Infectious Off-Road.com

Always a great trip. This will be the 15th annual Swamp Lake run. Swamp Lake Trail is 14 miles long and is easy to moderate rock crawling and great scenery. Leave Dinkey Creek at 8:30 Fri morning, run the trail in to Grouse Lake, camp next to the lake Fri night and Sat night, drive out and finish the trail on Sunday. We'll camp at Dinkey Creek Thurs night, which is about 15 minutes from Shaver Lake, which is east of Fresno. No camping or other costs for the trip. We camp at Grouse Lake which is about 9200' elevation.

The trail and the camping spot at Grouse Lake are high in the Sierras and the scenery is pretty nice. I've been doing this trip every year for 15 years and we've had 30+ rigs some years. There have been friends from all over CA on this trip, both from Bakersfield and from our XJ club. It's a relaxed trip, since we spend a day camping at Grouse Lake, and we'll do our traditional potluck dinner on Sat. There is swimming in the lake, fishing, hiking and just chillin' out. A short hike takes you to a spectacular small lake in a set back in the cliff overlooking Swamp Lake.

So, who wants to go?

[quote="Goatman"]Always a great trip. This will be the 15th annual Swamp Lake run. Swamp Lake Trail is 14 miles long and is easy to moderate rock crawling and great scenery. Leave Dinkey Creek at 8:30 Fri morning, run the trail in to Grouse Lake, camp next to the lake Fri night and Sat night, drive out and finish the trail on Sunday. We'll camp at Dinkey Creek Thurs night, which is about 15 minutes from Shaver Lake, which is east of Fresno. No camping or other costs for the trip. We camp at Grouse Lake which is about 9200' elevation.

The trail and the camping spot at Grouse Lake are high in the Sierras and the scenery is pretty nice. I've been doing this trip every year for 15 years and we've had 30+ rigs some years. There have been friends from all over CA on this trip, both from Bakersfield and from our XJ club. It's a relaxed trip, since we spend a day camping at Grouse Lake, and we'll do our traditional potluck dinner on Sat. There is swimming in the lake, fishing, hiking and just chillin' out. A short hike takes you to a spectacular small lake in a set back in the cliff overlooking Swamp Lake.

So, who wants to go?[/quote]

[color=#00FF00]I might take you up on that trip Richard, I have to wait till it is a little closer, sounds like a really nice time!![/color]

Wow im so hooked on off-roading now, this sounds like a nice trip. Im Victor the guy on the stock X at Calico this weekend. If its a for sure thing ill ask for those days off.

We might do this one Richard. I've been wanting to do this trail.

I may be in Montana on those dates, but if not, im going.

Count me in.... SO long as i dont break anything from now till than... lol

[quote="VICTORG93307"]Wow im so hooked on off-roading now, this sounds like a nice trip. Im Victor the guy on the stock X at Calico this weekend. If its a for sure thing ill ask for those days off.[/quote]


A stock Jeep will need to work real hard to make it through this trail. You can expect body damage.

[quote="VICTORG93307"]Wow im so hooked on off-roading now, this sounds like a nice trip. Im Victor the guy on the stock X at Calico this weekend. If its a for sure thing ill ask for those days off.[/quote]

Victor, it's a sure thing. I've never cancelled a Jeep trip........but now that I've said that, I'll cross my fingers that something doesn't happen.

I'm sure you'll have your lift on by then, and you'll be fine. It would be nice to have a locker in the front also. We want at least one locker for this trip. Limited slips don't count, unless you have them front and rear which is fine. This trail isn't difficult by most standards, but it's harder than Doran Canyon except for Gatekeeper.

Thanks guys, I should have more than enough time to get the necessary things out the way, I should have the lift in this weekend, as far as a front locker what do you guys suggest , this jeep is my daily driver. I was looking into a Detroit locker? I really dont mind a little noise if its going to save me 500-600 over a selective locker. What else do you guys suggest? Sorry for all the questions this is all kind of new to me the most offroading i did before this was hill climbing at gorman.

Here's a few pics of the trail.


[img]http://www.fototime.com/851160EAF359735/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/649F497516E88BA/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/BD22C2BD72A96AB/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/59E897130BFB1B9/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/2AB4D002EFCB196/standard.jpg[/img]

Here are some pics of where we camp at Grouse Lake.


[img]http://www.fototime.com/F1BF37AD8705696/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/0FC0737A4D2F4D4/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/44F9686C2652A2F/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/FBDC93B79461422/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/1E59337276BF2DD/standard.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.fototime.com/32529BAC316234A/standard.jpg[/img]

Wow.... this looks like fun Richard. Put me down for it.

How is the fishing Richard?

[quote="desert dog"]How is the fishing Richard?[/quote]


Fishing is usually pretty good. last year I caught 6 trout in 15 minutes. They are small brookies, but taste great.

Will stock heith toy mAke it with front soft locker? And 33's

[quote="SAS YODA 95"]Will stock heith toy mAke it with front soft locker? And 33's[/quote]


Heith toy?

Anything on 33's with a front locker should be fine. It is a rocky trail in sections, so rocker protection is a must.

Stock height Toyota sorry typo lol

this looks soo fun! i wanna go, is there a spot to put a ten person tent? i got big one

[quote="JeremyJones"]this looks soo fun! i wanna go, is there a spot to put a ten person tent? i got big one [/quote]


As long as you don't take up too many parking spaces.....

There's plenty of room for camping, and big tents.

[quote="JeremyJones"]this looks soo fun! i wanna go, is there a spot to put a ten person tent? i got big one [/quote]
how many people can you fit?

will you rent out a space?

Yo Richard
Marsha and I will Go , saw Randy in the pic you posted I'll call him and see if he wants to go, probably not though we are headed to Moab Sept. 15 and Randy is going so I think he may be saving moola. Are you going to Moab with us ??

You mentioned toilets being there, is there toilets in all the locations we'll be camping? Marsha is a very discreet pooper so I have to cover all bases.
Bill

[quote="Brute290"]Yo Richard
Marsha and I will Go , saw Randy in the pic you posted I'll call him and see if he wants to go, probably not though we are headed to Moab Sept. 15 and Randy is going so I think he may be saving moola. Are you going to Moab with us ??

You mentioned toilets being there, is there toilets in all the locations we'll be camping? Marsha is a very discreet pooper so I have to cover all bases.
Bill[/quote]

Cool. I talked to Randy, and moola could be an issue because of Moab, but he usually goes. We camp one night at Dinky, and johns are close by, then there is a john at Grouse Lake. Your bases should be covered......

Just a reminder. Still a month away. I'll post up some directions as we get closer.