Swamp Lake trip July 26-28 2013

[ocean_jet]

Thanks for sharing the pics. Looks great...

 

[Big Ed]

Spending 8 hours of bouncing off of rocks is not my idea of a good time. Seems kind of monotonous/lame to me.

If you're bouncing off rocks,you're doing it wrong. Your air pressure is too high,or you're driving too fast.


P.S.
I'm in the club that maintains the trail,how did the toilet facilities look? Need any attention?

 

[cracker]

If you're bouncing off rocks,you're doing it wrong. Your air pressure is too high,or you're driving too fast.


P.S.
I'm in the club that maintains the trail,how did the toilet facilities look? Need any attention?

Trail and facilities seem fine

 

[Original_MudButt]

I thought the trail name would have been an indicator of the scenery

What part of "Dinkey Creek", "Grouse Lake", or "Swamp Lake" would indicate mile after mile of mind numbing rocks and boulders?

 

[Original_MudButt]

If you're bouncing off rocks,you're doing it wrong. Your air pressure is too high

16 PSI on 32's

 

[boostamante]

The trail is a 14 mile loop trail (the 'Con is 9 miles) and we camp about halfway through at one of the best Jeep camping sites you'll ever be at, right next to Grouse Lake at '9200. We camp near Dinky Creek Thurs night, which is about an hour east of Fresno, then hit the trail Fri morning. Fri and Sat we camp at the lake, then finish the trail on Sunday. The trail has moderate rock crawling, well, depends on what you call moderate, 33's and one locker are fine, and ton's of great scenery. The trail is very remote, so equipment and maintenance need to be in order.

:wave1:

 

[Big Ed]

Trail and facilities seem fine

Thanks.

 

[Big Ed]

16 PSI on 32's

8-10 would be more like it.

 

[mako my day]

Looks awesome. Wish I could have made it. Thanks for the report and all the pics.

Chris, how did it compare to the trails we did in Calico?

 

[Original_MudButt]

In response to my original query after describing my equipment:

You should go. You'll be fine. It has rock crawling sections...

And in spite of the fact that I didn't like the trail, I was the only one who didn't have to bust out tools and work on my Jeep.

I ended up loaning tools, supplies, and water. I'm not saying I saved the day for everyone. Not by a long shot. But I'd like to think I helped, at least a little.

Yes, I fixed a cracked air line on my Jeep, but that was because we had some idle time. My OBA system is set up such that all I had to do was swap an air line to bypass the cracked disconnect. Would have taken 10 seconds...

 

[Original_MudButt]

Chris, how did it compare to the trails we did in Calico?

Calico was a cake walk with exception of the one washout in Odessa Canyon.

This was non-stop rocks and boulders the entire trail in and the same for about 2/3 the trail out.

 

[Nimrod]

Slamming a door hard enough could weaken a track bar, causing it to fail at highway speeds. I read that somewhere. Or I just made it up. One or the other.

 

[Original_MudButt]

Slamming a door hard enough could weaken a track bar, causing it to fail at highway speeds. I read that somewhere. Or I just made it up. One or the other.

Yeah, no...

I have a BDS long arm lift, I seriously doubt slamming a door would weaken the track bar.

But thanks for playing.

More than likely it was the 20+ miles of rocks and boulders.

 

[stockerwithalocker]

Yeah, no...

I have a BDS long arm lift, I seriously doubt slamming a door would weaken the track bar.

What brand track bar? BDS?

 

[Original_MudButt]

What brand track bar? BDS?

Yes. Have contacted them and a new ball stud is on it's way per their "no BS warranty"

 

[Big Ed]

More than likely it was the 20+ miles of rocks and boulders.

Where did the extra 6 miles come from? What trail did you do other than Swamp? Or was there some backtracking?

 

[Original_MudButt]

Where did the extra 6 miles come from? What trail did you do other than Swamp? Or was there some backtracking?

It was 14.4 miles in from Dinkey Creek camp and another 10+ miles out to the 168. I guess, I stopped counting.

 

[FarmerMatt]

Swamp lake is swamp lake. Sorry you didn't enjoy the trail. Thanks for your help and water. I needed it. Some like the rocks, some like the mud. I hate mud. Freaking out on any trail brings the suck for everyone. Let me know if you want reimbursed for the antifreeze.

 

[Original_MudButt]

Let me know if you want reimbursed for the antifreeze.

It was only H20... And I told you it was $36.98 for the gallon...

Really Matt, I have no ill feelings toward anyone here. It's just that I based my decision to go on what I was told the trail would be like and I don't think I was properly advised as to the true trail conditions.

It's all me...

 

[Big Ed]

It was 14.4 miles in from Dinkey Creek camp and another 10+ miles out to the 168. I guess, I stopped counting.

Okay,I thought you meant trail only. That trail does have some of our roughest access roads,the only one that is rougher is the road to the Red/Coyote trailhead.

What has me curious is how someone that doesn't like rock crawling ended up going rock crawling. Poor communication?