Myself, and two buddies, headed up to Gold Mountain yesterday. I was a bit nervous, since this was my first taste of rock crawling. In addition, this trail was rated as a Black Diamond. I got through everything, only requiring a strap once. The run was challenging, but super fun! Here are the pics

At the start of the Gold Mountain trail


Approaching the first real obstacle


Getting through the first real obstacle!


Start of the long rock garden on the talus slope


Coming to the end of the rock garden


Needed a strap here. The obstacle doesn't look hard, but the rocks were just in the wrong spots for my tires. I need bigger tires!


Here's an awesome Land Cruiser pickup we saw on the trail



This trail was awesome! Like I said before, this was my first rock crawling trip. It makes me really want to build up my truck more. I need a marlin crawler, new gears, SAS, and 35s!

At the end of the trail, we headed to John Bull. Since I have open diffs and 31s, I opted not to drive. I road with my buddy in his jeep. That trail is awesome, and way tougher than Gold Mountain. I'm glad I didn't take my truck on it. There would have been some massive carnage.

Let me know if you have any more questions on either of these trails

 

You need lockers. Look at post by TC and AxleIke. Both have built incredible rigs.

 

Next time try airing your tires down, you'll get better traction. Looks like a fun run.

 

I aired down to about 18psi. It doesn't look like it in the pics I guess. Either that or my gauge is off.

 

Looks like you had a great time. Gold Mtn is always fun, and I am glad you got to ride shotgun for John Bull.

 

Gold Mtn is a fun run.. We were out there just last weekend.

Here's that first obstacle, the right-side line


Another newbie in our group, first time out


Here is me and my truck, deflowering her after completing a PreRunner to 4WD conversion


Did White Mtn earlier in the day


Went back out to SBNF yesterday and ran Cleghorn Ridge Trail.

 

Looks like a good time. Put a rear locker in and you can make it through John Bull. I did john bull with 31s, sliders and a rear locker and I'm a horrible driver...

 

You're right, I probably could do it with a locker. There was a group of land rovers on the trail right before us. One of them was basically stock...no lockers and stock highway tires. He made it through, but caused horrible congestion behind him. Everyone was super frustrated. I don't want to be that guy.


Pray4surf: How is White Mountain compared to Gold Mt? I've actually never even heard of it. Where abouts is it?

 

http://www.dirtopia.com/wiki/White_Mountain_Trail

Terrain is a bit different. not as many sharp, angular rocks, whereas Gold seems to be nothing but rocks, there is plenty of dirt on White Mtn...

 

the landscape of White Mt looks more like the area around Cleghorn/Silverwood than the rest of Big Bear. I'll have to check it out sometime. \

How did the 4wd hold up on its maiden voyage?

 

Just fine. Everything I asked the truck to do, it did so without any hesitation. I did have one of my OBA pressurized airlines come off the fitting while on Gold Mtn. Had to finish the run with an open rear diff (so I passed up the Talus slope). Was an easy fix later than evening after the engine compartment cooled down. Had I wanted to cook my forearms, I could have reattached the airline right then and there....