Monthly So Cal Off-Road Run

Thanks for the heads up, I'll try giving the ranger station or the forest service up there a call before I head out.

 

http://wp.sbcounty.gov/cao/countywire/?p=5898

 

Heard of someone getting a $1000 fine here in SD last week from a co-worker, but don't know what the violation code was for, they were attempting to go camping but got pulled over before they could reach the destination.

 

Yeesh, that is a steep fine...that sucks. I would've thought it would be a couple hundred maybe, but a thousand bucks? Guess we know where his stimulus check is going lol.

 

Just spoke to the ranger station in fawnskin and they said the trails are open. Some are closed but Holcomb valley trail is open to Baldwin lake. They also said that there’s a stay at home order so unless your walking distance to the trail from your home then they don’t recommend going out there.

I asked what would happen if we got caught up there and the nice lady on the phone said she didn’t know what they would do.

 

It sounds like it's not technically against the rules to be up on those main fire road trails, probably because some people do live back around there and use those roads to get to/from the city. They're probably just urging people to still not come up for the sake of the residents and them having to stay at home.

I sympathize both ways, I love going up there myself especially in the snow (particularly during what is probably the last snow of the season right now), and I'm going stir crazy myself being stuck at home watching my truck sit unused in the driveway for days on end. But, when you think of all the people living up there with their industry almost entirely shut down and forcing themselves to stay at home, it kind of feels intrusive just to be going up there for fun.

It's a tough call but personally I would probably choose to find some BLM land to wheel on instead, since BLM is still open for the most part...just not the developed OHV trails/campgrounds on BLM. Still tons of BLM dirt roads though that are OK to drive

 

All I know is SBCSD and other law enforcement agencies are heavily patrolling the San Bernardino mtns . If you're not a resident you're not welcome there

Plus as of yesterday there's (12) confirmed cases of COVID19 up there

 

Based on what the Ranger Station said, and whats posted around, it sounds like they don't want people coming up there if they're not locals. Travelers coming through increases the chances and opportunities for transmission. A small community like the Big Bear area definitely can't handle a lot of cases. Plus they know that if people are up there using the trails, they'll most likely congregate, and not respect the Social Distancing. And possibly the most important, more people using the trails leads to more potential for accidents that would strain the already limited rescue and medical resources even further.

So they are asking and encouraging people to simply not travel up there. I don't think I'm going to go up today, as much as I'm going to hate missing out on driving around the snow, which is something I've been wanting to do all season. It sure is a bummer.

I'll keep an eye out and and my ears open, and consider going next weekend, when there isn't fresh snow. But chances are good it won't change, and I'll probably end up not going up again. We'll see.

 

I’m up here now and I’ve only seen 2 law enforcement and plenty of people on the trail

only bad news is that we came up in the wife’s traverse instead of the 4Runner so our exploring will be limited

 

Looks like they plowed the fire road? Or is that a city street

 

sweet, did any of the LEOs give you guys any sideways glances or anything like that? Did you see them on the roads, or were they patrolling on the trail?

 

I went to sugarpine mountain saw no patrol officers the trail was pretty washed lots or rocks and ruts from the rain. Got some snow though at the top pretty good day honestly.

 

no actually no one even bothered with us and that was the main fire road there was just enough traffic on the trail to clear a lot of the snow on the main road

 

I may or may not have gone for a ride

 

I was up there Wednesday, if you can see your house you aren't wrong

 

where is this?

 

Down by the border, not local to you

 

awe that sux lol