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2017 Hi Desert Round-up

4K views 67 replies 11 participants last post by  Jerry Bransford 
#1 ·
I just joined the Cal four wheel drive Association and saw that the Hi Desert Round-up is right around the corner. Anyone going? I want to go and possibly tent camp to save a couple hundred bucks on a room. Anyone who has gone have any tips?
 
#2 ·
Fun event, large number of participants. Big raffle Saturday night with plenty of great things to run, bring extra $$$ to buy enough tickets so you have a good chance of winning something. The big winners seem to be those who buy $250 or more worth of tickets, a trend that started in the last 10 years which is not really fair.

Still a great/fun event, one of the very best.
 
#6 ·
There should be 40 replies by now, not just 4. I guess this is the reason trails are still being closed. Lack of interest of us not wanting to help. Go to blueribboncoalition.com and see the battles were always up against. Now get out there and take control ! I'm going like we do every year.
 
#8 ·
HDR never gets much attention on this forum.
Forest Fest is the big one here.
But you are absolutely right and yes.. I'll be there...been attending for many many years. I was unable to make it last year but will be there this year...look me up I'm sure I'll be leading a run to some of my favorite trails...
 
#9 ·
End of May is hardly "around the corner. ". Looks like fun so we will probably try to go. Still trying to decide where we are going this weekend, let alone end of May. :). Leaning towards Ocotillo Wells, although it'll be warm.

Link would be helpful too. I'll try to paste it.
Hi Desert Round-Up - California Four Wheel Drive Association
I wish. My weekends are booked with sports and work so end of May will be here in a flash for me !
 
#12 ·
Alright! Now this one is almost around the corner!

So, I was wondering about registering and trail selection. Looks like you pick your trail when you get out there, not when you register. So no real incentive to register now - I'll just do it when I get there.

Lots of trail options for Sat, plus a night run both Fri and Sat, plus games (?) and a run on Sunday. Wow. Lots of activity for the weekend. Sounds pretty cool. Looking forward to it.
 
#14 ·
I'm torn between tent camping or getting a motel for 2 days. I am taking my 13-year-old daughter and I know it can get windy out there. Hate to be in a tent during high winds.
 
#17 ·
For those who have been there, how does this first come first serve work out for runs? The runs seem to have caps, but you can't sign up for them. So what happens if you get there and your run is already full?
 
#18 ·
The run sign-up sheets will go up prior to the run and there are usually enough spaces early on for most runs. Tony's run to Pumpkin Eater will fill up fast but the others are more available, it usually works out for everyone. Other than Pumpkin Eater and Devil's Hand the other runs are moderate and probably don't make much difference which one you are on. Plus some people will go exploring on their own.
 
#20 ·
I'll be doing the Devils Loop on Sunday, so trying to decide which Saturday run to try to get on. Since I've never done Achy Breaky and that is so well known, I'm leaning towards that. Otherwise, maybe El Diablo or Jackrabbit. Pumpkin Eater looks fun, but I think I'll spare Joyce and Murphy a bit from bouncing around over the real big rocks.

For you folks that know the event the best, which Saturday run covers the most ground without being too easy? I'd like to take advantage of this event to learn about the Jeep trails out that way, since I've mostly only run around out there on the bike.
 
#21 ·
I'm looking at the Friday night run for fun, Calico (Doran/Odessa) then Devils Loop on Sunday. I've never run anything out there so I want to take advantage of going through Calico with a group who knows the area.
 
#22 ·
I'm looking at the Friday night run for fun, Calico (Doran/Odessa) then Devils Loop on Sunday.
You'll love Doran and Odessa canyons, they are absolutely beautiful. Calico has become my favorite place to wheel. Not to mention Peggy Sue's Diner is right there at that exit from the I-15.

Just make sure to take the bypass around The Gatekeeper at the opening to Doran Canyon. The Gatekeeper has become impassible to all but the best built vehicles and drivers. Anyone leading Doran should know that so it's a non-issue.

That last picture shows a nighttime run by a couple friends of mine going up The Gatekeeper. It took them 2 hours and a busted axle shaft before they were done. It's "doable" but...
 

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#30 ·
I was thinking of backing out of the calico run because of the possibility of damage to my hard top in the squeeze area of the trail. And going topless doesn't sound like a good idea since I am now staying at a hotel in Barstow. I am assuming Phillips doesn't run through that same right area that Odessa does.


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#40 · (Edited)
Ha there's some of us that don't do well with heights, I'm with Tony.

I was doing Death Valley many years ago and I somehow ended up in front going up a long steep narrow climb up the side of a mountain with no less than a 400-500' drop-off at one point. Not to mention we were lost at the time and we weren't exactly sure where the goat path we ended up on was taking us.

All I could see out the passenger side (no doors) was lots of air/sky and I was freaking out. I had slowed down to about 1 mph with sweaty white knuckles and everyone's squawking at me over the CB giving me ****. Thinking back to that climb still gets my heart pounding just a little faster. :rofl:
 
#45 ·
Yea I came from OC and it took 3 hours but we left at 1230. I was on the night run. It was fun but some of the stock rigs had some trouble near the end. But it gave us a good chance to get out and star gaze for a bit. I'm on achy breaky today and might do the el diablo tomorrow.


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#47 ·
And my HDR weekend came to an abrupt ending. I was on Achy Breaky and a rock got wedged between my front tire and the the coil. Result, 1 torn of ABS line (no real biggie) but it chewed up my break line. Thank goodness for steel braided break lines. Had the line torn I would have been up the creek without a paddle. The banjo fitting did start leaning however. We tightened it and it stopped but the line was pretty chewed up and I didn't feel comfortable doing hill climbs and descents with my kid with a questionable break line. Here's a pic. Shock also got a big dent.



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#59 ·
For some added insurance stop off at your auto parts store..Napa.. and pick up a brakeline plug or two. Keep them in your glove box this way if this ever happens again you'll be able to plug the line going to that wheel.

Barstow maybe a long way from where your from but it's not a bad to be when having problems with your off-road vehicles. The vast majority of people in and around Barstow have desert toys... one of the biggest reasons why we live here!
 
#49 · (Edited)
It's sitting a little lower than normal because it's attached to the ABS bracket, and ABS the bracket is a little bent/tweeked. But honestly, it isn't far off from its normal position. It's attached to a clip on the frame rail, then runs down to the brake caliper. Metalcloak gives a lot of slack for flex I believe. I don't know how else it could have been run.

Time or me to learn how to bleed JK breaks so I can run the new line myself.
 
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