Swamp Lake XJ run Aug 1-3

[Goatman]

This run started out as a SoCal run, but the Sierra chapter made it an official run last year. It makes a great joint NorCal/SoCal XJ run, and has grown every year. This will be the fifth or six year, and last year I think there were 26 rigs. Swamp Lake Trail is in the Shaver Lake area, about an hour east of Fresno. The trail is easy to moderate rock crawling, is 12-14 miles long, and tops out at 9900' elevation. This is a three day trip, starting the trail on Friday morning. We'll camp in our usual spot at Dinkey Creek on Thursday night.

We run the trail halfway and then stop to camp at Grouse Lake. We've been rotating every other year between camping one night or two nights at the lake, when we camp one night on the trail we run Bald Mtn on Sunday. This year we'll camp two nights at the lake, which makes for a very relaxed and enjoyable trip. We swim in the lake, some bring blow up boats, and do some fishing and hiking. Saturday I'll lead a short hike to Little Doris Lake, a very secluded lake in the rim of the bowl above Swamp Lake......very scenic!

This year we're going to run the trail backwards to mix things up a little bit. For those who want and have the time, we can do a quick run up Bald Mtn Trail on Sunday afternoon, since running Swamp backwards will bring us right past the trailhead on the way out. If anyone can get Monday off also, this would be fun to do and we can camp again Sunday night at Dinkey Creek, or just make a late trip home.

Equipment should be at least 31's, rock rails, and a good limited slip or locker.

Is there any desire to make this a SoCal chapter run.....maybe joint with the Sierra chapter? Who wants to go?

[GSequoia]

That sounds like fun to me! Unfortunatly I'm not sure I'll be able to take the day off (I've got lots of vacation coming up). I'll see if I can pull some strings though. Well, it also depends on whether I can scrape up the money to build myself up to teh required equipment!

Sequoia

[David Taylor]

Richard, I will be there again this year.

[Bent]

Richard, If I were looking on a map, could I get another clue?

or two.

Thanks,
tim

[Porch Puppy]

Richard,
I'll be there -- bringing my father-in-law in his XJ too. It'll be nice to spend an entire day at Grouse this year. I don't think I'll make the Bald Mtn run though.
Andy

[wrk24wheel]

The wife and I and of course Angel will also be attending. I should have the XJ finished with all the new goodies that were not ready for BOTW II. We will probably have to drive up there Friday night and leave Sunday. BOTW and Hawaii have eaten up all my vacation time.

Kevin M.

[Goatman]

Originally posted by T Bent
Richard, If I were looking on a map, could I get another clue?

or two.

Thanks,
tim

Sure, on a map look due east from Fresno and find Shaver Lake, then look a little SE from Shaver and find Dinkey Creek area. We camp at Dinkey Creek, and the trail makes a loop to the east of Dinkey. On the map, look for the Dinkey Lakes wilderness which is just east of the trail, and for the Dinkey Lakes trailhead which is also the trailhead for the Swamp Lake Trail if running it from north to south. Since we're running it south to north this year, we can air down in camp and take dirt roads to the southern trailhead. From the northern trailhead it's about an hours drive back to the camp at Dinkey Creek.

As far as drive time, you can figure an hour to an hour and ten minutes from the east side of Fresno to the camping spot at Dinkey. It's about a three hour drive from Bakersfield.

[KINGSIZE]

My wife & I are up for it. But ill have to split Sunday morning as well.

Robert

[XJJPR]

Richard,

Is this the year of "running it backwards"?

I should be there also with Hunter and the Boat.

mark
orgs mfg

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Mark Hinkley
Richard,

Is this the year of "running it backwards"?

I should be there also with Hunter and the Boat.

mark
orgs mfg

Yeah, we'll run it backwards and stay two nights at the lake. Should be fun......

[MJR]

Originally posted by Goatman
Yeah, we'll run it backwards and stay two nights at the lake. Should be fun......

I think what Mark was getting at is you are running the Rubicon backwards and this one. What's next Wrecking Ball ?. :D

[Goatman]

Oh yeah, now I see the reference. :) Yep, both Swamp and Rubicon backwards this year. We ran Jackhammer backwards not long ago.....what else can we run backwards?

Maybe we should plan a JV run and just run trails backwards. :D

[Xjman1]

Sounds good and I am 60% sure I will join you all. I'll keep an eye on my schedule as this summer is a wild ride for my family.

Joe

[Xjman1]

Here's a link I found when doing a search on Swamp Lake. I thank whoever posted it as it help me.

Swamp Lake Trail Map (http://xjzone.designermeat.com/Trails/swamp_lake/sl_map.html)

[FarmerMatt]

Of course I'll be there. Actually Richard most guys around here run Swamp this way so I don't know if I would consider it "backwards". It does add a few wrinckles into it thogh. I enjoy going this way much more than the later.

Matt

[Jes]

Ya, me too. I'll be there once again.

Jes

[Lupine]

Crash and I will be there, fer sure.

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Lupine
Crash and I will be there, fer sure.

It will be a pleasure to have you and Crash along.

How about if we try to not have to weld up anything on his rig? ;)

Any chance you both could swing a Monday off so you could run Bald Mtn with us Sunday afternoon?

[Lupine]

Yah, there's several things we could do - Big Creek is my project, so it's rather convenient for me. I'd really like to see Bald Mountain, since we didn't get to last time, with all the strapping of the axles and whatnot. Can't guarantee that there won't be welding, but we should have the mobile welder by then.

[CRASH]

I'm just going to weld all my bolts to the nearest bit of fixed metal before leaving my house.

The new rig is not going to have any bolts at all, just metal melted together with .035 wire!

CRASH.......screw threads.

[Goatman]

Originally posted by CRASH
I'm just going to weld all my bolts to the nearest bit of fixed metal before leaving my house.

The new rig is not going to have any bolts at all, just metal melted together with .035 wire!

CRASH.......screw threads.

Why bother with the welder, just use JB Weld on everything.......much easier. :D

[XJJPR]

Originally posted by CRASH
I'm just going to weld all my bolts to the nearest bit of fixed metal before leaving my house.

The new rig is not going to have any bolts at all, just metal melted together with .035 wire!

CRASH.......screw threads.


You can't handle 035...

mark
orgs mfg

[FarmerMatt]

I agree... 023 is more your speed.

Matt

[CRASH]

.035 is where it's at.......

BTW, ORGS boy, where were you on the 'Con last weekend? I heard a rumor you were going to be there and I hauled my junk in just so you could see my cheap, ugly, knockoff of your SBS plates.

CRASH

[MJR]

Originally posted by CRASH
.035 is where it's at.......

BTW, ORGS boy, where were you on the 'Con last weekend? I heard a rumor you were going to be there and I hauled my junk in just so you could see my cheap, ugly, knockoff of your SBS plates.

CRASH

Wouldn't even be close to a SBS.:D

[Lupine]

Goat,

We'll be at Bald Mtn fer sure. I will be touring the Big Creek complex with my boss that Monday and Tuesday. :yelclap:

DAM I love my job.

[WesternXJ]

Lisa and I are planning to attend.

What should I bring for bait?

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Lupine
Goat,

We'll be at Bald Mtn fer sure. I will be touring the Big Creek complex with my boss that Monday and Tuesday. :yelclap:

DAM I love my job.

Very cool. Will you camp at Dinkey Sunday night? If so, I'll plan to stay there Sun night and drive home Mon morning. A few of us did this year before last. We ran Red Lake/Coyote Lake, and drove over to Dinkey afterwards on Sun afternoon. We started Bald Mtn around 5:00 and it was just getting dark as we finished the trail and headed back to Dinkey.

If we don't have any trail repairs on Sunday, we should be able to hit Bald Mtn easily by mid-afternoon.

Keven, can't help you with the bait.

[Erik]

I'm in. I'll be there Thursday night, I'll have to think a bit more about doing Bald Mtn. on Sunday, but if anyone wants to do a few more days in the area then I think that I can extend my vacation. I'm also hoping that with 2 nights at Grouse Lake, Andy can finally explain just who John Galt is, but I'm guessing he'll be more interested in welding my typing fingers together. Ouch.

[KINGSIZE]

Well, it looks like im out. I sold my XJ today & my next project will not be ready by then. Have fun all.

Robert

[Mike L]

You suck Robert. Anyway, I should be there. I already requested the friday, sat, and sunday off.............. Anyone wanna carpool? I live in Riverside?

-Mike L.

[Lupine]

Hmmm...

Goat,

I'm not sure. Probably? The legislature is still trying to grasp elementary math, and that may have an effect on my plans, so I'll keep you updated.

Lu

[FarmerMatt]

Elementry math?... I thought they were still trying to learn how to count.

Well even though swamp is my home field it looks as though I'm going to have to back out on this trip. A family member decided that weekend would make for a good time to have a wedding. I haven't been able to convince the wife to go without me, something about it"s my family & why should she get stuck going if I don't have to. Anyhow If anybody wants to we're willing to throw a bash Thrursday night at my place near Madera. We can even have a camp fire & all. It's about 1.5 - 2 hours from my place to the trail head. All are welcome to come, crash here, & drive up the hill Friday mourning. Just let me know who is coming so I can plan accordingly. I hopefully can sneak away & play with you guys on Bald Sunday.

Matt

[CRASH]

Oh my, a night on the farm might prove to be a good time.......

CRASH

[JTBOSCO]

Damn this Sucks, I gotta go back east that weekend. Family reunion. I wonder if my mom would be pissed if I did't go.I havn't been back in 15 years,hell I don't even know those people anymore.

J.T.

[Lupine]

Tell them Bosco is sick. Make him puke and take pictures for proof.

CRASH

[WHEEL'er-DLR]

it's going to be a blast!! can't wait to spend time on the lake. jt, you can tell mom that at reunions..there's not enough time to spend with her!...soooo..you come at a later date:) what's the price for 'boscos' ticket??:D