Swamp Lake Aug 1-3...directions, who's going?

[Goatman]

The annual Swamp Lake XJ run is coming up, and I wonder who's planning to make it?

Minumum equipment for this run is a locker or good limited slip, 31's, and rock rails.

We will leave from Dinkey Creek on Friday morning, around 8:30. We'll camp Thursday night at our usual place at Dinkey, and since we're running it south to north this year, we can air down and leave right from camp. There are bathrooms and showers close by, and a store with supplies and ice. We'll be camping Friday and Saturday nights on the trail at Grouse Lake, and heading out from there to finish the trail on Sunday morning. Some of us are going to run Bald Mtn trail on Sunday afternoon, since we'll drive right past the trailhead coming out from Swamp.

Here are directions to where we'll be camping on Thursday night. Take Hwy 168 heading NE out of Fresno/Clovis, towards Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake. If you're coming from the south, exit Hwy 99 at Kingsburg and go north until you reach Hwy 168 (about 30 miles), then make a right. If you're coming from the north, exit Hwy 99 at Herndon, and drive all the way through town, then bear left onto Hwy 168. The new freeway through Fresno turns into Hwy 168, so you can take it off either Hwy 99 from the north or Hwy 41 from the south, if you want.

So, heading NE on Hwy 168, follow the signs to Shaver Lake, which is roughly an hour drive from Fresno. As you are coming into the town of Shaver Lake, make a right turn onto Dinkey Creek Rd, where there will be a sign saying Wishon and Courtright Reserviors. Continue on Dinkey Creek Rd for around 15-20 miles, and as you are coming into Dinkey Creek, look for another sign saying Wishon and Courtright Reserviors. Make a right turn at this sign onto McKinley Grove Rd......very important! If you miss this right turn, you will drive past the ranger station and the Dinkey Creek store and end up at Dinkey Campground. After making the right turn onto McKinley Grove Rd, immediately crossing the Dinkey Creek bridge, go for about 1/4 mile and look for the Camp Fresno sign on the left. At this sign, there are two roads that go to the left, the first cuts back sharply and goes to Camp Fresno, the second is road 10S36. Turn left onto 10S36 and immediately turn right into the trees, which is our camping spot. We'll keep a CB handy on channel 4 if you get close and have any trouble.

This is not a developed campsite, so there are no fees or facilities, but bathrooms are close at the ranger station or at the picnic area next to Dinkey Creek. If you can, bring a little firewood.

See you there,

[WesternXJ]

I'm going to try :dunno:. Lisa can't get anymore time off, so I'll be there by myself.

I'll try to get there Thursday afternoon with Jes.

[WHEEL'er-DLR]

i'll be there:) plus 4 other rigs that i'm aware of from b-town.

[FarmerMatt]

I won't make it. A cousin of mine is having a wedding on that Saturday. AS I stated in the other post if anyone would like to stay & have a party at my place on Thursday night they are welcome. It's still a good 1.5 hours to the treail head from my place, but a party on the farm could be fun. You can easily wake up around 6 & be at the trail head by 8. We could have a camp fire & all. If you guys were going to run Bald on Sunday I may come up to play for that.

Matt

Matt

[DesertXJ]

Hey Matt,

Since you're not able to make Swamp you could always make Dusy 2 weeks later:D :D :D You had such a good time last year:)

[Gary E]

Count us in!

[JeepFreak21]

I hope, I hope, I hope!

[Lupine]

I *HAVE* to be there, regardless of whether Crash is going or not - I'll be doing a Big Creek Project site visit on Monday and Tuesday. :D
Goat, count on Crash and I (or mebbe just me, depending on the damage report this evening ) to be there Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, and Monday evening. I'd love to talk Surprise Canyon with ya.

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Lupine
I *HAVE* to be there, regardless of whether Crash is going or not - I'll be doing a Big Creek Project site visit on Monday and Tuesday. :D
Goat, count on Crash and I (or mebbe just me, depending on the damage report this evening ) to be there Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, and Monday evening. I'd love to talk Surprise Canyon with ya.

Well, if you will be there Sunday night, I will plan on staying Sunday night. We can camp at the same place Sunday night as we will on Thursday night. I'll need to leave by 8:00 am on Monday.

[Lupine]

We'll be there Sunday night for sure. :D

[CRASH]

Damage was light this weekend, so the old girl is ready for another round.

I need to weld up about 20 cracks in the unibody, and I'll be ready to roll (figuratively, not literally) :)

CRASH

[Porch Puppy]

Lisa & I will be heading out of Ridgecrest Thursday morning. Her dad will also be coming with his XJ. See you all in a few weeks!

[Goatman]

Originally posted by Porch Puppy
Lisa & I will be heading out of Ridgecrest Thursday morning. Her dad will also be coming with his XJ. See you all in a few weeks!

Cool! :D

Are you bringing any firewood?

[Jes]

I'll of course be there once again. Don't know when I'll be able to escape the city on Thursday but I plan on staying till Tuesday.

Jes

[Porch Puppy]

Originally posted by Goatman
Cool! :D

Are you bringing any firewood?

Richard,
We'll do our best to find some firewood to bring up. I'm sure I've got some lying around somewhere....
Andy

[ChuckD]

If anyone wants to stop in Fresno, I have a lot of wood. I unfortunately can't make it up there with you all. :(

[Jes]

So, are we going to do another pot luck at Grouse Lake on Friday night?
I'll bring carnitas, chips, salsa, and other taco makings along with the blender. It cirtainly was a feast last year as well as on the 'con a few weeks ago.


Jes

[WHEEL'er-DLR]

sounds great! now i need to think what to bring!!

[Goatman]

Originally posted by WHEEL'er-DLR
sounds great! now i need to think what to bring!!

Sounds like a fine idea.......let's start another thread about it.

[FarmerMatt]

Just an FYI heads up.

If you're coming from the north & plan on using Herdon Ave. to cut across to 168 you'll have to find another route. Herdon Ave. off ramp from 99 will be closed through till August 4 due to construction.

Matt

[CRASH]

For anybody coming from Sac, my friend Sean Reynolds and I will be leaving Sac at about 4 on Thursday night. Let me know if you want to join our caravan.

Andy

[Gary E]

Andy we will join in on the caravan.

[CRASH]

Roger that, we'll set up a meeting place as it get's closer, but that gas station near the Lowe's is pretty good.

CRASH

[Goatman]

Originally posted by CRASH
Roger that, we'll set up a meeting place as it get's closer, but that gas station near the Lowe's is pretty good.

CRASH

How much closer do you want it to get? :D

[JTBOSCO]

Well it looks like I may be able to make it after all. I won't know until after the weekend. If I do go I can meet up with you Sac. people off 99 somewhere.

J.T.

[WHEEL'er-DLR]

:clap:

[michael-esq]

Not sure if I'll be able to make the run.
If not, I'm available to provide any support needed. I live just south, in Coarsegold. Have tools, welder, and some skill. Also, large piece of property for campers, etc..
Michael

[ChuckD]

Neil mention about just going on Saturday and getting back out on Sunday. Give him a call, you have his number, :D

[michael-esq]

Chuck:
Sounds good. What are your plans?
Michael

[Goatman]

Originally posted by XJCHUCK72
Neil mention about just going on Saturday and getting back out on Sunday. Give him a call, you have his number, :D

The year before last, FarmerMatt led a group in on Sat. If a few of you can't make it on Friday, maybe you can put a group together to drive in on Saturday and meet us at Grouse Lake.

[ChuckD]

Originally posted by michael-esq
Chuck:
Sounds good. What are your plans?
Michael

I'm already committed, I have my monthly Guard Drill. Nobody wanted to listen to my pleas, :rattle: , during then schedule planning, Oh Well. Maybe next year. It's just my luck I may not make it to Dusey either, :(. My aniversary is that weekend, well that's enough ranting.

I talked to NeilC and to fresno_jeeper, they may be interested in going just for Sat and Sun. I'll talk to them and find out, or tell them to post up! I'm sure fresno_jeeper should have room if your XJ isn't ready yet.

One last wood plug:

I have wood, come and get it (I know what some of you are thinking) ;), PM me for directions and ETA. :D

[Neil]

I'd love to get a group together for a Sat. run in. I don't know where I'm going though, I would have to follow someone in or something.

[ChuckD]

Do you rember where the Bald Mtn turn off is? If not I can help you, if no one else helps you out, :roll:

[Goatman]

Originally posted by XJCHUCK72
Do you rember where the Bald Mtn turn off is? If not I can help you, if no one else helps you out, :roll:

Let's get a new thread going about driving in on Sat, and see if you get someone who knows where to go.

[WesternXJ]

Could someone post directions from Dinkey Creek? I might have some friends coming in Friday night. :D

[Goatman]

Originally posted by SactoXJ
Could someone post directions from Dinkey Creek? I might have some friends coming in Friday night. :D

Do you mean driving to Dinkey Fri night and then into Grouse on Sat, or driving in to Grouse on Friday night?

BTW, Keven, I have your air mattress and I'll bring it with me.

[Erik]

Wait a minute, this is THIS WEEKEND! Sems like only a couple of weeks ago that this was still a few weeks away. Well, guess I better get packed and hit the road. My rig seems to be preforming well, but it does keep making this "bling, bling" noise that I just can't seem to figure out. It even does it when it's parked. People keep staring at me, but I just can't figure it out. Maybe you guys can have a look at it while we're there. See you in a couple of days.

[WesternXJ]

Driving to Grouse Friday night. I know its past Dinkey but I can't remember where to turn left .:D You can keep the mattress, I bought a new one ;)

[Goatman]

Originally posted by SactoXJ
Driving to Grouse Friday night. I know its past Dinkey but I can't remember where to turn left .:D You can keep the mattress, I bought a new one ;)

Are you driving in Friday night?

Going up Rooster Rock in the dark...... :eek:

[Jes]

Everyone be prepared for the possibility of thunder showers. Bring tarps, rain jackets, ect. They usually don't last long but can be quite intense.

Jes

[WesternXJ]

Originally posted by Goatman
Are you driving in Friday night?

Going up Rooster Rock in the dark...... :eek:

No, I'm leaving in the morning. I might have some friends coming in Friday night :eek:

Jes, what time are you leaving?

[Jes]

Forecast says no work tomorrow so I'll be heading out by late morning. Should get up there by 3 or 4P.M.


Jes

[Goatman]

Originally posted by SactoXJ
No, I'm leaving in the morning. I might have some friends coming in Friday night :eek:

Jes, what time are you leaving?

One of the Bakersfield guys will be driving in on Friday night, probably hitting the trail from Dinkey around 10:00 to 10:30. They'll go as far as they feel like going, then camp for the night and finish Sat morning if they don't make it all the way.

If you can give them directions to the campspot at Dinkey, here's directions to the south trailhead. After turning left at the Camp Fresno sign onto road 10S36, continue up 10S36 for 3 to 5 miles (approx), then make a right turn at the first forest service road with an open gate. There are some logging roads, but turn at the road with an open gate. Go down this road for 3 to 5 miles (approx) until you come to another forest service road with an open gate, which is the Swamp Lake trailhead. Turn left through the gate. You'll go for awhile on a dirt road and then the trail will begin to be rougher and get rocky. Grouse Lake is around 8 miles (approx) from the gate.

[wrk24wheel]

Looks like I won't be able to make it this trip after all. Powder Coaters messed up the job and I won't have anything back until Monday. Looks like I will be attending a friends wedding on Sunday after all. I hope everyone has a great time there, I want to see lots of pictures. Jes, Andy & Richard, its up to you to get those great shots... Meanwhile, I will be working on my finishing my cage Saturday.

Kevin