You should be fine. the milder trails are not that difficult and 2wd should do fine.

 

I'm down for the easy/medium trail. I'll leave the hardcore stuff to Bruce and Lance.

 

I want to go on this run but it's the weekend of my birthday so we'll see what happens

 

Sounds like fun!! Bull & Holcomb are fun!!!

 

guys,

i may be able to squeeze this one in. i'd like to give a shot at the moderate stuff. and how hardcore is hardcore? do you have to be spec'd/equipped like bruce and lance?

bob

 

woohoo Tedd, looks like we'll have a sweet SAS to watch on the trails!

Bob, I think we'll have two different runs, one geared for moderate stuff and the other for the hard stuff. Depending on how many vehicles show up, we'll have to determine what is considered moderate. Since if we get a group of 2wd vehicles, then we want to make sure they have just as much fun as everyone else

The hard stuff will require the usual rear locker, 32's min (2-3" lift) and some body protection (i.e. sliders, skids). I only say this because when Bruce and I did the last bear run, we had a dbl cab taco w/ 32's (i think) and sliders and a lift get thru all of that crazy stuff so I'm sure others w/ the same spec can get it thru (although I must say that driver had some great skills).

We'll keep the trails open for all levels so we can have fun together

 

Since we are planning to stay the whole weekend this time, I'm sure many of you will be able to handle some of the tougher terrain. We'll just take our time and make sure everybody gets through.

 

I suggest we start planning for camping (group/individual). We can all wing it too. I'm not going to reserve in big bear. There are plenty of primitive camping available, and since it is an off weekend, we should do okay.

I may come up one day early, to go to snow summit and catch some runs on my bike.

 

I am open for suggestions on where a good camping location would be. Since I've never camped out at Bear I can't really say where the best place would be so if any of ya have some suggestions I'm open for any!

Looking at some maps I see a few:
Horse Springs (3N14 x 4N16)
Green Valley (2N13 just north of 3N16 junction)
Crab Flats (sp?) (3N16 x 1W17 approx)
Holcomb Valley ($20.00 per night so I don't think we want this one)

I know there are more out there but I'm open for suggestions!

I'm going to try to go (tentative) check out some trails/camp site next weekend July 24th (sat) and see if I can find some decent primitive camp sites where we don't have to pay... (ofcourse I think we all must have the "Adventure Pass" though... ugh)

 

Personally, I am planning to take advantage of their yellow flag sites. They're free to use, and they have picnic tables, fire ring, and parking (no running water or toilet). To get one of these sites, you will need to get a permit at the discovery center. They are first come first served.

 

Yellow Flag Site? Where's that Loi? How late is the Discovery Center open (since I'll try to roll in after work on Friday evening... figure get to the mountain around 8-9ish?)

Ideally speaking I'd like to get everyone together so we can all camp together as it'll be a blast to get everyone together and bond again (like pismo).

 

I've camped down by the water (forgot the name) pretty close to the discovery center. That has toilet / water. It might be hot and uncomfortable at the more primitive sites (not sure about that tho)...

Lance, do you know which trail drops down out of Big Bear (snow summit side) down into a camp/rv area on the way back to LA? I want to say 3N17...narrow rocky descent down?

 

FirstToy:

I took a quick peek at a general map and I have no clue since I've never done the snow summit side. That side looks like purely fireroads (not sure).

I think we're gonna be looking at stayin on the northside of the mountain (fawnskin side). Exactly where we'll camp, I've got no clue. Figure I'll go drive out and see waht I can find to accomodate for a dozen trucks or so. Gotta make sure it's gonna be 2wd friendly too

 

Sweet, Count me in. I'm 95% sure about making it. It will be a fun opprotunity to try out my JD kit. If it's not against the rules, I might bring out a buddy with a stock 2004 Jeep. I'm gonna say that I'll be in the easy/medium category, even though I might stray and try some harder stuff later. Not quite ready to get damage this soon after all the money I'm spending.

 

I too am 75% sure I can come up, but more than likely just for Saturday...have to work on Sunday
Unless of course I "broke" something while I was there and couldn't drive home in time....
And yes...me and my inept 2wd arse would be sticking to the easy/medium trails as well.

 

Lance,
I've been on the snow summit side tons of times (mostly on my mtb) and it seems like there are lots of 4x4 trails that are "black diamond"- there are some pretty serious trail starts that I couldn't even attempt anyway.

The trail I'm talking about is a one-lane trail that descends all the way down to the basin to a little river....there is a little grocery store right off (sorry i'm being so vauge)the road there

I've been around the fawnskin side with the gold mine trails (whatever that's called) but most of it seemed pretty easy...never really explored though.
One time I was camping up there and it started raining- the trails turned to slick mud! All the easy ascents turned into real challenges, I was worried aobut sliding off the mountian side!

Anyway, I'm going to try and make it if work allows.

 

i just got my sliders on (thanks steve!!!!!)so i need to scratch the hell out of them anybody up for something sooner maybe a half day run or after work jaunt. i really want to do big bear but it's almost baby time so we'll have to see........ hey Marc the sliders look just like your only cooler.............

 

Cool, I do hope you can make it! I will see if I can go up there next weekend and see what I can find on that side of the mountain. I thought that side was all fireroads for the mountain bikers (summertime).

I'm open for a quick day run if anyone is interested so we can discover some fun stuff. In the meantime, I'll check online and see if anyone knows of trails on the southside of the mountain.

Thanks!

 

Most likely fire restrictions will still be in place- meaning no fires or charcoal BBQ's- propane devices only

 

Nope, I confirmed with Discovery Center today. They have a fire pit on the campsite, and you only need a fire permit to do so.