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07/12-13/08 - This was a run to the beautiful Sequoia and Inyo National Forests to run Sherman Pass and then go up to Monache Meadows. In July and August of 2002 the McNalley fire swept through parts of the Sherman Pass area, devastating the trees but the ground plants have been able to thrive. Sherman Pass is then still beautiful, and more so once out of the burn area. The Monache Meadows are truly unique and wonderful to see and enjoy along the South Fork of the Kern River.

The team met at McNally's Fairview Lodge & Steak House just north of Kernville and then headed up to Sherman Pass. They took the trail through the burn area and into the forest, where the trails can be a little confusing but all basically go to the same place. The team learned this thanks to a trailboss famous for his u-turns who took them on them all! But, all were  fun, a few rocks, a lot of beauty and soon enough they arrived at the end and headed to Blackrock.

 

At Blackrock Ranger Station the team picked up fire permits for their stoves, books and souvenirs and ate lunch. Relaxing at the picnic tables in the shade in the mountain air was nice but the team came to run trails!

So, after lunch it was off to Monache Meadows, an easy but very scenic route up into Inyo National Forest. It was here the team camped along the South Fork of the Kern River, which was cool and refreshing! That night a light rain fell as tired wheelers drifted off to a well deserved sleep. In the morning the team woke up and broke camp to head back down through the meadows and to Blackrock. Now on pavement, the team aired up and headed home!

One of the best features of this trip was that in July it is very hot in most of Southern California but up in the mountains, in the clean air, it was be cool and beautiful!  A wonderful trip with a great team!

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06/08/08 - The Southern California Tacoma Club (SCTC) visited San Bernardino National Forest for a weekend from June 6 to June 8, 2008. There were two runs from which to choose and a lot of fun!  Saturday started with a Club Meeting followed by a Drivers Meeting, then hit the trails. One group headed over to Dishpan Springs and the other to Gold Mountain.

The Forest Service indicated that they preferred if clubs use a regular campground this year so Serrano, the campground just north of the lake, was used rather than camp back in the forest.  With the fires last year they want people to be very careful and not add to their burden of work. Serrano was fine with showers and all, so we were a far more civilized group this time!

 

The Dishpan Springs group headed to the trailhead via Highway 18, starting on the east end of the trail and climbing up.. The primary challenge of this trail is the waterfall, otherwise this trail is simple and short. The waterfall is tricky and has two primary lines thru it.  Going to the left of the fall is a bypass of sorts, but is still moderately difficult. The real fun and challenge here is to go up the face of the falls! If one makes that, there is more in store for you at the top as one will have to negotiate some off camber twist 'em ups! Fun fun fun!

The group had to wait for a group coming down the fall, and it always seems like forever but they were then spectators as the SCTC group headed into the challenge ahead. Each made it up without trouble, putting on a good show for the audience and then headed to the end of the trail and lunch.

After lunch the group decided to head for the John Bull. With the Fires and trail closures, the group ended up going back around Highway 18. The group started the John Bull trail on the west end and enjoyed a tough initial climb up and thru some good sized rocks.  Every other group seen that day were coming down (opposite direction). In fact, some Jeeper's right before the initial climb they had just come down voiced that they had doubts that the Tacomas could make that climb. One can only wonder  what they thought as they saw the last pair of SCTC tail lights crest over the top. Anyhow there was a lot of bangin' and clankin' going on most of the day but the group had no mechanical issues and carnage was minimal.

The other group headed to Gold Mountain and after the Hemet Jeep Club let the little SCTC group pass (thank you), not far up, one rig lost a brake line, this was then replaced and everything cleaned up.  The group then relaxed in some shade, ate lunch, told stories and watched the Hemet Jeep Club and a myriad of other group pass.  After the SCTC group got going again a rig popped a tire. The group watched the owner fix that, told jokes and then completed Gold Mountain.

Because White Mountain, the original plan, was closed the group headed down Jacoby Canyon, which was very pretty and had a few fun spots. At the end the group turned around and went back up it, headed back to Doble, then to Holcomb Valley and then back to camp.  It was a fun, very relaxing time in the forest with great folks!

Both groups then met in camp with some heading into Big Bear together to grab a bite to eat and a lot of laughs, returning to camp to relax and then sleep. In the morning everyone packed up and headed home, and other successful Southern California Tacoma Club event!

Pictures of the Dishpan/John Bull Run

Pictures of the Gold/Jacoby Run

04/14/08 - Our group arrived in Mule Canyon at about 830 AM and aired down, eager to hit the trails. With me in the lead and Dennis at the tail we quickly got going.  It was a beautiful day to be out there, perfect weather, not a cloud in the sky and not a rig on the trail but us! The first trail we hit was Odessa Canyon. Everything was going well and we were having a great time and then the sidewall of my BFG decided it needed a half inch gash in the sidewall. The team got it jacked up, changed the tire and then were on our way again.

We made it through the rest of the canyon and up to the spot that tips you and the wall and everyone did great with just one minor crack in a taillight to show for it. After we got to the top we went up to the Bismarck Mine to have lunch in a cool,  shady tunnel and relax.  After a long lunch and repose we decided to explore the mines more after we ran Dorran since there was a crowd of Jeeps that came up.

On our way up Dorran we encountered the first small problem,  As Jose was trying to get up an obstacle he hit the rear drive shaft on a rock and twisted it open like a tin can. So now we had a front wheel drive 4runner to get through the rest of the trail and up the last waterfall. After Jose got the pieces of what is now scrap unbolted from the pinion flange, I backed my truck up and the strapping began. I went up the waterfall first and got staged for the pull. Then with the help of about 60' of strap we managed to drag his rig up.  Up next was Juan in his open/open Taco.  I was up the trail getting the runner unstrapped and I came back to find Juan taking an interesting line. Suddenly he had only one tire spinning. That is when I saw some grease on the front tire, bye bye CV.  So I backed up and strap this rig up the falls. Juan jacked up his truck and pulled the CV apart. He decided to proceed in 2wd.

After all of that we headed up to the Bismark Mine again to relax some more. We hung out in the mine and outside one of the openings to the shafts to enjoy the cool air.  Then we just hung out to relax, watch the sunset and ended up staying there for hours. Everyone but Dennis wanted to take his truck out and break something so he’d fit into the group more, then Juan spied a small scratch and a dent on his truck’s rear quarter panel and that was deemed good enough. Around 9 pm we headed back down Phillips Loop and out Mule Canyon to air up and get on the road. We all had a great time and were disappointed we couldn’t camp. That is the last time we make that mistake but we’ll be back to enjoy Calico again, and often! 

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