LOS ANGELES OFF-ROAD COMMUNITY

Not sure which CA thread to post this in

Hope everyone in the greater LA area is doing okay with these fires

 

We got evacuation orders yesterday morning and still out of the canyon. Praying for our friend who lost her house. The air and ash is so irritating to my eyes. Hope nobody else is in the direct burn area. This is the view from our patio yesterday. Not sure why my phone tried to do some 3D effect. Makes it look fake, but it was too real in the moment.

 

The building I work in is just down the road from where the Eaton Fire started and leveled entire neighborhoods. Surprisingly my work is still standing, I was told the fire department was using it as a staging area for operations so maybe that’s why.

Such a destructive tragedy, we’re used to wildfires starting in these mountains surrounding the cities but they usually start way back in the wilderness and work their way toward the city. These started within city limits and the massive 80 mph wind storm turned them into monsters that couldn’t be stopped. Winds prevented any air support for almost a full 24 hours

 

Does anyone need help?

 

Went to Big Bear Saturday and had a blast. Traffic sucked going up the mountain but the trails had minimal traffic. Even found an area to unleash the kids

 

Gotta take the trails up instead, although sometimes those can be pretty crowded but way better than sitting in the highway congestion.

Coxey Rd starting on the high desert side is a dirt road that goes all the way up into Holcomb Valley and eventually into Fawnskin. There are others but I can't remember any of them by name, been some years since I've gone up there.

 

Thought about doing pioneer Town to Big Bear but my dad was with us in his taco and he's not too big on wheeling. I definitely need to find other ways up there.


There were chains and cables scattered throughout on the highway.

 

The trail from Pioneertown to Big Bear, Burns Canyon Rd, is super easy. A Rav 4 could do it. Definitely my preferred way to get up there when the roads are jammed.

 

I've done both Coxey and pioneer town to big bear. Both excellent ways to get up there. Pretty views and scenery. Both more fun/challenging in the snow.

 

^ Is the Pioneer trail doable for a Tacoma Prerunner with a locker? I want to take this trail with a friend but his is a 2WD Baja build.

 

Very doable. 4WD not needed.

 

I saw quite a few chains when I was coming down the 18 on Sunday and a few in town when I was in Big Bear, how do people not realize they have lost them?

 

If it's dry, yes. Heavy snow, no.

 

A few buddies and I were planning on doing pioneer town to Big Bear this weekend and camping at a bit lower elevation but we’ll have a CRV (unsure of drivetrain), 2wd Sequoia and a 2wd Pilot. Figured with the snow the past couple weeks, we’d head to Anza Borrego instead so it doesn’t get messy.

Looking forward to it either way.

 

Never checked back in after Anza Borrego. Hit Mine Wash first then went to Little Blair Valley and camped. I slept diagonally in the bed and it worked out great.

 

Anyone know what current snow conditions are like in big bear right now? I'm thinking about doing an overnight trip and hit gold mountain first weekend of May.

 

Any TW Friends interested in doing gold mountain this weekend? I've never done it before and it would be great to get a spotter that knows some lines.