Stick a fork in it, the 2023 NorCal Wheeling, Camping, and Fuckery Thread is done.

Oy.

 

Big oof.

 

Sounds like every time I try to fish the Carson River!!!

 

https://imgur.com/a/c2QYI4r

Deer Valley run on Saturday. Busy day with 3 separate clubs out but pretty clean run in and out in a few hours.

 

Which direction?

 

Both. Started on the north side at lower blue lakes at around 9:30, stopped around for a beer around 11:30 just before the descent down to 4, had some food and reseated my tire bead , then ran it back up to lower blue lake by 3.

I was with some friends in their SxS so they were trailered up at Lower blue lake boat ramp area so we just ran it back.

 

Oh, shit, that's pretty fast. I'd been under the impression it took longer than that. Good to know. I'd been hoping to run it this year, but I doubt I'll have a chance to get up into the Sierras again before it starts snowing.

 

We mobbed it pretty quick. I honestly think you could do it in an hour each way without traffic and if you weren’t taking your time. But the Nevada 4WD convoy of ~15 behind us started right at the same time and we passed them coming down on our way out, so lots of those crews take their time. They wouldn’t have had time to run it back and probably drove home along HWY4.

I popped a bead coming down the Gatekeeper and we probably spent an hour and a half fucking around before just switching the spare. That didn’t help.

 

USAL

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx9cDfTsuAz

This was great. Not the only time they tried to kill one either.

 

For those into Fire Towers. Who knew Signal Peak was one of the first in CA? Anyway, this is not about that.

https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/fire-lookout-tower-sierra-buttes-18415163.php

It's about Sierra Buttes.

 

It's a pretty easy day trip...





Unless you are following a 76 3/4 ton Chevy on 35s that has issues with the fuel system.









That was a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG day.

 

Planning a trip down south for an end of November trip. Planned route is Bay Area down to Joshua Tree, Joshua Tree to Sedona, Sedona to Death Valley, then back up to Bay Area. Any recommendations for sites/views/hikes in the Sedona area? TIA!

 

We just got back from a week in Sedona. Absolutely beautiful country. We hit up Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock (same parking area), Slide Rock SP, Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, and watched the sun set from Schnebly Hill Vista overlook. The Schnebly trail from 179 isn't too exciting and I only put it in 4WD because I got tired of listening to my front axels slapping around. Most of the hikes were short and easy on the elevation gain/loss. Take the time to go check out Jerome and have a bloody mary at the Haunted Hamburger. Made me think of @TOP TACO. I'll come back and post up some pics from my phone.
The dispersed camping got some new rules slapped on last year. They have 4 designated dispersed camping areas all located on FR 525. Basically, they are wide dirt parking areas that can accommodate 6-10 rigs. No real trees around so you are at the mercy of whatever winds are blowing. We ended up camping at a State Park most of the way to Prescott and it took ~45 minutes to drive into Sedona. They absolutely love their round-abouts with one popping up every 3/4 mile or so going out 89A to Cottonwood. Fuck those things.

 

Small world, while I did not make it to Sedonia, I was was at Cottonwood and Jerome at end of September and also got to hate the roundabouts, two of which I noticed did not yet even have side roads. We camped at Dead Horse State Park. Mostly cooked meals at the campsite but we did venture into Old Town Cottonwood one morning and highly recommend the Red Rooster for breakfast. Not great scenery at Dead Horse campground but I can forgive scenery when hot showers are included with the site plus Tuzigoot National Monument is nearby and was a good side trip for me to buy another NPS iron-patch to velcro to the Taco's headliner. I agree, Jerome is a must see tourist stop, the whole town is barely clawing to the side of a steep mountain with every street at a different elevations with steep grades and historical buildings from the 1910's now transformed into boutiques and eateries. As the story goes, during the expansion of one of the mine shafts, the vibration from a dynamite blast sent the jail sliding 200 feet downhill where it still stands today. While there, don't overlook the Jerome SP museum, I was a bit hesitant to go thinking it would be a turn of century mansion preserved with original overstuffed period furniture but went anyways to get another iron-on patch. To my delight, I found the museum to be an interesting mix of the town history and history of the copper the mine which caused the town to exist - all which just happens to be in a preserved stately mansion from times long past. As a bonus, if you like twisty mountain roads, then the road to Jerome from Clarkdale and from Jerome on to Prescott will make you wish you were in a sports car and not a Taco. Somewhere between Cottonwood and Jerome is the Verde Canyon Railroad but they're not dog friendly so while we stopped to look, we had to pass on a rail excursion. From there it was up to Flagstaff to go to Walnut Canyon National Monument and from there back home with an overnight at a BLM site outside of Barstow.


Jerome AZ from distance


Tuzigoot National Monument

 

Welp…Facebook marketplace finally had something worthwhile..

 

Went awanderin' earlier this month.
Truck didn't see much dirt, but the boots did:

 

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!