Topic: MEMORIAL WKND RUN - Rancheria Rd to Lk Isabella

[Lightspur]

I am thinking about doing the Sherman Pass (22S05) from Kernville to Blackrock Station, then down Long Valley and Chimney Peak to Hwy 178. This route is in the Dome Lands Wilderness area just N. of Lk. Isabella. Sherman Pass is a paved single track with numerous dirt loops and trails. Long Vly/Chm. Pk is a grade 2 dirt - easy but high clearance.

The fishing is real good along the So. Kern (Lk. Isabella to Kernville) and there are numerous spots along the river that would make a nice Friday night camp

(I called the Ranger Stat. in Kernville - they said: closed due to snow but trying to get open by Mem. Day).

This is really a 2 1/2 - 3 day run since it

[Paul]

We ran up north of Lake Isabella last year and ended up on Freeway Ridge in the pouring rain ... a hill too high to climb in that weather. We ended up having to camp in the parking lot of some camp site along the Kern River. Traffic on the trails and highways were not too bad but there just wasn't a camp site to be had.

[Lightspur]

I've been up there a numer of times & over Mem. Wknd - campsites are definately a concern. Thats why I would leave early Friday to secure a spot by the river. I could stake out enough area for late arrivals, camps further up along the Pass & away from the river won't be so hard to find. I think were gonna be safe on the weather. I think a group run would be more fun so I am just throwing it out.
 
I feel Bad the Idyllwild thing didn't work out! - gonna check to see if the Fire Tower and some of the trails are going to be open up there.

Brian, if you have something in mind, pitch it in.

[xtoolbox]

Yeah too high up for May, June is better.

Was thinking about going the planned end route of last yrs run:   

178/Rancheria-> 25S15-> Camp at Evans Ft or something primitive down by the water or along the way.

Next day wheel out, fish, hit the hot springs, etc.


 

[Lightspur]

Brian:
Sounds good to me!
From past exper. camps by the water might be hard to come by Mem Wknd - as you say, we can decide along the way.
I will probably leave Friday and camp in the Gorman/Hungry Valley OHV area off the 15. I could set up a group camp Friday night, for anyone else who wants to leave early. What is your thoughts on rendezvous time/place?
Depending on time I may take a shot at the Sherman Pass if its open and come back via 395.

[xtoolbox]

Looks like june is best option for me now   found my lower radius arm is cracked and needs to be replaced; part is 3 wks out.   Hopefully I''l get n time for next months run  if not I could always take the cruiser.  I still have to replace my bent tie rod which I have but only want to do the alignment once so I waiting on the control arm replacement.

Brian

[mark1107]

Brian,

I really appreciate you trying. I'm not trying to criticize anyone on this board, its just that I was a little hesitant to go on a "fishing run" versus a true wheeling run. Brian when you can lead the next run, can it please be one that is mainly wheeling? This isnt to start an argument, but I really wanted to explore trails and then have a community campfire, not do a hurry up and fish type of run.

So for June hopefully we can do a trail run?

Mark

[Lightspur]

My intent is to engage in activities other than just driving, whether it be hiking, swimming in the river, photography, and yes fishing. It is a 4 hr drive to and from this area, I do not, nor did I think others would want to spend their holiday weekend driving that far just to drive all day.
 
I enjoy serious wheelin, and prefer a steep/rocky diamond run to a dirt 2x road anytime, but I enjoy the outdoors more from outside the car than through the window. Some of us also have kids, Gf's, and spouses, and the enjoyment of "wheelin" differs greatly from the driver to passengers.

I started this thread as an open invitation to come along on a run that I was going to make, and since there was no "official run" proposed.

I appreciate the efforts of Brian, Paul, Jeff, Mitch, Frank, and others to organize events for the club, and I think the club benefits as a whole when all the members offer suggestions and help out. I am not going to pressure any of these guys to "please take me out wheelin".

The invitation is still open to anyone wanting to go wheelin & camping with us up by Lake Isabella. Some of the trails I intend to run are "high clearance" and haven't been open since last summer. I will provide an exact itinerary to anyone who is interested.   

[Soylent Yellow]

My intent is to engage in activities other than just driving, whether it be hiking, swimming in the river, photography, and yes fishing. It is a 4 hr drive to and from this area, I do not, nor did I think others would want to spend their holiday weekend driving that far just to drive all day.
 
I enjoy serious wheelin, and prefer a steep/rocky diamond run to a dirt 2x road anytime, but I enjoy the outdoors more from outside the car than through the window. Some of us also have kids, Gf's, and spouses, and the enjoyment of "wheelin" differs greatly from the driver to passengers.

I started this thread as an open invitation to come along on a run that I was going to make, and since there was no "official run" proposed.

I appreciate the efforts of Brian, Paul, Jeff, Mitch, and others to organize events for the club, and I think the club benefits as a whole when all the members offer suggestions and help out. I am not going to pressure any of these guys to "please take me out wheelin".

The invitation is still open to anyone wanting to go wheelin & camping with us up by Lake Isabella. Some of the trails I intend to run are "high clearance" and haven't been open since last summer. I will provide an exact itinerary to anyone who is interested.   

Well said.

[xtatik]

Very well said, and brings to mind a saying that pre-dates the "Tread Lightly" ideals that are popular today:
"Use your truck to enjoy the wild places......don't use the wild places to enjoy your truck"

Just sayin'.

[Blackx]

I'm usually down for a run but I'm out of town that weekend. 

[mark1107]

This wasnt to criticize you for wanting to do a fishing trip. I just wish we could have a true run where we go out and hit the trails.

For the record I'm happy that your going fishing this weekend and might try out a run or two.

Last time we did Sherman Pass we drove up past Lake Isabella had lunch at the bottom of the pass. Drove up a wicked trail that was crazy hard, stopped at some beautiful towers and parked and explored, drove down into the forest, had a great community campfire and talked into the wee hours of the morning got up and trucked in the AM. Stopped in a great valley with horse and cattle ranches and had lunch and the took off. I really appreciated that.

That was my only point of this post. I see you want to comment on me asking Brian to lead a run. So I will respond to that as well. I personally enjoy getting out of the city and the peace and solitude of taking our trucks out for a run. I wish I had the knowledge and experience to lead a run, but I'm only familiar with a couple of trails and this isnt one of them. Brian from what I understand has been wheeling for over 20 years so I hope he could lead on awesome runs which he always does. If asking him in a joking manner (But I was serious) is problem to you then I apologize for offending you. It wasnt my point to criticize your fishing trip or asking Brian to lead us on a run. I completley understand what your doing this weekend and I'm happy for you and I hope you enjoy it.

Lastly I'm glad lightspur wants to go fishing and I really hope he enjoys it this weekend. My post wasnt to criticize his efforts.

I just wish we could do a run like we have the last 4 years i've been a member. I like this club and I enjoy spending time with all of you. I wouldnt do I what I do and particpate if I didnt like everyone.
 
Mark
 

[AV Xterra]

Mark, I remember that run, good times.  Except for when you and John tried to start the whole place on fire. 

[sturndog]

I did bad things to your shovel too Dan,  I got food poisoning . As for lighting a big fire that stump was only the size of a washing machine and I was Not going to put it on the fire, that is on MARK!!!!!

[mark1107]

I know I'm a pyromaniac...at least when I got up in the morning, the lady I brought (three women ago.) still had a raging fire to cook a great community breakfast.

That was one of the best runs I've ever been on. When we stopped at those towers, and I could see the whole valley almost to Kings Canyon and/or Mt. Whitney (i'm not sure...) it was so beautiful. The valley and wooded campsite was beautiful and you could see a billion stars when I took my druken-fire-prone-butt to bed.

Mark