2017 RAD events – Area 51, Salton Sea, Mammoth, Pony Express, Black Rock, and more

Salton Sea – April 7-8



Register here for the event:

We are headed south to the Salton Sea for our first Southern California Adventure. This weekend is broken up into two parts. Day 1 is a long trail run that loops around the east side of the lake to see several sights in the area. Day 2 is all about fun and goofing off in the home of desert pre-runners of Ocotillo Wells.

We will be using one hotel as a base of operation to do the out and back trail runs. For those who wish to camp you are welcome to find a place to pitch a tent. For those bring family members who do not want to go on the trails, there will be a group seeing local area attractions for kids and adults alike.

* Hotels are billed at a group rate with taxes included.
* Whole Foods boxed lunches include sandwich, pasta salad, fruit, cookie, and soda.


!! - Hotel deadline is march 24 to secure a room at group rate. - !!
After this deadline you are on you own and may not have a room as most hotels are booked!


Pre Event hotel

Date: April 6
Address: Quality Inn -1269 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92264

For those who are there early and wish to meet for dinner, we will meet at the following location. If you plan on attending the dinner, please make sure to note it on the registration form.

Date: April 6th
Address: El Tapatio Restaurant - 83161 Indio Blvd, Indio, CA 92201
Time: 6:00pm

Day 1: April 7 (Friday)

This is the longest mileage day of the trip, as we will be exploring a loop east of the Salton Sea. Planned stops include the Salton Sea museum, old town, Patton Museum and old rail line.

Address: Quality Inn -1269 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92264
Meet Time: 7:00am
Depart: 7:30am

Lunch will be around noon on the trail near what is an abandon mine rail system. After lunch, we will head to the Patton Museum and some fun trails back to the hotel

Restaurant for the night
Address: Sloan's Restaurant - 81539 CA-111, Indio, CA 92201
Time: ~ 7:00pm meet for dinner

Hotel Accommodations
Address: Quality Inn -1269 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92264


Day 2: April 8 (Friday)

We are headed to the home of the pre-runner. Ocotillo Wells is well known as a place to go have fun and make dust in a Baja 1000 type environment. This day is all about fun and exploring some of the sites of the area. Major stops are a natural arch and an airplane grave yard.

Address: Quality Inn -1269 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92264
Meet Time: 7:30am
Depart: 8:00am

Lunch will be around noon on the trail after we stop at the airplane grave yard. After lunch the loop will head to the old Salton Sea air base to see the old airfield, bunkers and tackle an adventure trail.

Restaurant for the night
Address: Jackalope Ranch - 80400 CA-111, Indio, CA 92201
Time: ~ 7:00pm meet for dinner

Hotel Accommodations
Address: Quality Inn -1269 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92264

After event rooms are at the same hotel for those who have to travel home a long distance.

Register here for the event:

 

So who all is signed up? I am getting the truck all greased up and dialed in this week. Just did a couple mods-ABS kill switch, fog light anytime, new cabin air filter and rebuilt the Hi-Lift. If I am lucky some cool parts will show up in time for install.

 

As far as I know it is you, me and @tyfoon11 . Looking forward to it!

 

Have fun guys, I will catch you guys on the pony express run.

 

There is a another Tacoma coming but he is not from this forum. I know right....

 

WTF! A taco driver who isn't on TW? Not to be trusted

 

Hello Reno

 

on my way had go make auick stop

 

Good times were had.

 

Reminder for Salton Sea trip.

The group hotel DEADLINE is March 24th. At that time any rooms not booked will be released and you are on your own for a room. This was the agreement with the hotel.

The main event deadline is the week of the event. April 5th

If you wish to book under the group rate, do so ASAP.

Register on the club site. www.raddrives.com/catalog

 

@Micatom33

 

@tyfoon11

 

Does the first pic count as catching air?

 

no but you were 3 wheeling

 

Well it is only a Taco...

 

Not everyone can jump like a raptor.

 

With all the wacky weather hitting northern NV, the Black Rock run turned into one EPIC adventure for all those who attended. For those of you who missed it you missed a lot of fun and some adrenaline experiences.

Full Album: http://raddrives.com/albums/2017-BlackRockRun/



Day 1 started off with wind. And when we say wind, we mean cold, sustained 30-45 mph wind. 20 trucks ranging from Jeep, Tacoma, F350 and Raptor headed off to the trail head 14 miles from the start point. Here the group aired down and wondered what to expect as the ground was snow covered still and there were patches of mud. Luckily the start of the run was manageable and only those who wanted to plow through the mud did so. Soon the group found its first set of obstacles. The rain had washed away large sections of trails leaving canyons the size of school buses.



However, at each challenge the group found a way to pass and kept moving forward. This also included several river type crossings which made for awesome photo ops.



After making it past the first mountain section the group hit the flat lands and could speed up. After making the turn on the long straight away we ran across large puddles. Here is where the trucks all became painted the terrain color. Two of the group got stuck in mud but luckily having a F350 on the group made this recovery a breeze.



After lunch the group hit the longest section to Black Rock Desert. The trail started off fast and fun until it ran across a new lake. Making a slight detour the group was back on track. Exiting out of the valley trails we hit the playa.

The trails were smooth until we hit the run off section. For the next 30 miles, we entered the “technical section”. Here we hit many washouts and section of trail we had to detour to cross as they were again as wide and as deep as a bus. A few trucks got stuck trying to cross these deep sections but recovery each time was quick as we were ready to pull them back just in case.



The last crazy section for day 1 was hitting the playa floor. Blazing along just fine we started to run across softer and softer sections. Radio chatter was HAMMER DOWN to keep power through this soft muck. After a few miles, we found a point where we could get closer to the hill and hard group. All but two trucks were not able to make it up to the safe trail. Once again working smart we were able to pull the two stuck members out in under 10 minutes.



Regrouping off the playa we made the last push to Black Rock and the lake of Burning Man. By the time we reached this location, we were late in the day and aired up to head back to Fernley. This meant we did not completed 65 miles of planned trails of the 220 for the day.



Day 2 started off just as wild with a snow blizzard hitting the group at the hotel. As several people had long drives home, ¼ of the group bowed out and the rest made a plan to head to the large mine stop for the day. Driving to Lovelock the group turned west and hit the trails. This 40 mile trek to the mine was some of the best trails of the weekend as they were smooth, had good jumps and whoops as well as were not to snow covered.



The group reached the old mine and did a little exploring just before another snow blizzard hit us. Heading on a different trail, the group headed back for fuel and lunch before calling the event due to conditions.

This event was one wild adventure and even though the trails were not the normal fun runs we enjoy, the challenges it provided made everyone who attended earn their off road stripes.

 

Your jellly and it is ok to admit it =)