Monthly So Cal Off-Road Run

I've been up there in bad conditions. It's infuriating to say the least. Watching tourist try to put chains on a Prius in the middle of the road and watching a 90s Honda Accord spin out around a blind corner.

The CHP officer looked at my truck, glanced at the tires, asked if I had chains (which were locked in my roof case and didn't ask to see them) and told me to have a good day.

 

well at any rate hopefully this Sunday we can get up Big Bear without using the highway, though it looks like we are getting more rain this weekend so they might close off the fire roads.

quick glance at the SB Forest website doesn't show Coxey Rd on the closures list so that's good

 

Very nice! @theluharlifestyle I'd love to join you people at some point for a climb to the snow, I've never been "up north" yet (When I say that, I mean any county north of San Diego). It's a tough month though for me with two trips out of town etc. In January, hopefully we can set something up!

I like to hit up Mt Laguna's backroads, but with any "weather" they close the road gates.

I'm also interested in remote camping if they allow that..

 

I've never had to drive through R3 conditions, but as other have said, I think the biggest problem is other drivers. Even 2wd with chains, but no winter tires on the other wheels seems like it would have a lot of trouble, especially in hands of an inexperienced/unknowledgeable driver, and cause huge traffic jams, like what we saw this weekend.

"Snow Rated" in California means your tires have the M+S designation, at least, or the M+S and the Severe Snow Service (the mountain with the snowflake logo) on them, which most AT tires have.

 

@desertjunkie760 I just don't think they have the manpower to do it although they should...It's the same thing in Julian when it snows...People parked along the road at Cuyamaca with their small sedans, Escalades with low pro 24 inch rims all parked right under signs that say NO parking...It's so bad, and it just seems UNenforcable...Plus it will greatly affect the businesses up there who make a killing on these types of weekends...

 

My MTRs which are terrible in ice and snow have the M+S so even that is dangerous. Driving in such conditions always comes down to experience and knowing that slow and steady is the only way to be safe

 

Haha this was actually my first time hanging with a fellow TW member but definitely down to do it again and meet some more of yall. Camping also sounds like a lot of fun. I'm hoping to hit up Anza or DV in january time permitting from some exploring/wheeling/camping.

Never been to Mt. Laguna! Looks like a cool area to check out.

 

yea, there's a lot of variability in the tires, the designation just means it meets a certain minimum criteria. There are a lot of states, mostly ones that get snow and sub-freezing temps for most of the season, aka an actual winter, where "M+S" doesn't count as a winter tire, you need at least the Severe Winter Snow Service logo.

But yea, experience and knowledge will go a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way.

 

I can stop on a dime on snow and ice if I lock up the brakes in 4wd right?

 

oh absolutely. slam those fuckers.

 

speaking of which, I assume you got your front brakes all sorted out right? New SS lines and all?

 

basically yea. they work. haha. I put the SS lines, with extended on the rears, and new Powerstop Calipers on the front. they feel a little softer than what I imagined they would, and they don't quite grab until about 2/3 into the pedal stroke. But when I get back from my wedding/honeymoon I'm going to put in new, better pads up front, and try to re-adjust the rears, and see what difference that makes. Also need to replace the inner/outer steering tie rods. So I'll try to tackle that around the same time, and get my braking and steering to feel better.

 

I drove up highway 18 through Lucerne during a brief period when the road was open late Thursday night. It was "R3". I was stopped and required to put my chains on. I have lots of experience driving in the snow, it was the first time I have ever put chains on my truck, but not the worst conditions I have driven in. I did not feel like I needed them at any time.

But, I do respect that it was R3. It was a good call on CalTrans part because 75% of the people had no business driving around the mountains during a storm like this and have very little experience. The amount of stuck, abandoned and unprepared vehicles was dumbfounding. There were literally sections of the road with abandoned vehicles on both sides, making the lane less than 10 feet wide. 2 way traffic would have been impossible. In this situation R2 would only end up allowing even more inexperienced idiots to travel without chains, get stuck and further complicate the scenario making it harder to clear the roads. Closing the roads and requiring chains on all vehicles was a good call, even if it inconveniences those who likely don't need them.

 

Definitely agree with you on this. It actually says on CalTrans' website that more often than not, they'll close a road before imposing R3. But I think my point stands lol, if its that bad, 2wd shouldn't be allowed up at all...

 

Yeah, I dont disagree. Throughout the weekend some of the roads in town became rutted, with a rut for each tire. The mound between the ruts was maybe 8-10" tall, scrapping the bottom side of most non high clearance vehicles. Not even chains will help that much if the bottom of your car is dragging along

 

went up yesterday to go board with a couple of friends.

trailhead to holcomb valley in fawnskin. looked like a few people had gone an explored the trail we just stopped to check it.

somewhere along the 18/330 some snowbanks that jut into the road other than that was smooth sailing all the way up

 

Sweet!
Dry pavement is so boring zzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Big time muddy runoff flooding happening up here in Hesperia . Was out driving around earlier and some roads water was up to my hubs of my truck

 

Why anyone would drive up to Big Bear immediately after a snow fall is beyond me. “I had to wait x-hours to get up there.” Well fucking duh.