Planning a 4x4 trip to do the Cleghorn trail in S. Cal over New Years weekend.

[psykokid]

if you do 2N17X from east to west instead of the usual west to east route its all downhill and not as difficult, all of the really big obstacles have alternate harder/easier lines you can take. We did this a few weeks ago at night with a group of rovers with a couple being stock or mostly stock.. I agree that cleghorn to pilot rock would be a good route. There are a lot of trails in that area you can easily hit up as well if you manage to finish up the cleghorn and pilot rock early.

 

[off-roader]

if you do 2N17X from east to west instead of the usual west to east route its all downhill and not as difficult, all of the really big obstacles have alternate harder/easier lines you can take. We did this a few weeks ago at night with a group of rovers with a couple being stock or mostly stock.. I agree that cleghorn to pilot rock would be a good route. There are a lot of trails in that area you can easily hit up as well if you manage to finish up the cleghorn and pilot rock early.

Thanks for the suggestion but I suspect you didn't read the entire thread or know many of the attendee's. While my rig is certainly ready for harder trails like the Con or Dusy, most of these rigs are stock or near stock w/out armor and for some drivers this will be their first trip off road. I think 2N17X may be a bit more than what they've bargained for.

I will certainly reserve that trail for a future trip with more experienced wheelers though... and will do it from west to east.:ylsmoke:

 

[Cleand]

My wife and I are game for the trip. It will be the first trip in the Monty!

 

[off-roader]

Cleand and the rest of you who are going must send me your cell or home number or it's very likely we can miss each other.

I won't wait for you if I don't have your contact details since I cant confirm with certainty that you'll be there or contact you in case we change anything.

TIA.

 

[RichardT]

Have fun tomorrow guys, my wife has to work, so we won't be making it out, I went today instead with a friend to San Gabriel Canyon near Azusa, we had a blast, I'd driven past several times, but had never had a chance to play, it was great. He got stuck in the mud and had to be winched out by a Disco, it was awesome . I have a new found respect for our Monty's after today

 

[m3at333hp]

Awesome time guys. Thanks to everyone who helped with my noob-ish off-roading. I learnt a lot today! :Wow1:
Hope everyone made it back safe!

-Andrew

 

[mike5]

It was a great run for sure. Great organizing, great spotters, and in general great people. Thanks everyone.

I've put my pictures here.

And a few of them below...

 

[Torquey]

Photos

Good times yesterday.

 

[RichardT]

Those pics are awesome, damn I'm jealous, I wish I could've come, looks like you guys had a lot of fun, in that photo with the tire looking like its on fire, where you guys just resetting the bead on the rim?

 

[mike5]

Yup, the guy did not have a spare...it only took an hour or so...but I think the guys figured it out!

 

[Torquey]

... in that photo with the tire looking like its on fire, where you guys just resetting the bead on the rim?

Just for the record - The broken-down vehicle was not part of our group. He was blocking one of the trails so, we stopped to offer a "not-so-quick" hand. This guy had a 14" wide wheel an the tire was obviously narrower than safely optimal and to add to the challenge... it was an E rated tire. He had the wrong bolt pattern wheel for a spare :exclaim: and didn't have a jack or an emergency brake :yikesas he informed us as we were setting up one of our Hi-Lift jacks) oh, and he was on an incline. Tyson wisely rolled the largest boulder possible in front of the rear tire to mitigate the danger (How's your back today?).

After the compressed CO2 couldn't even bead the tire we tried to widen it with ratcheting tie downs but it was one stout E rated tire with zero sidewall flex. About a 1/2 hour or more later we resorted to the combustion method (only as a last resort). We of course had a fire extinguisher in hand. I was holding it in my right hand, and yes that is me in the photo with the 'Ewwwwwwwwe' look on my face. But what you can't tell by that photo was that reaction was a cat-like reflex because the flame was about 2 times higher a millisecond or so later - which resulted in one of our comrades getting his eyebrows and front hair singed, the other lost all his arm hair up to his shirt. It was quite humorous.

We got the tire beaded, remounted and he was on his way. The guy was extremely grateful and I hope he learned a valuable lesson - be prepared on the trail. (and fire is a great hair remover)

 

[RichardT]

that is me in the photo with the 'Ewwwwwwwwe' look on my face. But what you can't tell by that photo was that reaction was a cat-like reflex because the flame was about 2 times higher a millisecond or so later - which resulted in one of our comrades getting his eyebrows and front hair singed, the other lost all his arm hair up to his shirt. It was quite humorous.

That's awesome :hehe::hehe:

Although I know you guys had a bit of a selfish intention in helping the guy (he was blocking the trail after all) good on ya for actually helping him, and not just pushing him off to one side You never know when you might need some help yourselves right?

 

[off-roader]

...(he was blocking the trail after all)...

Actually he wasn't. We had already gotten around him when we offered them a hand. Kudos to everyone for helping. It was a great group effort and the results show it!

I have pics (of the entire run) and some video of the eyebrow 'raising' re-seating (well, not when they got singed) but I just got home from my friends place in LA. I did catch a cold from my cousin's over xmas and was still suffering from it's effects during the run so frankly I'm thoroughly zonked right now. I probably won't get around to posting them until tomorrow at the earliest.

That's about all for now... need to zzzzz...

 

[mike5]

Since you guys are loving the fire...here's a few more.

 

[off-roader]

Short video from Nick who was the passenger in Steve's Jeep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tdMcKqz-7g