SocalTacomas BIG BEAR Campout/trail runs 12/9-12/11

i was waiting for you to chime in. i knew somebody around here lived up there. Unfortunately the only thing i know about the area is how to get to Bear Mountain resort.

When you say that 60% of them are closed, do you mean the camp sites or the trails?

 

trails...

there are seriously 150+ trails up here so theres plenty of places to go...

the south side is shut down because the resorts use them as access to the mountains and servicing their snow making equipment etc

all of the camp grounds are closed but there are tons of primative sites still open. tons of room for 20+ trucks even more. TTORA had 40+ trucks this summer in the same area. no restrictions.

 

heres a few pics from last years snow run



















in the lunch area a few got stuck.


hummers where passing by and one of us was in the way


hummers where cheating they had chains front and back!!


leader hummer had to pull out blue tacoma


who say's hummers with front and rear chains dont get stuck? he had to be pulled out


so for us who always get stuck we decided to give up and put on some chains
thanks alex for lending me some chains. damn chains are awesome!!!


down the main road airing up


damn trip took 8hours!!

moral lesson: use chains if u dont have good tires (props to yotoda, diabloalex and dan). i will definitely get some chains soon.

thank you for all the help you guys!!! lets do it again[/QUOTE]

 

Sweet looking trip.

Now i just need to find us a spot

 

thats a bad ass hummer!
if snow is that thick ill probably grab some chains

 

huge camping area... this is just where the trucks were parked there were 10+ tents and a few campers out there too


http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&l...+Bear+City,+California+92314&t=h&z=19&vpsrc=6

this area is huge and flat. perfect camp area. no fees. just need an adventure pass

 

you need chains up here anyway. if your caught without chains its a $250 fine. if its snowing they wont let you up the mountain with out them...

plus, if there is any snow on the ground a prerunner wont make it on any trails without chains.

 

does that area have a name? something i can look up or coordinates?

 

just look at the map link i posted

 

keep in mind the best way to get to the camp is Van Dusen but Van dusen is closed after november so you need to take polique cyn rd

 

this is good info
Considering/willing to bet 75% of the participants will be prerunners
(not bashing anyone )

 

cool, totally missed the link. Thanks

 

Shit. I'm gettin scared now. Was hoping I wouldn't have to buy anything extra this time around; bought chains last winter and upgraded to bigger tires in late winter, so my old ones don't fit. Don't wanna be getting stuck everywhere I go. Situations like this are why I'm shooting for a 4x next year.

 

also, it doesnt matter 4x4 or not. the $250 fine or them not letting you up the mtn still stands. its not biased to 2wd.


if there is a lot of snow you will seriously hate life. the pictures from last years run were all 4x4s and it took 8 hours to do a 45 minute dirt road

skill plays a large roll but 4x4> than prerunner and the 4x4s were hating life....

a skilled locked prerunner with chains might have made it. if he was in the back of the pack following the packed tracks. its doable but expect a tough run...

 

that sucks....
I always thought it was 4x4 or chains to head up the hill...

 

nope, they wouldnt let my beast up. i had to take the back way. damn glad i know the trails. theres ways to get up the mountain and never touching pavement.

 

Dont let me scare you guys. its fun and snow wheeling is amazing. just make sure your prepared. shovels (not snow shovels) you need a hard shovel to clear packed snow...

plenty of warm gear!!! tow straps, tire chains, etc. Dont rely on each other for tow straps. last year we had to daisy chain 3 straps together to get to the stuck white jeep that was with us... sliders and a hilift help in case you get centered on snow. hilift up and a shovel the snow out to get out. Its a learning experience but should not be taken lightly either. Like it says in the OP not a run for the weak!

 

(INSERT ATRAC JOKE/REPLY HERE)

 

I wanna enjoy the weekend- not be stuck in a winter hell.