Big Bear Meet,Greet and Wheel May 19th and 20th

[teotwaki]

This is the official planning thread for the 2007 SoCal Meet and Greet
(I will update this first post and the second with details as things develop)

Saturday morning we will meet at the Discovery Center parking lot at 9 AM. You must have the "Adventure Tax", I mean Adventure Pass in your posession.

http://www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com/

Communications:

CB Channel 4 unless otherwise discussed; ham radio and FRS radios are welcome as additional comms channels.

Off Roading:

Saturday

1. Gold Mountain trail 3N69
The Southern entrance off Hwy 18 is N34° 16.418 W116° 49.170.
The Northern entrance off 3N16 is N34° 17.942 W116° 50.232.
Lat/lon format is hddd mm.mmm and WGS84 datum
Go South to North on Gold Mountain, come out of Gold Mountain (3N69) go left on the main road (3N16) a short ways, right on 3N02, possibly go all the way up to the Mohawk Mine (dead end) and have lunch, then back down to do the first moderate piece of John Bull (3N10) and then anyone (like me) could bail out at the 3N32 junction (back down to 3N16) before the more difficult part of John Bull.

If we have lots of time then we can attempt some other trails or take it easy

2. John Bull "mini" from 3N16/3N02 to 3N32, East to West

Sunday:

1. ?

Other Available Trails:

HISTORICAL TRAIL (3N16) - Easy
HOLCOMB CREEK TRAIL (3N93 - 2N06X LOOP) - Moderate
ONYX SUMMIT TRAIL 2N61 T0 2N70) - Moderate
JOHN BULL TRAIL (3N69 TO 3N10) - Difficult
PILOT ROCK/SILVERWOOD LAKE (2N17X) - Difficult
WHITE MOUNTAIN TRAIL (3N17) - Difficult

and here: http://www.socalbroncos.net/bbbb

Camping is available at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/recreation/camping/index.shtml
map:http://www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com/images/campmap.pdf

• Big Pine Flat
7 miles NW of Fawnskin on Forest Road 3N14
Elevation: 6,800 / Spaces: 17 / Water: yes / Spur Length: 30'
Season: May 15th to October 18th /
No Reservations Required.

• Hanna Flat
2-1/2 miles NW of Fawnskin on Forest Road 3N14
Elevation: 7,000 / Spaces: 88/ Water: yes / Spur Length: 40'
Season: May 15th to October 18th /

• Holcomb Valley
4 miles N on 2N09 to 3N16 E (right), continue on 3N16 3/4 mile
Elevation: 7,400 / Spaces: 19 / Water: no / Spur Length: 25'
Season: Year-'round /
No Reservations Required.

• Horse Springs
12 miles NW of Fawnskin on Forest Road 3N14
Elevation: 5,800 / Spaces: 11 / Water: no / Spur Length: 25'
Season: Year-'round (weather permitting) /
No Reservations Required.

• Pine Knot
S on Summit Blvd. to Bristlecone, left 1/4 mile to campground
Elevation: 7,000 / Spaces: 48/ Water: yes / Spur Length: 45'
Season: May 1st to October 17th

• Serrano
N Shore Lane off Hwy. 38, about 2 miles E of Fawnskin
Elevation: 6,800 / Spaces: 132 / Water: yes / Spur Length: 55'
Season: April 1st to November 30th

USFS Rangers' Offices

Arrowhead Ranger District
28104 Hwy. 18
Skyforest, California 92385
Telephone: (909) 337-2444

Big Bear Ranger District
P.O. Box 290
Fawnskin, California 92333
Telephone: (909) 866-3437,3438,3439

San Gorgonio Ranger District
34701 Mill Creek Rd.
Mentone, California 92359
Telephone: (909) 794-1123

WEATHER

http://www.hamweather.net/cgi-bin/hw3/hw3.cgi?config=&forecast=zandh&pands=92314

 

[teotwaki]

Roll Call List

I will update this list as folks check in

Saturday:

1. Jim (Teotwaki) 2005 SR5 4WD 4Runner
2. Ian (Wesel123) 2004 V8 4Runner Sport 4wd
3. Erik (Desertbound) 2000 Nissan Xterra
4. Rob (RobTheBrit) Unimog
5. Paul (Roverholic) some sort of Range Rover?
6. Richard (Rmarz) 05 Jeep Rubicon L-J
7. Chris (ujointclothing) '06 E350

Sunday:
1. Rob (RobTheBrit) Unimog
2. Mike (Wanderer) 94 XJ
3. Richard (Rmarz) 05 Jeep Rubicon L-J
4. Chris (ujointclothing) '06 E350
5. Ron (Ronb) Big RED H-1

 

[wesel123]

Count me in for Saturday.

Ian (Wesel123)

 

[DesertBound]

I'm in, though it looks like it will be Saturday only for me (no camping). Looking forward to it!

-Erik

 

[teotwaki]

This list of names is from the poll that showed a preference for the 19th and 20th

Andrew Walcker, awalter, blupaddler, calamaridog, DesertBound, FJ Cruiser, Roverholic, ujointclothing, wesel123, \\'anderer

So far only two have actually responded so let's see who is serious :safari-rig: :rally_guys:

 

[adventureduo]

Im just checking to see if we can go for sure. We have a ton on our plate right now. I don't want to commit then look like a tool when i have to say... 'we cant go now'.

 

[ujoint]

I don't see any reason to not be there! I'm sure I'll be ready for a little dirt by then.

 

[teotwaki]

Sounds good. Folks keep checking in as your situations firm up.

Right now I am only planning on Saturday with Gold Mountain and similar runs. I have no experience with John Bull and no desire to risk carnage figuring things out there. :yikes:

 

[awalter]

As of today, I am unable to commit.

 

[\\'anderer]

I work Sat. but will be there Sunday. I want to try to arrive late Sat. night.

Ujointclothing, are you bringing Vanaconda?

 

[blupaddler]

I now have family plans on that Saturday.
So, I am on the, more than likely not going to make it scenario. Sorry.
I really wanted to go.

If I can, I'll try and make it up for Saturday evening and Sunday.

 

[goodtimes]

There are some fun trails up there. It was one of my favorite areas to go when I lived in LA.

If you are familiar with the area, please disregard the following.

Gold MTN is a fun trail, but pretty short. We used to run Gold Mountain as a warm up to John Bull, followed by Holcom Creek and Dishpan Springs....all 4 trails as a day trip from Los Angeles. Granted, it made for a long day. If you are only planning on Gold Mountain for a entire day, I suggest you look into some of the hiking/biking opportunities in the area, as you will have some time left in the day. When the weather is nice, and the ya-hoos are not out tearing things up...Big Bear is a great area.

 

[Robthebrit]

It looks like I am free that weekend so put me down. I'll bring one of the Unimogs, either bring the camper or the double cab.

Rob

 

[teotwaki]

There are some fun trails up there. It was one of my favorite areas to go when I lived in LA.

If you are familiar with the area, please disregard the following.

Gold MTN is a fun trail, but pretty short. We used to run Gold Mountain as a warm up to John Bull, followed by Holcom Creek and Dishpan Springs....all 4 trails as a day trip from Los Angeles. Granted, it made for a long day. If you are only planning on Gold Mountain for a entire day, I suggest you look into some of the hiking/biking opportunities in the area, as you will have some time left in the day. When the weather is nice, and the ya-hoos are not out tearing things up...Big Bear is a great area.

I have been on Gold Mountain twice but have bypassed the boulder garden at the top.The second time we had a shiny new modified FJC get stuck and then puncture a tire on one of the uphill rock shelves. It took forever to get it out of the way and swap the tire. Nothing against the driver but it made for a long day.

I am all for going on more than one trail but I have no idea of the capabilities of other rigs and drivers (and I voluntarily have become the sole coordinator for this M & G:smiley_drive: ). As long as we have fun getting together that is all that counts. Hopefully we'll get to more areas even if only a scenic run up to a fire lookout tower.

Good point on the yahoos being there so we'll have to plan to be flexible and have multiple choice trail runs.

 

[DesertBound]

I'll bring one of the Unimogs, either bring the camper or the double cab.

Never seen a Mog up close, can't wait to check out your rig! :jumping: