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06/13/09 - SCTC completed an other successful  run, this time to the San Bernardino mountains near Big Bear. We met up in Running Springs, Jeremy as Trail Boss and Dennis as Tailgunner, Monica, Dan and their guest Mark‘s rig, with a ton of passengers as well!, We got off  a little late due to a failed alternator on Monica’s rig, that was parking lot fixed with a new one, and  after a foggy morning we were blessed with sunshine at the trailhead to Dishpan.

We ran Dishpan, rocks and fun, to the main obstacle, the dry fall, where a number of Jeeps and classic Broncos were already backed up, a little mountain traffic jam! So we settled in for lunch and relaxed, taking time to watch the other rigs go up until our turn arrived. When it did the team made it up and had a lot of fun doing so with only some fender carnage to Jeremy’s rig.

After Dishpan  Jeremy took the team east to John Bull, which we ran east to west.  Again at the main obstacle, the steep rocky climb near the top, a small traffic jam let us sit back and enjoy watching a number of rigs  play on the rocks. When our turn came we all got up, one rock at a time but finished the day with no breakdowns or with having to strap anyone!  Also of interest to note is that Monica was not the lone female at the wheel, Dennis’s wife Ruby was at the wheel for the two main obstacles on John Bull!

The team then headed south on the dirt and off the trail at about 11:00 PM for the drive home.  An excellent trip over all on some of the hardest and best trails San Bernardino National Forest has to offer, another success for the Southern California Tacoma Club.  Thank you to all our guests and to our members who participated!

To see the pictures, click here!

May 16, 2009 - A run to the desert ended up being during a slight heat wave, and with all that is going on all around, it ended up with John and I at Jawbone on a Saturday Morning wondering if we might go look at something new today! So, we decided to decide about Pole 19 and the other trails in the EL Pasos later and off we went to Indian Wells because a book said there was some good places to see! 

We first headed up to the Five Fingers area and the terrific views, but there was also a lot of wind!  Being a bit higher we were enjoying the slightly cooler temperatures and decided to work our way up still higher. We explored every trail open on the edge of the Owens Peak Wilderness and then headed up to the Nadeau-Magnolia Mine and the Siebert Cabin.  This areas was last worked as a gold mine in about 1945 and was very interesting to see.

After this we headed over to Inyo-Kern for gas and then into the EL Paso Mountain area via Sheep Springs. We headed into Goler Canyon and then as we ascended out of it, John heard the sound of a broken CV and it was a bit “warm” at this point, nearly 103. So after a snack we begin our exit to the pavement.

We headed over to Randsburg for some cool drinks for the real Soda Fountain in the General Store which we accompanied by some nachos.  It was good to relax in the comparatively cool air in this historic place. Then we headed south and home!

A great trip, though probably the last to the desert for the season. A great area! Good times!

To see the pictures, click here!

04/19/09 - Ramiro and I met up at the McDonalds at the 138 on Saturday morning. The weather was nice, not a cloud in the sky.  We proceeded up the hill and rolled into the El Mirage OHV area at about 930 to meet up with Sal, pay our fees, we set up camp. Then we hit the hills. 

We decided to do the Fearless Folly Trail, which is now dubbed "Old Fearless". It starts out kind of slow with a couple hill climbs and small rocks.  It doesn’t appear that this trail has much traffic throughout the year because it was somewhat overgrown. But we kept on the trial and enjoyed it a lot. Farther into the run it starts getting a little more interesting! We turned around the big rock and that is when the rock section starts.

We headed up the rock garden and gulch and weaved through the hills some more only to find a really steep hill and a very difficult turn for our long wheelbase trucks. It took me a few minutes and about 10 points of a turn but I finally got it. It was also very off camber and there are sharp rocks to roll over on so we had to be careful. We got through it unscathed and went up the next gulch and a very narrow water fall which I was denied! I would definitely like to go back and spend some time getting up that thing!

After the trial run that we headed back to camp to relax and Sal headed home. Later on ramiro and I decided to go night wheeling and play in what little sand is out there. It was a fun trip and we will be going back again next year.