Event Information

[GSequoia]

SoCal Fest 2010
May 7 - 9, 2010
Big Bear, California

This is an official NAXJA event.

Required Equipment:
Please see the required equipment thread. (http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1023094)

Planned activities, Friday:
Trail runs on San Bernardino National Forest, trails determined at Big Bear Discovery center, 9:00 am based on local conditions and event attendees. There will be trail runs for all attendees, guaranteed!

Planned activities, Saturday:
Trail runs on San Bernardino National Forest, trails determined at Big Bear Discovery center, 9:00 am based on local conditions and event attendees. There will be trail runs for all attendees, guaranteed!

Planned activities, Sunday:
Trail maintenance of NAXJA's adopted trail 2N04. If we have a large number of volunteers maintenance will be done quickly and trail runs may be scheduled after maintenance.

Meeting Places:
Friday and Saturday: Big Bear Discovery Center, 9.00am
Saturday Night Dinner/Raffle: NAXJA SoCal Fest Headquarters, Serrano Campground sites 81/82 & 84/85 (adjoining sites).
Sunday: Big Bear Ranger Station, 9.00am

Camping/Lodging:
Serrano Campgrounds (http://www.boyandjeep.com/maps-trails/big-bear-area/serrano-campgrounds), reserve a site between 067 - 101, see camping thread (http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1023085) for more information.

CB Channel:
Primary and secondary CB Channels for each run will be determined at drivers' meetings.

Dinner:
Rick and Bonnie will be putting on an Italian Spaghetti themed dinner. As usual it will be quite delicious.
$10 for a generous serving of food.
$15 for a bottomless plate of food (free refills).
Pre-Pay available here. (http://services.nicandjosh.com/naxjashop/product.php?id_product=14)

Raffle:
There will be a raffle after Saturday's dinner, more information will come soon. Click here to Donate (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFFwY2k3ckVaSHlCeVdmdDdRbG1mWHc6M A)

Notes:
Big Bear ranges in elevation from 6,000 - 8,000 feet expect the possibility of snow patches and some cold weather. The event will happen regardless of weather, watch weather reports and pack accordingly.

[jeeperjohn]

Oh good, this is not a resurrected thread from like 03 or something :D

[GSequoia]

Follow this event on Facebook! (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=307796111514)

[HeepSpeed]

Follow this event on Facebook! (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=307796111514)

good idea

[SanDiegoOverland]

Several questions...

can you tell me what the costs involved are? is it just fuel, campground, and food, basically?

any fee's to go on trailrides or the raffle/dinner?

I have three daughters ranging from 4.5 to 6months. We're considering bringing the two older ones. Think they'd have a good time? They're already good campers!

pic. thread of the camping spots?

[HeepSpeed]

Pic thread of trails? I know there's video on youtube as well from past events... I :lurk: online a lot.

[Carol.92124]

Fuel & food are somewhat mandatory costs. Campground's $28/night where the group is. Some folks stay at the Motel 6 in town, or at a friend's, etc. Some folks just drive up for the day (but from San Diego with younger kids, I'd think you'd be better off using the girls' camping skills.

The raffle & dinner are both optional; the raffle tickets will be for sale, as will the dinner tickets. There is no fee for the trail rides. I would presume your girls would have fun, as it's pretty & camp-esque up there. May be cold, may be balmy (it was beautiful last year, though!).

[SanDiegoOverland]

Fuel & food are somewhat mandatory costs. Campground's $28/night where the group is. Some folks stay at the Motel 6 in town, or at a friend's, etc. Some folks just drive up for the day (but from San Diego with younger kids, I'd think you'd be better off using the girls' camping skills.

The raffle & dinner are both optional; the raffle tickets will be for sale, as will the dinner tickets. There is no fee for the trail rides. I would presume your girls would have fun, as it's pretty & camp-esque up there. May be cold, may be balmy (it was beautiful last year, though!).


perfect. thank you, madam. :sunshine:

[4xSanta]

perfect. thank you, madam. :sunshine:

I did not know you were a" Madam" Carol Nice.....SANTA

[Carol.92124]

I did not know you were a" Madam" Carol Nice.....SANTA
Hey, if I was, I sure wouldn't be as broke as I usually am!! So I think that's one thing I'll have to declare myself innocent of...

[bluedog23]

Madam ??? That did make me do a double take.....but that'sok, I also read "pack" accordingly as "prank" accordingly !

[Carol.92124]

Wow, Karen, I had no idea you thought like that! (Yeah...right). Actually, "pranking accordingly" could be about right, on some trips (like the one with the wandering gnome).

[SanDiegoOverland]

jeez.:rolleyes:

[Carol.92124]

jeez.:rolleyes:
We get that a lot... I tried using Mind Wash, but it doesn't seem to get the dirt out, so I just roll with it :rof:.

[GSequoia]

Please note event date change, new event dates are May 7 - 9 2010.

[XJ4Christ]

I might bring family up for day.

[GSequoia]

Dinner information added to original post.

[djblade311]

Dinner has changed from Mexican food to Spaghetti and Garlic bread. You can still pre-order your dinner here (http://services.nicandjosh.com/naxjashop/product.php?id_product=14)

We still are in need of some raffle donations. Click Here to Donate (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFFwY2k3ckVaSHlCeVdmdDdRbG1mWHc6M A)

[djblade311]

Here are my pics from SoCalFest 09 (http://nicandjosh.com/modules/gallery/v/Travel/SocalFest09/) I didnt have much time to snap additional photos

[Skwerly]

Nice. That red rig sure looks cool. :D

[Gerr]

Any idea on what runs there will be yet?

[JohnX]

Runs are never decided until Saturday morning. :(

[Gerr]

Ya I know what I wana run and what ill be told I can run will be differnt too. I'm kinda tired of being told my rig can't keep up.

[Carol.92124]

QUOTE=JohnX;244910431]Runs are never decided until Saturday morning. :([/QUOTE]
That's to avoid the whole "event with permits and craptons of paperwork & additional costs" scenario.

We'll be trying to offer as wide of a variety of runs as possible, covering all build levels.

If you're wanting to try a run that you are told requires more build than you have, you can always try talking to the run leader & state your case--it's pretty much their final call, and there may be extenuating circumstances. But if it's still "no", please take it gracefully, and enjoy the heck out of whatever you run instead.

If there are build requirements, we just have to remember that it's for the good of all involved... If you have 20 rigs run John Bull and it takes all day because one rig that wasn't built up enough for it went, and broke something and/or got stuck & winched repeatedly, that's really not fair to the other 19 folk on that run.

If you snap an axle shaft because you did a hard run on a Dana 35 with 35" tires (or any number of other combinations), you just made a poor choice and inflicted that choice on everyone on that trail with you :twak:.
Breakage and carnage can happen to the best built rigs (even ones that are way overbuilt for what they're running), due to accumulated wear and tear, or inattention. We're just trying to avoid the avoidable, so everyone has the best time possible!

There are many many runs I'm not built up enough for, and I just sigh, curse my bank account, and enjoy doing what my rig is capable of. Or I grab shotgun and go along for the ride. I always have fun anyway!

I'd say that's my 2 cents worth, but it's long enough that maybe it's my 2 dollars worth!

Carol

[Gerr]

Looks like thunderstorms on monday but we should have good weather for the event weather dot com has 65 and 66 as the highs and lows mid 30's good times

[djblade311]

brrr its gonna be COLD!

[Skwerly]

Couple years ago it was 19 degrees at night. I can handle low 30s. :D

[Carol.92124]

It'll be "brisk"!!

[karstic]

Couple years ago it was 19 degrees at night. I can handle low 30s. :D

I remember that year and I slept in a freakin' tent.

[bluedog23]

I think I love my propane heater !

[GSequoia]

I think I love my propane heater !

I'm bringing two, gotta have a spare!

[Carol.92124]

I'll simmer a pot of water in the Egg... rather than an Egg in a pot of water =)

[WebDog]

I'm bringing two, gotta have a spare!

What kind of heaters do you guys have?

[Carol.92124]

I know Karen has a Coleman Tent Heater. You're not supposed to leave it on when you're sleeping, but it'll take the chill off before you jump into your sleeping bag.

I'll just pile on the sleeping bags Thurs, and make a daughter or 2 sleep next to me Friday & Saturday =).

[GSequoia]

COleman tent heaters here as well. I tend to fire it up a little while before I plan to go to bed so the tent gets warm, get in my bag and then turn it off, and then turn it on in the morning to warm up the tent before I venture out of my bag.

[Skwerly]

I remember that year and I slept in a freakin' tent.

Yea, me too. And I got lost. Again. :D

[GrimmJeeper]

I remember that year and I slept in a freakin' tent.

me too, that was the year I brought my kids up and they played with the damn tent all day and broke the zipper. i slept in a tent with NO DOOR and it was windy as all hell. thank god the wife n kids could all fit in the jeep together, but i slept on the ground with an emergency blanket covering me in an open tent all night. not fun lol

[Skwerly]

What a hero. :D

[bluedog23]

What, no duct tape for tent repair ? I froze Friday and was even more frozen Saturday....even with the tent heater going all night. I unzip a window a bit to replace the air the heater consumes. Next year, I'll try 2 heaters !

[Gerr]

Next year ill upgrade from jeep to tent and heater combo

[Skwerly]

You may wanna upgrade the whiskey, as well, bud. :D

[Gerr]

Oh I got better but that's for those special days where I just want to sip something while I work on the jeep.

Cheap is for getting my drunk on

[souske]

What kind of heaters do you guys have?

Good ol frijoles:passgas:

figures the one time I try to get the jeep to warm up before bed the blower motor doesnt work..... I guess it was still pissed at me for trying to keep up with JeepspeederJohn.:laugh:

[WebDog]

I bought and used one of those heaters but it didint do **** in my huge ass tent! I might take it back...

Hopefully next year ill have my camping trailer built and i can run a small electric heater.

[bluedog23]

Yeah, the heaters do come in a couple of different BTU's With a new tank of propane, heater set on high, mine will not last the entire night. Set on low it lasts but doesn't put out enough heat. A few options I'm going to try are hooking it to a gallon size propane tank, getting a 2nd heater, or getting a bigger and warmer dog :)

[GrimmJeeper]

Yeah, the heaters do come in a couple of different BTU's With a new tank of propane, heater set on high, mine will not last the entire night. Set on low it lasts but doesn't put out enough heat. A few options I'm going to try are hooking it to a gallon size propane tank, getting a 2nd heater, or getting a bigger and warmer dog :)

Be careful, burning propane makes CO2. You shouldnt run a propane tent heater all night in a closed tent - you might not wake up. It says this right on the heaters. Here are some safety tips for using tent heaters:

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/safety-tips-in-using-propane-heaters-in-camping-664796.html

:patriot:

[Johnnie Walker]

You may wanna upgrade the whiskey, as well, bud. :D

Oh I got better but that's for those special days where I just want to sip something while I work on the jeep.

Cheap is for getting my drunk on
There is cheap, and then there is lamest excuse for a drink. Hangovers are the worst when you are camping.

[bluedog23]

Thanks, yep, I keep a window open a good 8". I think getting a battery op CO2 sensor might get a good idea too.


Be careful, burning propane makes CO2. You shouldnt run a propane tent heater all night in a closed tent - you might not wake up. It says this right on the heaters. Here are some safety tips for using tent heaters:

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/safety-tips-in-using-propane-heaters-in-camping-664796.html

:patriot:

[GrimmJeeper]

There is cheap, and then there is lamest excuse for a drink.

wow, bitter much?

[Johnnie Walker]

wow, bitter much?
No, but I saw what they were drinking.. and I have had it before. It was the Trader Joe's "blended scotch whiskey" which is not worth the money. For the price paid for that there is higher quality stuff. Don't get me wrong I don't mind free alcohol, and some of the best beer, or alcohol, in this case free beer (alcohol). But when it doesnt go down right, thats no bueno. And I know D-rek felt it.

[Skwerly]

I felt it all night, and for about 3/4 of the next day! :D

[Gerr]

No, but I saw what they were drinking.. and I have had it before. It was the Trader Joe's "blended scotch whiskey" which is not worth the money. For the price paid for that there is higher quality stuff. Don't get me wrong I don't mind free alcohol, and some of the best beer, or alcohol, in this case free beer (alcohol). But when it doesnt go down right, thats no bueno. And I know D-rek felt it.
I drink it all the time it isn't bad but it isn't good either. I'm not picky because I can't afford to be.

[Johnnie Walker]

I drink it all the time it isn't bad but it isn't good either. I'm not picky because I can't afford to be.
Maybe my taste buds aren't as tainted to the taste(or lack thereof). To each his own. That stuff just makes me wanna throw up in my mouth a little.

BevMo is where it's at. There are tons off no-name/unheard of stuff there that is pretty decent.

[Skwerly]

I'm with Dan--I'll drink just about anything. It's just how it is. Being relatively poor is also why I have a taste for Budweiser, I guess. :)

[souske]

wow, bitter much?
Something about a gift horse......I forget the rest.....:D

[GrimmJeeper]

Something about a gift horse......I forget the rest.....:D

my point exactly, but he said he wasn't drinking it either... so why put down another man's booze and call it "lamest excuse for a drink"? if it was a 80$ bottle of 20 year old scotch would you go shake his hand and pat him on the back for a job well done?


:D

[Gerr]

Ok guys I think this went far enough before it turns into a fued like times in the past let's just all drink what we like and leave it at that.











Ps
The GAME

[GrimmJeeper]

ohhhhh below the belt!


I'll drink your whiskey and like it Dan, but that doesn't make me your bitch. we all know who everyone's bitch is :D

[Gerr]

ohhhhh below the belt!


I'll drink your whiskey and like it Dan, but that doesn't make me your bitch. we all know who everyone's bitch is :D
Speaking of him where is Ted ;)

Mike we really gota get togeter soon

[GSequoia]

if it was a 80$ bottle of 20 year old scotch would you go shake his hand and pat him on the back for a job well done?

I'd probably call him an elitist snob then go put zip ties on his driveshaft.

[Gerr]

And I'd piss in your heater vents when I found out it was you :)
I'd probably call him an elitist snob then go put zip ties on his driveshaft.

[GrimmJeeper]

I'd probably call him an elitist snob then go put zip ties on his driveshaft.

about 30 feet of fishing line with a couple beer cans tied to the end, tied to the rear axle works much better. they drag far enough behind that you can just barely hear them and the sound drives you nuts cause every time you get out to check you can't see anything dragging. :D