, or would like more details.
CALICO CALLS It's been a while since we've had a run to Calico, but it you want to visit it and do a little work to help improve the area, they are having a work party in conjunction with National Public Lands Day on September 28th. Meet at the entrance of Mule Canyon. See flyer for more details. I heard that they had a fire at the Ghost town and a number of the buildings were badly burned.
TECH TIP The Bear Run produced some "Desert Pin Stripes" (forest Pin striping?) on my Ranger, mostly on the passenger side (where else?). Since this is my "disco" truck (disco to work, disco to the store ...), I thought I would try and get rid of them. So I picked up a tube of Blue Coral Scratch Remover. It actually did a good job of getting rid of most of the little scratches, and the big ones are much less noticeable. I guess my next job is to use it on the Jeep - could be an all day job!
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