Infectious Off-Road.com

I am new to offroading. That being said I have no clue where most of the trails are. Could some people make up a list of trails and experience level need and or rig needed for the trails? This may be in the wrong section please let me know I it is. Or if this has already been posted.

Excellent idea!

I like this idea a lot as well.

Lets just make sure we're talking about public trails. There's some that just don't even need to be mentioned.

[quote="REDxj5150"]Lets just make sure we're talking about public trails. There's some that just don't even need to be mentioned.[/quote]
Indeed just a list of trails. Doesn't even have to be a running thread but would be nice I think. Lol and I don't have the foggiest clue what your referig to about trails not needing mentioned. But my intent was public trails.

Ive done in my Jeep with just a 1 1/2" leveling kit all else stock Rubicon:
1. Borderline- Easy but scenic. Piston hill can be a challenge coming from this side.
2. Freeway Ridge/Black Gulch- Easy to moderate with hard lines.
3. Lockwood Miller- Easy with a few challenging obstacles.
4. Monache Meadow- Very easy, no challenging obstacles but its pretty.
5. Bullfrog in JV- Hard
6. Red Lake- Moderate

Since Lifted 3" otherwise stock (not counting trails Ive already mentioned that Ive done again):
1. Swamp Lake- Hard
2. Sherman Pass- Very easy, very disappointed, actually.
3. Nightmare Gulch- easy/moderate with a few optional hard lines.

Rob

That's exactly what I was wanting/thinking. Thank you rob.

Love the idea.... it has inherent problems.

The idea is great. We could make a spreadsheet on G+ and share it amongst us. We could have trail name, coordinates, description, difficulity level, special requirements, and notes.... and whatever else might be good in there. We can also notate when people went and they can add notes to how the trail was when they went (updating for conditions after weather conditions, etc.).

The inherent issue I see with this kind of thing is how does one rate the trails. I have seen so many ratings and methods of rating, but none really seem to be reliable and what is difficult to one guy might be a near fire road to another. IDK.... DD put up a pretty decent one, but still, I think it's not really perfect.

Don't let that issue I put up make you think I don't still think this is a great idea.... it is!!

Hmm.... an idea just popped. Maybe the people that add to the spreadsheet can register their rig. Then they can rate the trail accordingly. Might make the ratings make more sense and over time, they will average out.

[quote="robnoxious1"]Ive done in my Jeep with just a 1 1/2" leveling kit all else stock Rubicon:
1. Borderline- Easy but scenic. Piston hill can be a challenge coming from this side.
2. Freeway Ridge/Black Gulch- Easy to moderate with hard lines.
3. Lockwood Miller- Easy with a few challenging obstacles.
4. Monache Meadow- Very easy, no challenging obstacles but its pretty.
5. Bullfrog in JV- Hard
6. Red Lake- Moderate

Since Lifted 3" otherwise stock (not counting trails Ive already mentioned that Ive done again):
1. Swamp Lake- Hard
2. Sherman Pass- Very easy, very disappointed, actually.

Rob[/quote]

Ill add to this
1.Last Chance Canyon-- Easy to Moderate depending on the lines
1.2. Last Chance area has a lot of trails to explore out there. Just dont get lost!
2.Black Gulch-- Id say more on the Moderate level
3.Keysville- easy
4.Sherman Pass- scenic and easy
5.Rancheria Road- easy with some side trails off of it that can be fun
6.Sheep Trail (out past arvin)--easy with side stuff to do on part of it (pretty fun after some decent rain)
7.Basket Pass-very scenic easy
8. Hungry Valley--- easy to moderate lots of trails around there as well
9. Cow Flat rd.--easy scenic

Being new to this forum/club, I think this is a great idea. Subscribed.


Keep your head low and your powder dry.

[quote="abendx"]Love the idea.... it has inherent problems.

The idea is great. We could make a spreadsheet on G+ and share it amongst us. We could have trail name, coordinates, description, difficulity level, special requirements, and notes.... and whatever else might be good in there. We can also notate when people went and they can add notes to how the trail was when they went (updating for conditions after weather conditions, etc.).

The inherent issue I see with this kind of thing is how does one rate the trails. I have seen so many ratings and methods of rating, but none really seem to be reliable and what is difficult to one guy might be a near fire road to another. IDK.... DD put up a pretty decent one, but still, I think it's not really perfect.

Don't let that issue I put up make you think I don't still think this is a great idea.... it is!!

Hmm.... an idea just popped. Maybe the people that add to the spreadsheet can register their rig. Then they can rate the trail accordingly. Might make the ratings make more sense and over time, they will average out.[/quote]
Ratingswill be an issue. I was just thinking of this as a rough guideline. You guys talk about so many trails and I never know if my rig could handle it. Everyone will have their own opinion. Like I said I am very new to the sport so even freeway was a very good challenge for me. This was intended to help those like me with near stock rigs for now and minimal experience get an idea of where they possibly could go. Rob had it perfect. Describe his rig and difficulty for him at that time.

And official spread sheet could get messy unless one person is taking care of it. I don't know much about google + as you mentioned using. Maybe that's easier.

Cheers

Why not use the trail rating system in this thread?

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1537


Using that system:
1 = Rancheria Rd, Big Meadow (basically any pick-up)
2 = Sherman, Monanche, Last Chance Canyon, Miller, Freeway Ridge (stock Jeep can do it)
3 = Doran/Odessa loop, BullFrog, Coyote Lake, Swamp Lake, John Bull (slightly modified Jeep)
4 = Rubicon Trail, Claw Hammer, Wrecking Ball, Shredder Canyon (Moderately modified Jeep)
5 = Sledgehammer, Jack Hammer, Outer Limits, Scrambler (highly Modified Jeep)
5+ = Full of Hate, SOS, Little Sluice (insanely modified with a crazy driver)

Be mindful that some trails are rated difficult not because of the vehicle requirements, but the driver skill needed. South Park Trail in Death Valley is a good example of this; a slightly modified Jeep can easily do it, but the trail is extremely dangerous and has killed/injured many people. Your tires are on the edges of extreme drop-offs and you have to negotiate a worn out old bridge that your tires barely fit on with a bottomless drop under it. I have seen people in built rigs get out and let others drive their rigs over the bridge because they were too freaked out. Even the Rubicon Trail requires some experienced driving on obstacles like Thousand Dollar Hill, Big Sluice, and Cadillac Hill. So the "rig" requirements don't always tell the full story.

[quote="Desert Dog"]Why not use the trail rating system in this thread?

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1537


Using that system:
1 = Rancheria Rd, Big Meadow (basically any pick-up)
2 = Sherman, Monanche, Last Chance Canyon, Miller, Freeway Ridge (stock Jeep can do it)
3 = Doran/Odessa loop, BullFrog, Coyote Lake, Swamp Lake, John Bull (slightly modified Jeep)
4 = Rubicon Trail, Claw Hammer, Wrecking Ball, Shredder Canyon (Moderately modified Jeep)
5 = Sledgehammer, Jack Hammer, Outer Limits, Scrambler (highly Modified Jeep)
5+ = Full of Hate, SOS, Little Sluice (insanely modified with a crazy driver)

Be mindful that some trails are rated difficult not because of the vehicle requirements, but the driver skill needed. South Park Trail in Death Valley is a good example of this; a slightly modified Jeep can easily do it, but the trail is extremely dangerous and has killed/injured many people. Your tires are on the edges of extreme drop-offs and you have to negotiate a worn out old bridge that your tires barely fit on with a bottomless drop under it. I have seen people in built rigs get out and let others drive their rigs over the bridge because they were too freaked out. Even the Rubicon Trail requires some experienced driving on obstacles like Thousand Dollar Hill, Big Sluice, and Cadillac Hill. So the "rig" requirements don't always tell the full story.[/quote]
Awesome info. Thank you guys so
Much. hopefully I can get some of the necessities and no bum the items and start going on runs with you all.

[quote="abendx"]Love the idea.... it has inherent problems.

The idea is great. We could make a spreadsheet on G+ and share it amongst us. We could have trail name, coordinates, description, difficulity level, special requirements, and notes.... and whatever else might be good in there. We can also notate when people went and they can add notes to how the trail was when they went (updating for conditions after weather conditions, etc.).

The inherent issue I see with this kind of thing is how does one rate the trails. I have seen so many ratings and methods of rating, but none really seem to be reliable and what is difficult to one guy might be a near fire road to another. IDK.... DD put up a pretty decent one, but still, I think it's not really perfect.

Don't let that issue I put up make you think I don't still think this is a great idea.... it is!!

Hmm.... an idea just popped. Maybe the people that add to the spreadsheet can register their rig. Then they can rate the trail accordingly. Might make the ratings make more sense and over time, they will average out.[/quote]
Coordinates are an awesome idea too.

[quote="Desert Dog"]with a crazy driver[/quote]

I resemble that remark.



But.... we have crazier, much more so!!

[quote="abendx"][quote="Desert Dog"]with a crazy driver[/quote]

I resemble that remark.



But.... we have crazier, much more so!![/quote]

Im told id fall into this category as well...

Trail ratings have been a matter of debate and heated discussion in the off-road community for many years;

NEVER go by Forest Service trail ratings. They rate trails based on the ability of their work vehicles; so what is extreme in a stock Dodge 1500 truck with street tires is usually pretty easy in a Jeep. So basically, they Give the Sherman trail the same rating as the Rubicon. The FS used to have a numerical rating system. Now they use a 3-level symbol system (easy, difficult, most difficult). The BLM currently uses the same but is considering changing.

Someone invented the "1-7" system in the late 80s, but that has gone by the wayside as people are running trails now that no one would ever think a Jeep could make. 33" tires were considered "monster tires" on a Jeep back then and chrome moly axles didn't exist. The stuff they did at pro rock crawling events in the 90s are pretty moderate by today's standards.

Although Charles Wells makes some great books, his trail rating system has a lot to be desired as he tends to rate extremely easy trails as difficult too.

Then came the 1-5 standard system which people complained was not descriptive enough, so it was replaced about 5 years ago by the standard 1-10 system which Moab now uses. Now people are complaining that the 1-10 system is too complicated and we need a better 1-5 system. So as you can see, there is no making the off-road community happy

I think our trail rating system in our "runs guide" is pretty close to as real as it gets for Jeeps/toys. Not perfect because snow/mud/rutting is always an X-factor, but pretty damn close and simple to remember.

Dont forget trails change from year to year and with weather too. Heck I went up Rancharia last year in a rain storm and it turned into greased snot. Was in 4hi pretty much from the time I left the pavement. Was really fun.

Rob

[quote="robnoxious1"]Dont forget trails change from year to year and with weather too. Heck I went up Rancharia last year in a rain storm and it turned into greased snot. Was in 4hi pretty much from the time I left the pavement. Was really fun.

Rob[/quote]


To me this would be a common sense thing. Any trail will change with rain, mud, snow thrown into the factor! Freeway ridge up to the campgrounds gets pretty crazy when it is muddy. If you are going on a trail look at the weather before hand and prepare for it! Shit can get crazy slippery.

Rancheria is even worse with the clay sections of that road. I have nearly went sliding off the side of rancheria itself with it just slightly muddy. Throw snow on it and as mikey can vouch for i damn near went off the edge of another trail, when him and i first met, when my locker locked up on a turn in the snow and it was a side tilt and slip slip slip i went. If it wasnt for him i may of ended upside down way down there

can we use the word "jeep" less

maybe"vehicle"

I'll be back soon

[quote="rgacord"]can we use the word "jeep" less [/quote]
Shit, I forgot that when you try to turn a truck into a Jeep, its still a truck. My bad

mornin sunshine

Added rating for Nightmare Gulch in my list above.

[quote="robnoxious1"]Added rating for Nightmare Gulch in my list above.[/quote]
Nice. Thanks Rob.