Dates and Schedule

[Goatman]

The trip this year will be Aug 5-12. The schedule will be to run the Dusy-Ershim Trail Mon-Thurs, then Swamp Lake Trail Fri-Sat, and Bald Mtn Trail on Sunday.

The first weekend will be left open so those who will be arriving on the weekend to run Dusy can plan to do whatever they want. There are a number of possible trails to run.

The second weekend, Aug 10-12, will be our traditional annual Swamp Lake run. We've been alternating between spending two nights at Grouse Lake and coming out Sun, or spending one night at Grouse lake and coming out Sat and then running Bald Mtn on Sun. This year we'll spend one night on the trail and run Bald Mtn on Sun.

These trails are in the Sierra National Forest near Shaver Lake, which is roughly an hour's drive east of Fresno. Dusy and Swamp are both trails through trees and meadows, past lakes and over 10,000' ridges, with very nice scenery and camping. Dusy is a famous trail both because of it's great scenery and wheeling, and because it's 33 miles long........there's nothing else like Dusy. For comparison, the Rubicon is 9 miles long. The Dusy trail is in a 300 ft ride corridor between the Dinkey Lakes Wilderness and the John Muir Wilderness.

The Swamp Lake Trail is 14 miles long and is always enjoyable, which is why some of us run it every year. I think this will be my 11th consecutive year to run Swamp. We'll camp right next to Grouse Lake, about halfway through the trail, at an elevation of 9200'. I'll start a thread to post up some pics so anyone who hasn't been there can see what it's like. Bald Mtn trail is mostly on the granite slops of Bald Mtn, and ends at the top of the mountain overlooking Shaver Lake, with great views in all directions. The trail is fun wheeling, with some very challenging optional obstacles, and is a partial day run.

Post up your questions and comments, and get those days off reserved. See you there,

[Jes]

I'll see everyone at Grouse Lake. ;)

[Bryan C.]

Looks like I won't be able to make it for the whole week, I just don't have the vacation time. I will plan on being there late Thursday night and run into Swamp. I plan on being there for the raffle and the pot luck dinner too. See you guys there.

[Matt S.]

I will be there heading up the Dusy Run for everyone. Post up if you have intentions of the week trip.

[4xSanta]

I'm there for the week...........SANTA

[karstic]

Plan on running Swamp Lake and Bald Mtn.

Is there still a BBQ and raffle planned for Saturday night?

[Goatman]

Plan on running Swamp Lake and Bald Mtn.

Is there still a BBQ and raffle planned for Saturday night?

Working on the dinner, and there should be some kind of raffle.





Who else is planing to go??? :)

[Captain Ron]

I get to go for sure now.

Scrappy and Opie will cover work for me. :D

--ron

[Jump This]

Hmmm......at present the only time frame I have for completion of my rig is the November run in JV. That would make for a leisurely build up.
But I should have no problem being done by early August....

Maybe....:dunno:

Rick

[xj4moab]

I will be there :cheers: for Dusy :shhh:

I will be there heading up the Dusy Run for everyone. Post up if you have intentions of the week trip.

[XJEEPER]

Now this run, my rig will for sure be finished for.:D Now if I can convince my wife that this is the perfect setting to celebrate our wedding anniversary.....

[Goatman]

Now this run, my rig will for sure be finished for.:D Now if I can convince my wife that this is the perfect setting to celebrate our wedding anniversary.....

Jeff, Matt and Jenny did it a few years ago. They spent a few days at a hotel in Tahoe, then ran the Rubicon with the NAXJA gang. :D

[xj4moab]

It would be great to see you on the trail again :thumbup:

Now this run, my rig will for sure be finished for.:D Now if I can convince my wife that this is the perfect setting to celebrate our wedding anniversary.....

[Starboard M]

Who else is planing to go??? :)
My dad and I will be going all week.

[Big Bear]

Looks like I will be there for Dusy. Hopefully with a new front axle installed. Richard, let me know if you need help with the dinner.:chef:

[Matt S.]

Looking good guys! I should be there the whole week. For those that want to run stuff the first weekend, I was kinda thinking the locals (me, BenH) could show you guys Blue Canyon. Some extremly fun and different stuff than what that area has to offer. We could do that just sunday to try to wait for those that are coming in from a long ways.

Would anyone like to do that?

[JoesXJ]

I'm down for the weekend stuf...count me in.

[Ben H]

I will be getting back from Vegas on that Monday, and will immediately head up to catch up with everyone on Dusy and pick up any stragglers like myself.

Is this a NAXJA only run???

[zackmerrill]

which end of dusy will everyone be starting at? the south near courtwright res or the north end.

[Matt S.]

South end at Courtwright. If you are starting late, your chances are best to go in from the north. We will be camping at Thompson the first night, then Ershim the second and third. I know from experience that courtwright to ershim is a LONG LONG day.

That is what I would recomend to do if you are thinking about starting Monday night or tuesday morning.

[KRAKER]

What time friday the 10th is departure time. I'm coming from SoCal and the earliest i could get too Shaver Lake is 8p. That's an optimistic estimate.

[Matt S.]

Friday departure is going to be as early as we can get everyone going. Probably hit the road to Swamp no later than 8am. We would like to break camp that night as early as possible so we can some relax time. Its a 4-5 hour (good day) from start to camp.

[Goatman]

What time friday the 10th is departure time. I'm coming from SoCal and the earliest i could get too Shaver Lake is 8p. That's an optimistic estimate.

We traditionally try to leave camp Fri morning at 8:30, no earlier than that. Folks are packing up after camping that night, topping off the ice chests, using the john, etc, so we aim for a departure time around 8:30.

You better get up early........ :)

[myxjrocks]

richard, it's jeff mulkey from the trailblazers. what are the requirements/ recommendations for the swamp lake/bald mt. trails. as far as would my d30 front (4.88s/lockright/stock shafts) and d44(4.88s/limited slip/stock shafts) be alright? i can pull spares for the front out of another axle me and my dad have.

[Goatman]

richard, it's jeff mulkey from the trailblazers. what are the requirements/ recommendations for the swamp lake/bald mt. trails. as far as would my d30 front (4.88s/lockright/stock shafts) and d44(4.88s/limited slip/stock shafts) be alright? i can pull spares for the front out of another axle me and my dad have.

You're good, just bring some spare front shafts since you're running 35's. The only requirements for this are at least one locker or good limited slip, 31's, tow points, and some rock rails. I'd break the hub nut loose on both front axles at home before you go......if you've never had them off before.

[myxjrocks]

Cool deal. At this point it's looking like i'll be able to attend. I'll be sure to pull those spares and make sure they're "easy" to change if needed. Sounds and looks like it'll be a fun run. i'll plan on getting there the evening of the 9th and staying through the 12th, maybe longer if i get lost in the woods!!

[Ben H]

If at all possilbe I would like to take a group up to the Red mountain area on Sunday as an alternative to Bald Mountain. The Coyote lake trail is much more challenging than Bald Mtn. this year, and the lakes up in that area are grand and warm. If there is interest in this trail of course, and if it is ok with the organizers.

One more month people, is your junk ready?

[Matt S.]

If at all possilbe I would like to take a group up to the Red mountain area on Sunday as an alternative to Bald Mountain. The Coyote lake trail is much more challenging than Bald Mtn. this year, and the lakes up in that area are grand and warm. If there is interest in this trail of course, and if it is ok with the organizers.

One more month people, is your junk ready?

I dont see why it wouldn't work. I kinda have this "thought" about the sunday bald run though. To me it seems its generally just a good ol' hoot and hollerin time getting to play with the big dogs and stockers. Plus, there may still be interest in doing a Red/Coyote week trip as a secondary option for the week long trip.

Idk if my junk is ready.. Phil? :laugh2:

[Ben H]

I dont see why it wouldn't work. I kinda have this "thought" about the sunday bald run though. To me it seems its generally just a good ol' hoot and hollerin time getting to play with the big dogs and stockers. Plus, there may still be interest in doing a Red/Coyote week trip as a secondary option for the week long trip.

Idk if my junk is ready.. Phil? :laugh2:

Cool.

Phil is Matt's junk ready?

[Phil]

Cool.

Phil is Matt's junk ready?

I hope he likes cracked frames. :D

[Ben H]

thats his fupa

[Phil]

thats his fupa

I don't know what that means. :dunno:

[Ben H]

I don't know what that means. :dunno:

I don't know what it means either, but thats what came out the tips of my fingers.

[luvdaxj]

i'm going to be heading up sunday the 5th. Where is everyone going to be meeting/camping that night? the whole area is new to me so any help finding the place would be appriciated. I can't wait for this trip, I'll try to make my junk 4wd this time :twak: