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Archived Newsletter |
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September 2001
For more trip information, see TRIPS. |
CONTENTS |
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TRIP REPORT BIG BEAR THE HARD WAY We met at the McDonalds parking lot at Arrowhead Village at 9:00 am and departed by 9:10 since everyone was there. We made our way to Hook Creek Road with only one U-turn before we hit dirt and aired down. A word of warning, watch those speed bumps, they’re not painted and are very high! We crossed Deep Creek (3N94) with only a few minutes delay while Dave went the "HARD WAY", (can you believe that?). We had to throw a few rocks to get up over a boulder. Everyone else made a wide left and a quick right and made it unscathed. We then headed off to Dish Pan Springs. Slight delay due to a woman downed from a murdercycle mishap. She had injured her ankle so Steve gave her a ride to the top of Dish Pan Springs. There was a group of four vehicles ahead of us, and one they were through, we went up without incident. YEAH!!!! Dave paid back the rock for his little mishap (was it really the rock’s fault? Ed.) a few years ago! Up and over, no problem! Richard was the pilot of Sherman’s Jeep and he did a great job! We then headed off to Crab Flats and on to 3N16 to 3N93. The first rock garden was nice, but uneventful. Everyone handled it well. At the second rock garden, in the middle, we had a little wait for 2 CJ’s coming out. We went through without incident (superior driving skills!) Oh yeah, Sherman did mention the nice pinstriping that Richard put on his Jeep. We stopped and ate lunch at the Beaver ponds around 12:30. After lunch we were of to John Bull. At the intersection just beyond the Beaver Ponds we went left then took a right on 3N08 to 3N16, where we made a right, then a left onto 3N10, which is John Bull. Going up J.B. we had another delay, there were approximately 11 Toyota Tacoma pick-ups and 4 Jeeps going the other way. Then we continued on and had to pull over for 2 Suzuki’s just before the sharp turn. We continued on J.B. to where it hooked up to 3N16 again. We then went left and picked up 3N69, Gold Mountain. It was 3:30 now and the Wallace clan had enough and departed for home. Up over Gold Mtn., no problems. We saw a new section 3N69A but didn’t take this route since it was getting a little late and we thought we would save a little something for the next trip to Gold Mountain. We think it must be the new rough part that we read about in In-Gear. Overall it was a great run without any problems, just out having FUN IN THE SUN! Along for the fun were: Steve and Michelle Frank, Sherman Wallace with his son Richard and grandson Kevin, and the fearless leaders Dave & Grace Trice.
THE OPEN HOUSE THAT WASN’T Ric Schaffer of Fun In The Sun Fourwheelers passed on an e-mail he received from Michael Thomas of Dirt First. It made sense to me so I made plans to be sure and be there to support the effort, and I'm glad I did! Corva was a big part of the group as was A.S.A., (American Sand Association). The Mountain Coalition made up of a group of local citizens of the San Jacinto area. They have an email address jericho777@earthlink.net as well as a PO address so you can send a donation to help them, help you! Mountain Coalition, PO Box 65, Mountain Center, CA 92561 I left home at 3:00am Saturday to make sure of getting to Idyllwild on time for the activities. Two hours later I was in town looking for the place indicated, and people there to do the "thing." The place was dead and, after driving in many circles, I had breakfast at The Red Kettle and parked in a shady spot on the main highway, at fern canyon road. About 8:00am a huge Ford pick-up pulled up beside me and I said, "hell, I don't know where they are!" The two guys grinned and said they had been looking too, but could find no one anywhere. Soon they came back and told me they had found a group parked in front of the elementary school south of town. So I went with them and I didn't get parked before they were tying ribbons on my antenna and making signs, getting ready to go!! A large group of people came from a place south of the Hemet Lake Campground. When they arrived we fell in place and made our way to where the bio nuts were supposed to be having their "grand opening/open house" affair. Not one of the bio people showed up! They had gotten word, and canceled not only their open house, but we heard they took everything off their website too! We spent about an hour and a half at the bio site, handing out info leaflets and, in general, arousing the neighborhood interest. Then we moved down into the main part of town and got the attention of a lot of people. Last thing was a walking march around the block with all kinds of restaurants and people having brunch. I might add....parking was a problem while we were in town! After that, the group loaded up and headed for the site south of Hemet Lake for one fabulous feed. Almost as good as a FITS pot-luck!!! When I was walking around, talking with people, I tried to get an idea of how many showed up to participate. I was impressed with the diversity of the recreational and property interests that were represented. Two folks were riding some really nice horses and one guy had the best looking mule I ever saw! (Jim knows mules. -ed) Of about 200 people there, there were lots of local business and ranch owners, many sand buggy and quad sport people, hikers, campers, one woman in a wheelchair, mountain bikers as well as a few motorcycle guys. Everyone of whom you would have no trouble calling them "friend," as I found them all very interested in working together against the environmentalists, for the benefit of the environment. Everyone there had clear knowledge of the fact that common sense is the key factor in saving the lands and parks from destruction. One of the speakers at the meeting ground south of Hemet Lake, was one of the local ranchers. He was adamant about all sports and about land owners all getting together in this fight against the extremist environmental policies that are actually getting people killed. He sighted the four kids killed in Washington, as the result of firefighters inability to use water out of a nearby river because it had salmon in it. They had to get water from a distant source and because it took longer to get there and back, the kids burned to death. My son, Mike is leading a group of 20 regular Army into the firefight and I hope he doesn't run into that kind of stupidity!! There were only 3 Jeeps there, and I was the only one with club affiliation. One Jeep was built to the max, and the other new TJ was owned by a really nice couple from the San Diego area (not far from retirement) who had just discovered the great outdoors. Needless to say, I talked to them about getting associated with a club. One of the more impressive people there was Gary Scott, a 50-something man who had been in firefighting all his life. Most of what was being said there was news to him! He jumped into this fight with both feet, talking to people and making plans. He is in charge of the Mountain Disaster Preparedness Authority there in Idyllwild and was telling us about some of the really stupid things he had found when he took over. A really respected little old gal by the name of Lois Mitchell, has made the Adventure Pass her own personal battle. She needed help to get on the flat-bed and help to hold the microphone, but when she spoke, people listened. She claims to have definite proof that Michael Isner and the Disney Corporation is behind the Adventure Pass fiasco as well as the reorganizing of Yosemite National Park. According to her, they apparently bought themselves some congressmen and senators. Anyway folks, the hammer has struck the anvil, and things are starting to heat up! Right now apathy is our worst enemy.
OUR KIND OF PEOPLE I recently read that when Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid broke up they retained joint custody of their 2000 Jeep Cherokee. They found out that it’s hard to part with a Jeep!
NEW MEMBERS We would like to welcome our newest members Donald and Becky Clevenger and their soon-to-be-born son. They have been on a number of runs, first as guests, then they bought one of Dennis Sullivan’s Jeeps and have been on the required number of runs with it. They have missed a few runs since Becky became "with child," but are planning on making up for it when they can.
BETTY BAYS Betty Bays had a heart attach and was in the hospital for about 10 days. She is now home and recovering. We all send her our best wishes, and hope to see her out soon.
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