Oriflamme Canyon Run - TBD

My bad! I didn’t see your tag!

I do second @WileECoyote though. It’s doable in 2wd but it would be a little more difficult from the S2 to Banner since you’re going uphill.

I’ve never done the Rodriguez TT but I’d like to check it out.

@eccracer104 @Prayn4surf this is he thread for the Saturday run. My truck will be under the knife tonight but I’d still like to make it if I can.

 

@desertjunkie760 amd I did the steep part pretty much in the dark. Ive run the trail both ways, as @WileECoyote me tioned (btw I wish I never saw your post on robot wars) it can be done. There is loose shale rock on the steepest part, but not really undoable for a 2wd depending on your comfortability. There is one steep rutted “ish” section, but it is doable. Ive also never done the Rodriguez truck trail portion. I most likely will be down to run this with you guys. Its a fun easy trail. It mostly gets its rating from the steep drop off of the climb up the canyon on the east side. It would be bad to go off trail there.

 

I drove Rodriguez about six months ago, the day after I bought my truck. From the Banner side. It was pretty easy, and the rock gardens are bypassable. But unless it's been graded since then, there are going to be some very challenging spots for a 2WD truck. So I'd recommend having a locker and offroad tires, or a 4x4 ahead of you that's willing to help pull you up if you got stuck. There are some pretty deep ruts at various angles to the roadway on the way up -- the kind that always put one drive wheel in the air. I didn't try too hard before I just switched to 4LO and climbed out. Probably a skilled driver could do it with RWD, but since I'm usually driving alone, I don't take a ton of risks with obstacles. There's a long way to fall if you were to roll over, or let the ruts drag your tires over the edge. Although I didn't really take any pictures of the challenges, there are some great places to stop for photos on the way up. There's also a really neat stamp mill you can admire from a distance (it's on private land). Here's the only photo I got (other than my current profile photo):



Keep an eye out for cattle, and make sure to leave all the gates as you found them. (One or two of them are just barbed wire with hubcaps so you can see them.) Showing respect to the locals, the land, and whatever rules the BLM has posted, will help keep those gates unlocked for us in the future.

I've never done Oriflamme so I can't compare to it, nor have I driven Rodriguez from the other side. But if you want to try Rodriguez, the "top to bottom" direction (i.e., from the Banner side) would be your best bet for a 2WD. I remember there were some rock steps near the boulder fields that would be tough to climb without 4LO if you went the other direction.

 

I was planning on leaving Escondido around 9 if anyone wants to meet me at a gas station or something. Let me know!

 

I'm almost positive of the "steep rutted 'ish' section" you are talking about. But yeah, totally agree that a 2wd should be able to do it.

 

I'd go if I could. Just being pulled in too many directions right now!!!

 

Me too, Im gonna hit the dirt but I think its gonna be up in the mtns. I cant stop playing war robots!!!

 

Btw, something I noticed, the "RED" team seems to be made up of less experienced players in the morning??? I noticed that I win more battles in the morning mid-morning mid-afternoon'ish. As it starts to become later in the day... around 4-6pm the "RED" team seems more organized and, most definitely, well armed with ridiculous weaponry. Don't get me wrong, the morning battles can be challenging, but it just seems easier all around??? To me at least.

Oh, and the tactics are much more, or seem, more coordinated as well in the evening hours.

 

I'm Gold Lvl III at the moment. I keep bouncing between III and II.

 

@YumaTRD

 

@desertjunkie760 are you going tomorrow?

 

Still pending. Is it only you as of now?

 

Yea just me

 

Wish I could join. If you do decide to go alone, be safe and have fun.

Safe travels!!!

 

How hot was it?

 

Not that bad actually. I think it was 90ish

 

Those two I posted already were the only ones I took. Lame I know ha but I did get some GoPro footage.

 

Actually got one more ha but this is just the dirty aftermath