Tacomas in Minnesota?

I am gonna try and make the wheeling event in wisconsintoo

 

Got my truck back with the CBI bumper. Looks good deer beware.

 

Nice! Do you know what lights you want in the cutouts? Im thinking the Rigid DOT approved fogs in the round cutouts in my AP bumper.

 

That's awesome. Kind of makes me want to go up north and drive around at night... I just need to figure out how to tell insurance that the same deer hit both my front and rear bumpers.

 

So I'll just throw this out there....

As of now I'm planning on a trip out to the Badlands/Black Hills for April 23rd - 26th. Me and the family drove out there last spring for vacation and I loved it. It's gorgeous country. But now I want to go back on my own to do some real exploring. And this time I'm taking the truck for some mild off-roading and dispersed camping.

If anybody else wants to go, you're more than welcome to join up. I'd love to have the company and extra support.

Just know I'm not much of a wheeler. I'm going more for the exploration, camping, and sights. I've been doing trail research though, and hoping to find some decent places to work the truck. As of now the rough itinerary is:

Day 1 - driving and camp @ Buffalo Gap grasslands
Day 2 - explore Buffalo Gap and Badlands
Day 3 - Head into Black Hills for some trails, hopefully make it back to Buffalo Gap for the night
Day 4 - Drive home

I'll know more as I do more research, but just wanted to get this out there now for people that need to plan PTO, etc....

 

We went there last summer I bought the trail pass and was really dissapointed. We only got offroad for about an hour. Because it was the wettest summer on record they closed all the trails open to trucks. We didn't go out there just for off-road driving but I would find out who the controlling agency is and really try to nail them down before you go. The Rangers that sold me the pass in Custer had no clue. Does sound like a lot of fun. You got my gears turning.

 

Stock fogs go right back in just have to fix some deer damage on one of them.

 

Yeah, I remember the rain. A lot of the streams were flooded over last summer. When we drove out to Devils Tower I witnessed one of the most torrential downpours I've ever seen. We were doing like 30mph on the highway because we couldn't see a thing. Kinda cool.

Still, going in April, the seasonal trails will be closed regardless. Right now I'm focused on this area for the Black Hills, which looks to have a good variety of trails. Even some rock climbing - which I may or may not do - but I still want to check it out. Camp 5 will be closed, but going up north to Lost Gulch could also be an option.

For Buffalo Gap I think the main thing to worry about will be the mud, which everything I've read says is some serious mud. But there are definitely some cool looking areas I want to see.

Indian Creek trail

Sheep Mountain table

For the most part though, I'm not sure what to expect. I'm just gonna go do it.

 

Jesse I just dug out my map and the seasonal trails open up on April 15 I think most of the trails should be open unless it's unusually wet. Chris says he's interested how many trucks you looking to have with? I am thinking hard about this I'd even like to take off early on Friday maybe. Good thing gas is cheap I probably put $500 through my truck pre lift and mud tires.

 

Both of the trails through the badlands would be a blast. I was wondering if you could get off the beaten path.

 

I'm interested in the trip. It would be good to get together prior to for a planning meeting.

 

That's weird. The MVUM states May 15th for seasonal - as did a couple of guys on the Black Hills 4 Wheelers site. What year is your map?

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5341598.pdf

Yeah, I think I'm more excited for the Badlands part than anything else. Zoom around this area - it looks like an OHV playground! I too have been wondering about the legality of it all, but as far as I can tell, the Badlands is super restricted, while Buffalo Gap is anything-goes. I'll do more digging on that though...

I really want to spend at least one night camping on top of a butte.

I'm fine with whoever wants to go. It's always good to hang out with MN Tacoma peeps.

That's a good idea.

 

Camping on a butte could be cool as long as the wind is mild. I like backpacking just as much as wheeling. I'm low on PTO so taking off Friday, Monday and Tuesday may be tough. But it would make the long drive more worth while, could maybe juggle some hours around and make it work. Anyone else want to take Friday off in addition to Monday and Tuesday?

 

Jesse you are right it says 5-15 I don't know why I was thinking April was the 5th month...but there are a ton of trails that aren't seasonal...so I think there would be options for exploring.

 

How about old Dodge RamChargers. Notice how it's following the tacos.

 

The cross hatched areas in railroad butte is open to x-c travel...This is part of the Indian creek area I think.