SoCal check in!

[Lutsie]

When are you thinking of doing this burn? I would love to join(just need to finish the necessary protective farkle, skid plate and crash bars).

 

[burnoil]

Farkles! Don't we just love them?

Looks like sometime in February so we can accommodate tubebender's schedule. This will allow more time for others to prepare if they want to go, too.

 

[Lutsie]

Yes, paying for them not so much.

February sounds great. Weekend?

 

[arjayes]

Count me in. I still have some armoring up to do but I'll be ready by February. Looking forward to it!

 

[AlsoRan]

Burnoil, I'm in for the February ride. Sounds like a fun route!

 

[burnoil]

Well, this sounds like it'll be a hoot! Not sure of which weekend yet so I will throw it out there... How about Saturday, February 7th or 21st? That'll leave Valentines day open for any of you yo-yos that celebrate >

Hopefully it'll dry out a bit by then. I am assuming some slop is up there right now. There are some fairly rocky sections, but no big boulders or anything crazy. You should have something that can take abuse. I run K60s with no issues. I might have some helmet cam video if I can find it.

 

[burnoil]

I think I posted this before at some point, but here it is again. Some pieced together footage of the route I did in Jan 2014.

Cactus Flats 1-25-2014: http://youtu.be/ukkn1ZdE3oE

 

[Lutsie]

Great video. I vote the weekend of the 21st.

Is this do-able on the stock battle wings?

How long is this length wise and time wise?

 

[arjayes]

::026:: for the 21st.

 

[Cali Rider]

I'm in for the 21st.

 

[burnoil]

Great video. I vote the weekend of the 21st.

Is this do-able on the stock battle wings?

How long is this length wise and time wise?

With some stops along the way and slower parts to pick through the rocks I would say it took about 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Mileage? about 35 miles for this trail.


Stock Battle Wings. A good tire, but not sure those would be a good choice...unless you really slow down and choose good lines in the rockier parts. I have no problem slowing down or waiting for anyone who needs to preserve tire integrity. I don't ride all that fast anyhow.


I have a flat kit and portable compressor, but the flat kit is mostly for straight punctures. It won't help with a jagged rip. There are no by-passes that I am aware of for those parts.

Like I said, it is not a hard trail at all. No steep hills or descents. The video shows a good cross section of the terrain.


Ok, looks like the 21st is shaping up! It'll be nice to meet some more riders!

 

[oilfield_trash]

I'd like to go the 21st.

My only concern is how technical is it? I got thrashed by the baby heads on the jeep trails at the 2013 Ouray rally. None of those climbs looked nearly that bad, but being way over my head offroad is not an experience I'm keen to repeat. The good news is I'm a lot stronger now, so that should help some, along with sub 14000' elevations.

The good news is I just got my new K60 rear on today.

 

[burnoil]

I'd like to go the 21st.

My only concern is how technical is it? I got thrashed by the baby heads on the jeep trails at the 2013 Ouray rally. None of those climbs looked nearly that bad, but being way over my head offroad is not an experience I'm keen to repeat. The good news is I'm a lot stronger now, so that should help some, along with sub 14000' elevations.

The good news is I just got my new K60 rear on today.

Not that technical. No baby heads to speak of on this trail. Just some exposed outcrops from erosion. An occasional boulder.


The beginning portion of the trail might have a few here and there, but nothing to worry about. This is not a Jeep trail requiring lockers and such. This is going to be fun! Check the video and you will see the general rock content.

 

[oilfield_trash]

Alright. I'll play. I've got some wine tasting type activities on the 7th, so the 21st is way better for me. I'll probably need to find a campground or motel for the night before. It might also be cool if someone has a place for me to stash my luggage while we're on the trail.

 

[burnoil]

Alright. I'll play. I've got some wine tasting type activities on the 7th, so the 21st is way better for me. I'll probably need to find a campground or motel for the night before. It might also be cool if someone has a place for me to stash my luggage while we're on the trail.

You could stay in Big Bear or somewhere at the bottom of the mountain in San Bernardino. If coming from Bakersfield you could shoot down the 58 to 395 and stay in Apple Valley or Hesperia. Then you could shoot up the 18 and come up the backside to where the trail starts.

 

[Lutsie]

Thanks for all the info burn.

 

[burnoil]

No worries! Hope this ride works out for everyone. I'm going...with or without! ::26:: Last time I did it solo (a trip after I did the one in the video) and didn't see a soul the entire time. It was pretty cool.

 

[oilfield_trash]

I'm pretty excited for this. I'm going to stay in Hesperia as suggested. I presume as we get closer, somebody will post meetup details? Anybody care if my buddy tags along on a GSA?

 

[burnoil]

Well, it looks like I got elected as Trail Boss. I have no problem organizing this! I'm excited, too!


As the date approaches I will post details. So, we have Feb 21 marked as a date to meet up. I'll locate a good spot that's easy to find for the initial meet 'n greet and then we can proceed to the trailhead. Any bikers are welcome...even GSA's! ::004::


What's everyone's dirt experience? I would rate this trail anywhere from a 2.0 to 3.5 depending on weather and various parts of the trail.

• 1 - Graded dirt trail but suitable for a normal passenger vehicle. Normally with gentle grades, fairly wide track, and very shallow (if any) water crossings.

• 2 - High clearance vehicles are preferred but NOT necessary. These are dirt roads, but not suitable for normal passenger vehicles due to rocks, grades, water crossings or ruts. Passing and mud are not a concern under normal weather and circumstances.

• 3 - High clearance 4WDs are preferred but any high clearance vehicle is acceptable. Rough road surface is expected, mud and sand are possible but passable. Rocks up to 6 inches in diameter, loose surface, shelf roads wide enough for passing or pull-offs.

• 4 - High clearance 4WDs are recommended, though most stock SUVs are acceptable. Rough road with rocks greater than 6 inches but with a reasonable driving line is expected. Negotiable mud patches, deep sand requiring lower tire pressures, up to 12 inch deep stream crossings, substantial sections of single-lane shelf road, moderate grades and sections of moderately loose surface are all possible.

• 5 - High-clearance 4WDs are required. Rough, rutted surface, rocks up to 9 inches, mud and deep sand requiring experienced driver, 18 inch stream crossings are expected. There may be traction problems on steep sections, and shelf roads with steep drop-offs or tight clearance (for an SUV width vehicle) between rocks or trees.

• 6 - Trail is for experienced drivers only and are potentially dangerous due to large rocks, ruts, terraces, stream crossings greater than 18 inches involving rapid currents or unstable bottoms or difficult access. There are also steep slopes, loose surfaces, narrow clearances, narrow shelf-roads with steep drop offs and possibly challenging surfaces.

• 7 - Skilled, experienced 4-wheel drivers only. Very difficult trails with steep grades, loose surfaces, large rocks, deep ruts, and/or tight clearances. Winching over mud, sand or ruts is not unexpected.

• 8 - 10 - There is likely damage to stock vehicles at this level and the trail may be impassable. Highly-skilled, experienced driver is required.

 

[oilfield_trash]

I got turned back on a jeep trail in CO I had no business on. I have also managed a fair amount of fire roads. I understand the importance of tire pressure now. I'd rate myself as intermediate at best. I do like a rooster tail. The K60's definitely help.