Dec. 23, Sunday, Christmas Palomar Divide OR Rouse Hill Trail Run

@Musashi316 , @2000man , @AY_ARONTRD , @Ray1989 , @AdventureKid , @OR4x4 , @computeruser6 , @ruffridha9 , @SC2SC

@hoarder23 ( in case you're bored )

Dec. 23 Sunday, Rouse Hill Truck Trail ( Forest Rte 5S15 )

2WD friendly trail: Should be... With the recent rains, it might be more challenging in 2WD, but if the rain water is still up there, there should be some nice puddles to go through.

On Sunday, December 23, a few trucks will be getting together to run this 2WD friendly trail to help unwind before the Christmas festivities.
We will meet will at a Hemet Chevron on Hwy 74 to top off on fuel at 10am.

Forest Rte 5S15 - Rouse Hill Truck Trail
16.1 miles in, one way plus another potential 10.6 to finish through or doubling back

10am
Chevron
43510 E Florida Ave, Hemet, CA 92544

From this Chevron Gas Station, it's 3.8 miles to the Ranger Station and the trailhead on the right hand side ( no address ). Once we're on the trail, at roughly 16.1 miles in, we'll come to an intersection that looks like it may have a gate. If we can get past the gate, we can turn left to stay on Rouse Hill for another 10.6 miles to get back to Hwy 74. If not, we should be able to double back. If we head straight, we'll be on Forest Rte 6S18 which I can't find any information on and it doesn't look like it has any intentional exit points onto main roads, but TrailsOffRoad.com says that there's a way.

Information on the trail from TraillsOffRoad.com

5S15 - Rouse Hill
Technical Rating: (2-2) (EASY)
Dirt road. Dry, or less than 3" water crossing depth. Some ruts. Slight grades, up to 10 degrees. 2WD under most conditions. Rain or snow may make 4WD necessary. Usually one and a half to two vehicles wide.

Description
Rouse Hill is a 17 mile trail along a ridge on it's way to Thomas Mountain. You'll travel a mostly sandy trail without challenges of any kind. At the trailhead is the Cranston Ranger Station if you need any information on this trail or any others. The first mile is actually through citrus groves, then the typical low elevation desert scrub. yucca and sage. It changes to Manzanita and scrub oak, and finally fir, pine and cedar at Thomas Mountain.

Seasonal Information
Spring: This trail will be nice after the winter rains
Summer: Usually hot and dusty
Fall: Cooler weather will improve the drive
Winter: Rain can make the trail slippery, but snow will be rare

TrailsOffRoad.com link
https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/2057-5s15-rouse-hill

Previous Organized Trail Runs

• 2018, JUL 29 - Pine Valley Road, Long Valley Road Loop, CA ( 11.2 miles )
  
• 2018, AUG 18 - Palomar Divide Road, CA ( 23 miles out/back )
• 2018, NOV 03 - Red Canyon Trail to Eagle Mountain Railroad Trestle, CA ( 25 miles )
• 2018, NOV 24 - Tried Palomar Divide, but it was closes, so we ended up doing Indian Flats

 

@2000man you joining?

 

Looks like I’m going to miss this one boys.
Won’t be in the area until Sunday, otherwise I would try to take my girls subie and put her x-mode to the test seeing as she is convinced her car can traverse the same terrain as my truck.
Have fun and be safe-
let’s see some pics too!

 

Hi Aaron!
Text you later in the evening when I get all the back to work paperwork done!

 

So who’s all attending this one

 

Me, but checking if the gov't shutdown will have the gates closed or not.

 

All ranger stations are closed thanks to the gov't shutdown, but I don't see anything resembling a gate to the entrance, even the secondary one. We can still roll the dice if we want to.

 

I'm still going. Anyone want to be my passenger? It would be nice to split up the driving duties.

 

I rode past the Palomar Divide gate today and it was open.

 

Ooo, I say we do this if it's really open.

 

Thanks for organizing this event. Unfortunately, not able to attend.

Did about 50 miles in Ocotillo Wells today, then Salton Sea. JT tomorrow- hopefully gates are open, lol!

 

I tried any and all Trails at Angeles National Forrest and all the Gates we're closed.

 

We are gonna try it- cottonwood entrance. Will take the boys to see the Patton Museum then JT. If closed, will circle back to Anza Borrego/Ocotillo.

 

Ocotillo is open...

 

State ohv so shouldn’t be affected by shutdown

 

Was just in Ocotillo area too, yesterday and today.

 

How’s the weather been out there? Going to try to head out there after New Years to do some riding. I’ll see how motivated I am after spending a few days with my mom and sister in Nevada