Coyote Lake run

[Desert Dog]

Coyote Lake didn't disappoint! The wheeling was great. Challenging for a rig on 33s, but with enough bonus obstacles to keep the guys with bigger tires happy. But the scenery! What a beautiful place.

Bigfoot and I hit the trail at about 9:30am on Saturday, most of the group went in on Friday and Scott (smack2020) went in earlier that morning. The trail was very crowded all the way to Red Lake. The trail was littered with broke-down Toyotas, but they were courteous enough to get to the side of the trail as quickly as possible to let traffic pass. On a good day, you could probably get from the trail-head to the campsite in under 2 hours, but the traffic going in added an hour to that. Lots of squeezes between trees and rocks were present that JKs didn't fit through very well; Scott ripped up both sides of his soft top and I hit my roll-cage and fenders several times. The trail was much rockier than I expected, which is a good thing

The campsite at Coyote Lake was fantastic; right next to a sparkling clear mountain lake. The water was warm enough to swim in without going numb and we caught lots of feisty trout. And to make this remote place even better, there is an outhouse (so no PET and packing out your own poop)

On the way back out of the trail, a front upper control arm fell off my Jeep, twisting the front axle and ruining the U-joint on my front drive shaft. The welds on my upper control arm bracket failed and the arm literally fell off with the mount tabs still attached. Luckily, I brought the portable welder that I got for the club with my Poly Performance coupon. We used a winch to twist the axle back into position and the best welder among us did a kick ass job of welding the control arm mount back up. That Ready Welder kicks ass!!!

Thanks Richard for setting this up, and to the gang for helping me get my rig off the trail.

Some pics, Ill post a vid soon;

[attachment=0]Untitled 0 00 01-08 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]Untitled 0 00 06-14 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2]Video 112 0 00 50-20 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]

[Desert Dog]

more.

[attachment=0]Untitled 0 00 09-26 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]Untitled 0 00 06-26 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2]Untitled 0 00 04-12 (Medium).jpg[/attachment]

[abendx]

Damn... that place looks fun! Too bad it crossed Pete's party.

Glad you got fixed up.... nice toy! I want a welder too.... but am afraid once I figure out how to turn it on, my entire neighborhood will be one big wrought iron mess!

[RyanSBCA]

I wanna go on this trip next year! My goal is to get at least one locker by next summer...
Can't wait to see the video!

[Desert Dog]

Video of Bigfoot and myself running the trail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMT7xJkjsmg

[Goatman]

I'm working on getting some pics up. We had another great trip, 8 rigs, and a fabulous camping spot. Four of us drove in Fri morning, and another four drove in Sat morning. The trail seemed rougher this year, and probably because Swamp and Dusy aren't open yet, there were more people camped at the lake than I've ever seen before. Fortunately, Coyote is a big lake and there are lots of nice camping spots, so it didn't feel crowded. From our camping spot, we could only see one other group camping. The lake is at 9100' and the scenery is pretty damn nice. The drive in was uneventful, we drove in on Fri and didn't run into anyone else on the trail. We stopped at Red Lake for lunch, then drove the very rocky two miles on to Coyote Lake. We spent time sitting around the campfire, visiting, going for walks, paddling around in the blow up boats, fishing, walking around talking to folks in other camps, and watching the kids play and have a blast.

The drive out on Sun was more eventful, with another camper missing their camping supplies and food (long story), and since their Jeep was broke down they were staying another couple of days until their friends could bring parts back to them. Jeremy and I left them the food and water that we had left, but the missing camping gear was recovered thanks to the radios and some good fortune (again, long story). Chris broke off a control arm mount that had to be welded back on, James had to stop and use the winch to straighten his bent tie rod, and John bent his tie rod. John's Jeep got stuck in 4wd at the end of the trail, and it took a high lift jack and large pry bar to get it back into 2wd. We got to the trailhead and 3 horses came running through with saddles but no riders. We secured the horses to the trailer that was parked there, settled them down, and Matt drove off down the other trail and found the riders (who didn't even know yet that they had lost their horses).

I had two of my grandsons, Jeremy had his two daughters, and they met another two boys from another camp. The kids played constantly and had an absolute blast.

[Goatman]

Here's a few pics.

The trail.
[img]http://www.fototime.com/BAB2FEBE168A601/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/F444611E3BDA391/standard.jpg[/img]


Stopping at Red Lake for lunch.
[img]http://www.fototime.com/6BDA58E7DE5272A/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/E2ACABDB39D2B04/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/135702B9700E820/standard.jpg[/img]

[Goatman]

A small lake on the way to Coyote.

[img]http://www.fototime.com/B467E9413DEC7BC/standard.jpg[/img]


At Coyote Lake.

[img]http://www.fototime.com/EB79FF2F380C6FA/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/1CCF8F53A007AEB/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/07361228B0718A1/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/CB38204CEFDF69B/standard.jpg[/img]

Cooked up some trout.

[img]http://www.fototime.com/CCD189617D6ADF0/standard.jpg[/img]

[Beck*A*Poo]

WOW that trip looks beautiful..... i will try to make it next year... lake looks very pretty....

[jcook]

The photos don't do the view justice, not to mention the full moon lighting up the night while we were there. Cool air and good people made for a great time. To me the trail was fun, I'm fairly new at this and it still surprises me what the jeeps can go through. No problems going in but bent my tie rod coming out used a snatch block and winch to straighten it out and no problems after that. I know what I'm doing to the jeep next now . Always nice to meet new people and the ones we met this weekend were awesome, hope to wheel with them all again soon.
Looking forward to doing this run again next year, only this time I'll pack better (more mosquito proof clothes! ) Thanks to Richard for planning the trip, Thanks to DD for giving me the DEET, apparently the Avon stuff only attracts more bugs....lol
And it was a pleasure meeting Scott, Matt, Jeremy, John and all the kids.
James

[NOITALEVER]

Wow, I hope I could make it next year too! I need at least 33's right Richard?

[Goatman]

[quote="NOITALEVER"]Wow, I hope I could make it next year too! I need at least 33's right Richard?[/quote]

I think 33's are required. It's not that difficult, but there is a ton of rock crawling and the 2 miles from Red Lake to Coyote Lake is almost solid rock garden. You must constantly watch your line if you don't want to get hung up. It's a rough two miles on 33's.......but definitely worth it.

[NOITALEVER]

I left some metal on the rocks at BC109. So I proly would there. Is that just once a year run?

[Desert Dog]

[quote="NOITALEVER"]Wow, I hope I could make it next year too! I need at least 33's right Richard?[/quote]
My 17 year-old son did it on 33s with a lock-right in the front. He never turned on his rear locker, never took a strap or winch, and did not break or bend anything. Id say 33s with a front locker and you will be good.

To put it in perspective, its harder than the Doran/Odessa loop at Calico (but not by much), and about the same length of time to run. Many of what you see me climbing in the video are bonus obstacles that can be bypassed. The camping, fishing, and scenery is the main draw here.

[RyanSBCA]

[quote="desert dog"] The camping, fishing, and scenery is the main draw here.[/quote]


My main reason for wanting to go next year... and one of the big reasons I've always wanted a jeep (and finally got one)!

[NOITALEVER]

@ Ryan: I heard you something about snowboarding when we went to BC109. I think that will be my next run, I didn't get to go this season. But, this next year looks a bit more promising. Question to the forum boss. Can I post a snowboarding trip in the upcoming runs area?