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The 6th, Semi-Annual WF So Cal Meet and Greet; A Turdhurlder Production

65K views 2K replies 67 participants last post by  Dougzin 
#1 ·
OK Gang, I figured it is that time again! I love setting these things up and all the people that attend. We have been going in March for the last few years to Anza Borrego. There has been some talk of changing the venue to another location.

WF 6th Semi-Annual So Cal Meet and Greet 2012 is... Drum roll please badabadabadabada. Calico Hills, near Barstow CA. Give me some feed back and I will start organizing.

Dates are March 23rd through March 25th. That is the second to last weekend of the month.

List of going:

1) Turdhurdler + Sandi
2) CY 99TJ
3) Constable + Jessica, Sean and his bro, (sorry, forgot his name)
4) Yomondo
5) Jerry Bransford
6) KTM 530
7) DesertGoose + 2 From AZ
8) Bugsbb Cancelled
9) krughzn
10) Tysalem - Cancelled
11) JKJammer
12) BeantownR6
13) YJAZ CANCELLED!!! Group BOOOO Coming your way!!!!
14) Kauka
15) QtMcshorty
16) ChiliJeep
17) MntnGoat
18) Kota7X
19) Fred 1
20) clg88
21) 2DUECE2
22) The ToadLJ + 4
23) San DiegoJeepn+ Mark 2 kids
24) SuicideKing (day trip)
25) Thorny
26) 4XSmurf
27) JPi1 +wife brother/sister in law, kids
28) BillG. Otd +wife
29) Dougzin + dad
30) Kyle 3792 +dad
31) Team Hirev
32) Spyder 98
33) I H8RDS Cancelled!!! Boooooo!!!
34) TLRRob
35) KLW24
36) Ibrito
37) Trent
38) H2_Recovery team +2
39) Landshark Cancelled
40) xdbltrblx
41) SoCalGSXR
42) MyFirstWrangler + Son
43) JPi4.0
44) Rainynight
45) Mexicankamikaze

Link for Campsite reservations:San Bernardino County Regional Parks Department Online Reservations

Camp/Cabin sites reserved:
1)DesertGoose + xdbltrblx - Cabin 1
2)Turdhurdler - Cabin 2
3)Sandiegojeepin - Cabin 3
4)Kauka - Cabin 4
5)ChiliJeep - Cabin 5
6)Yomondo - Cabin 6
7)Bugsbb - Taj Mahal break-in Hahah:rofl:
8)2Duece2 - Space O52
9)BillG OTD - Camping at hotel... WIMP!!! lol.
10)Dougzin - Space 065
11)Jerry Bransford - Space O18
12)Kyle 3792 - Space O93
13)Spyder 98 - Space 090
14)JPi1 - Space 019
15)Trent - Space 020
16)Fred1 - Space 021
17)H2ReciveryTeam - Space 098
18)KTM530 - Space 017
19)Constable - Space 016
20)TheTaodLJ - Mini Bunk house
21)JPi 4.0 - RV Camping
22) Rainynight Space 022
23) Thorny - Space 100
24) Mexicankamikaze - Space 051
25) Beantown R6 - Space 088

So, Do we want to do primative camping, get the site next to the Ghost Town that has showers etc or go luxury like Constable and bring the Taj Mahal of campers... Hahaha. Sorry Geoff, gotta pick on ya. I am actually jealous of your new toy.

The pattern we have been using works out great. Gather at the campsite on Friday afternoon/evening. Wheel Saturday, big pot luck dinner Saturday evening and pack out on Sunday. I am thinking that if there is enough interest, to maybe do the Ghost Town as a group on Sunday before heading out. Get a chance to unwind, get some old fashioned ice cream or what ever and enjoy a couple of hours goofing off.


Jeff
 
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#3 · (Edited)
1) We'll likely do Calico before March, but there's nothing bad about doing it again in March. I'm just not familiar with any campgrounds around there, so we'd need to do a little research. The trails there are lots of fun and scenic.

2) It's probably best doing the Mojave Road over 2 nights to be able to make all or most of the stops and not be rushed. The 3 day/2 night requirement (3 nights if you decide to stay in Laughlin the first night to avoid a lonnnng first day) might thin the herd a bit, and also Soda Lake might still be very muddy in March. Other than the mud at Soda Lake, the water crossings which can get a bit high, and some sandy spots, there's nothing really challenging along the way, but it's definitely a must-do though for anyone who hasn't.

3) Anza Borrego was fun last time and the campsite was great for a large group to stay close enough together. The trails were okay IMO.

another idea...

4) Last Chance Canyon to Goler Gulch (Nightmare Gulch will be closed in March), with stops at Schmidt Camp, Schmidt Tunnel and Bickel Camp. Great trails, a bit scenic, and for anyone who hasn't been there, the tunnel is a fun stop (you get to walk through it), and Schmidt and Bickel Camps offer a little history. There are a couple of big, free camping spots I know of in the area, but they have no facilities (although we could opt to all pitch in for a couple of porta-potties). Then there's Ricardo Campground where we were last weekend, which is beautiful and has toilets, water and trash dumpsters, but is not free and more importantly not reservable, so unless we can get several Jeeps there early Friday, it may be tough getting enough spots close together.

some other ideas, just thowing them out there, but less favorable options IMO...

5) Hungry Valley. Unfortunately nearby Miller Jeep Trail will most likely still be closed in March, but Hungry has a 4WD practice area which has a bunch of fun little obstacles to goof off on, and might entertain you for maybe an hour at most. Then there are a bunch of short trails within the park but nothing too "fun". Great for newbies though.

6) Joshua Tree (camping) / Berdoo Canyon (wheeling). Joshua Tree is a beautiful place to camp, although has gotten very crowded in recent years, so it may be difficult for a large group. I also heard here are some primitive camping spots south of the park, but I don't know where they are. Berdoo Canyon is a good newbie trail with a few easy/moderate obstacles, but may be a bit boring for non-newbies. It's scenic though, once you get to the portion of the trail that's in the national park.

So personally my top choice would be 1)Calico if we can find a decent campground in the area. Second choice 4)LCC/GG, followed by 3)Anza Borrego.
 
#22 · (Edited)
1) We'll likely do Calico before March, but there's nothing bad about doing it again in March. I'm just not familiar with any campgrounds around there, so we'd need to do a little research.
There is a campground over by Calico Ghost Town but most of us just camp just off the dirt road that leads into the Doran and Odessa Canyons area. Camping is wide open and there are plenty of great flat campsite areas close to the canyons. It is primitive camping so we'll need to bring water but that's no big deal.

Edit: Ooohhh, I just checked out the campsite website for Calico and it has hot showers. I think I could be talked into camping there afterall. :p

http://cms.sbcounty.gov/parks/Activities/Camping.aspx

Wheelin Calico sounds great to me, I haven't been there in several years. Odessa Canyon is pretty moderate and I've seen some stock Jeeps get through there. Doran Canyon's opening called The Gatekeeper is a real ball-buster, so much so that you'll always see 25-100 bystanders just standing on the canyone wall area being entertained. There is a bypass to The Gatekeeper but it's back aways enough that I never noticed it. :)
 
#7 ·
I am good with all the locations except the Mojave Road as that is too far and too much time for my gang. Calico or Schmidt's Tunnel area sounds good and we always love Borrego in March. I will know more when the time gets closer to know if we are going to be available.
 
#19 ·
DDiamond said:
So I,m new at this forum. Do I understand right, you are planing a G/M in March? or could something be in the works sooner?
Hello and welcome! This M&G in March will be awesome as always, so hopefully you can join us.

We'll definitely be putting together several runs before then. Keep an eye on this California forum for postings. Currently there's a posting for Monache Meadows at the end of this month. I'm also planning to post up a run in Calico for around the end of October when it cools down a bit out there. And I'm thinking of doing some kind of day run next weekend.
 
#23 ·
Jerry, are there trails that the stockers will be able to have fun also without just doing graded access roads? I don't want to get someone out there and be beyond their capibility. All the You-tube videos I see of Calico is of the extreme stuff, so I don't know if there are easier trails also.

Jeff
 
#24 · (Edited)
Mule Canyon is definitely suitable for stockers and beginning offroaders Jeff, and I have seen stockers get through Odessa Canyon with just a little assistance.

Heck I'd like to tale a quick visit to Calico Ghost Town for grins, maybe Sunday morning before we all leave for home. I haven't been there since I was in college. Not sure if there's an admission charge or not.

Mule Canyon Info: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mule-canyon-4x4-road-california
Mule Canyon Map: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mule-canyon-4x4-road-california/map

Doran/Odessa Canyon Info: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/doran-odessa-loop-4x4-trail-california
Doran/Odessa Canyon Map: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/doran-odessa-loop-4x4-trail-california/map

Note that Doran and Odessa are two different canyons, Odessa Canyon is not nearly as hard as Doran Canyon is.
 
#25 ·
#27 · (Edited)
Before I forget to mention it, Odessa Canyon is EXTREMELY scenic and well worth doing. It's probably the prettiest offroad desert trail in SOCAL that I am aware of. My Jeep did not have lockers at the time, it just had 33" tires in the below pics but it did fine. The first time I did Doran I think I probably had 32" tires and didn't have problems then either.

Here are a couple old pics of Odessa I took 10-12 years ago...
 

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#28 ·
Alright gang, I am really liking the thought of Calico as a destination for the March event. Cougar Buttes is also very inticing. So, let me know what would be preferred? Calico has showers at the camp from what I undetstand and a hot shower after a dusty day on the trail is always welcomed. I am not sure about the Cougar Buttes site but the trails look like a lot of fun.

So, CB or Calico? Who wants to do what?

Cougar Buttes:
1.
2.
3.

Calico:
1. Turdhurdler
2.
3.


Jeff
 
#39 ·
Alright gang, I am really liking the thought of Calico as a destination for the March event. Cougar Buttes is also very inticing. So, let me know what would be preferred? Calico has showers at the camp from what I undetstand and a hot shower after a dusty day on the trail is always welcomed. I am not sure about the Cougar Buttes site but the trails look like a lot of fun.

So, CB or Calico? Who wants to do what?

Cougar Buttes:
1.
2.
3.

Calico:
1. Turdhurdler
2. Jerry Bransford
3.


Jeff
Add me to the list Jeff!
 
#30 ·
I'm good with either of those options, as long as Cougar Buttes means we'll be doing the Bullfrog trail.

A hot shower at the end of the day does sound inviting, but in reality what would most like be my scenario after getting back to camp is beer, beer, air up, beer, shot, shot, shot, cook, shot, beer, eat, shot, beer, zone out then crash somewhere, hopefully in my tent if I can find it. (There was actually a trip I was on not long ago when I couldn't find my tent for a while. I mean I couldn't even figure out what direction it was in!) Anyway I probably won't end up making use of the shower to be honest.

Cougar Buttes has no showers, only a couple of vault toilets, from what I hear. I've never been there.
 
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