Sierra Trek 2012 // FORDYCE

[abendx]

Fordyce Creek, 10 AUG 2012.

Olympic Eric showed up at my doorstep on Thursday morning and we headed out on out long trip… Eric in his H2 and the trailer queen, me! The drive up was long, but very easy freeway driving…. Straight up the 99, then keep going when it turns into the 80. Truck and trailer was left at the Cisco Grove Campgrounds. Cisco was not a bad spot and close enough to use as a base camp… the only issue I could see in doing that is you’d listen to the freeway all night long and who wants to do that? After we unloaded, we drove around to the dirt road that would take us to the trailhead and we made camp for an early morning departure. The spot was beautiful with the river next to us… dinner and drinks for a nice evening to start the vacation with.

We awoke to a little confusion. The last time Eric did this trail/event was five years ago… so things might have changed. He recalled staggered start times, but apparently they now open it up for all to start at first light. So, by the time we got over to have breakfast (coffee and pastries provided by a local club) and start the run (7am) everyone was already gone. We got a quick pre-flight checkout grabbed a coffee and got started. We were maybe an hour behind the rest of the last of the group. No problem making the time up I thought…. Then Eric started with our first breakdown. One of the banjo fittings on his front brakes decided to snap in two. Some vice grips zip ties, and 30 minutes… we were back on the trail. It was not long after this that we caught up to the tail end of the main group… well, about seven or ten of them that were stuck on what might end up being called Winch Hill 6.

See… they have what they refer to as Winch Hills. There are five of them. Each of these five obstacles, littered throughout the trail, are what they consider the hard parts. I think three had bypasses and the others none. While the bypasses would make any momma proud of her boy, the real lines were the shit. A ton of fun!!

Eric’s long wheelbase worked against him the entire trip… this is truly a trail for short wheel based rigs! He had to be winched up two or three of the winch hills and in a lot of places I just walked over, he had a ton of trouble. The spotters (these guys were pretty good!) couldn’t figure him out either and were noticeably getting frustrated with getting him over some things. He was just too long!

The trail is relentless. It is somewhere between 9 and 12 miles long. Between the five winch hills and all the general craziness of the trail… you have a long day of wheeling. Wait…. Did I forget the water crossings? Whoa…. Ha. There were five water crossings if I recall correctly. The lowest one was above my hubs, the deepest one, barely breached my door sills (maybe an inch or two inside the jeep)… from what I understand, the flow was cut too far back…. usually the water on the deepest would be almost to the tops of your knees I was told). **PG&E cuts the flow of the river down for a short period every year and I assume this is the best (maybe only?) time to run this trail.

We wheeled hard all day… in our small pack (us and the guys we caught up to) included Eric and I, the Poly crew (Dave/PIG), a local named Mike, a few of the “committee” rigs (sponsors), and a few other rigs. Lots of stucks, lots of carnage, lots of breakage…. By the time we got back to camp (beautiful spot on Meadow Lake), it was 11:30pm. Luckily they still had some food left for us (ice cold, but good). The party was still going full swing (huge bon fire, tons of young people drinking and dancing), a band, a bar, a snack bar, and all the other stuff you’d expect at an “event” (vendor booths, bathrooms, hot showers, etc, etc, etc). We headed over to the lake, setup camp and crashed… it was loud and a big party lasted until maybe three am.

I was setup to do a day run on Saturday, but was so tired from the day before and figuring that I didn’t get to sleep until about an hour or so after they stopped making all that noise, had me sleeping in till 7am…. Unfortunately, that was the time they were leaving and there was no way I was going to break down camp and make it. BUMMER!! So I stayed in camp and hung out like a VIP! They really treat the vendors nicely. See… when I awoke, Eric and his lady Judy were asleep… I drove over to the main site and was looking for breakfast and coffee… no dice without a “pass.” Something we didn’t get arriving so late… the booth were I could obtain the pass wouldn’t open until ten am… after breakfast was served!?! WTF! This was their fault… but I was so tired, I didn’t argue it and drove back and made my own coffee… surely much better and drake at a much prettier spot (on the lake). When Eric and I finally made it back over and he was like hey… I am a vendor; they brought out food and everything without question. Man… that was bullshit at first, but major cool service in the end. I’ll chock it up to bad luck that got replaced with great luck!!

While in camp, Poly showed me their new shower… yes!! Heat exchanger under the hood, a pump, and a water source and you are making hot water and decent pressure for a shower…. It was nice and I think I gotta get me one of those! The ultimate camping accessory!

The ride back to the trailer was easy… about 1.5 hours down a mix of graded and paved roads.

My thoughts are that Fordyce is a GREAT trail!! While you gotta do the Con if you never have, this is a much better trip. The two are close, so a guy with a week to spend could do both trails right (they are about two hours from one another). The wheeling is considerably harder than the Con (with the exception of the Box) and there was a ton of fun side shit to crawl that would keep the best buggies very well occupied for days (unfortunately, since we were bringing up the rear and this was an “event” … extra credit play time was highly discouraged).

I would and will do this trip again!! Next time it will be without the benefit of a host. While the Sierra Trek crew was great… I think doing it on your own, sleeping a night or maybe even three on the trail would be much more enjoyable. The trail is tough… and they don’t fuck it up for the benefit of stock rigs that need to run the Jambos. I saw more breakage on this trail than any other trail I’ve ever run.

Our carnage (Eric and mine) consisted of a broken brake line, lost spring, roof rack removal (thanks to the aliens that live in the trees… or so that is Eric’s official story), two broken winches, snapped hydro ram shaft (man, I feel for you guys wheeling without!!), tons of new bodywork, and god only knows what I forgot about. Other carnage that I am aware about that was occurring around us in our little seven or ten man pack…. A roll over, two broken axels, one broken drive shaft, two broken control arms (one at the end, one snapped in half), and more that I wasn’t paying attention to (it was fucking HOT and a beautiful river runs next to almost the entire trail… so at a few of the stops I grabbed a bar of soap and made myself whole again (even if for only a few minutes)). Lots of carnage… lots of spares and a welder are pretty important items to have on this trail.

But really…. What is with that wall of words? You guys want to see pictures and videos!

[abendx]

EDIT: Promised video!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxCYWXBCrbI][/youtube]


[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IBMc92CVYR4/UCkn3e4ldNI/AAAAAAAAVhQ/P39eWCb5ikQ/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h54m55s59.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HKI5x1S3ss4/UCkn0aQnUhI/AAAAAAAAVg8/8Mv6GM28_i4/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h45m47s162.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0QunSrjgyGQ/UCkn0zST3SI/AAAAAAAAVhA/Bn8U5KYEhvg/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h47m33s224.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Jbfa7_6Njl4/UCkn1G8YkeI/AAAAAAAAVhE/T-wEDbp_4dc/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h49m38s179.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KC719H30V3c/UCkn1idLJ4I/AAAAAAAAVhI/joG5L3bQk2A/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h53m07s214.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zkkUYuR4X8c/UCkn15FbqAI/AAAAAAAAVhM/4C0cchnBNh4/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h53m58s169.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kvv_yJhdYE0/UCkn5qwa2iI/AAAAAAAAVhU/GwkuxawIRjU/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h56m11s32.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HJ5RvDzYdCk/UCkn6OyNCkI/AAAAAAAAVhY/TqBdZk2hZNw/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h57m07s26.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w6hBUTCgu2o/UCkn6TtltPI/AAAAAAAAVhk/ZOrvmi7_v0c/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-08h58m42s201.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9HbHLN9LuI4/UCkn6lzb4rI/AAAAAAAAVho/f4_-dkg0MUs/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-09h00m59s83.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UzLwxfvRP6g/UCkn7aKx_AI/AAAAAAAAVhs/-8w7gC-mKYs/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-09h01m17s12.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yPL8pYExFww/UCkn9Nozu2I/AAAAAAAAViI/N_nAPRtO4zQ/s1280/vlcsnap-2012-08-13-09h03m22s248.jpg[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Eex06w-0aBo/UCkn_oJnPhI/AAAAAAAAViU/H2w23Bm55K4/s1255/IMG_20120811_133210.jpg[/img]

[Desert Dog]

I plan on doing Sierra Trek next year! Taking the days off in December.

[abendx]

[quote="Desert Dog"]I plan on doing Sierra Trek next year! Taking the days off in December.[/quote]

They were a really good group of people... think I like the dynamic of a smaller group though. I plan on leading an IOR run to Fordyce next year... probably do a week like I was saying above and do this and the Con. Maybe you should talk with me about a week to do both as well?? You organize and lead the Con section and I'll do the same for the Fordyce leg... people can come for one or both! IDK about you... but that sounds like a dream trip to me!!

[Desert Dog]

[quote="abendx"][quote="Desert Dog"]I plan on doing Sierra Trek next year! Taking the days off in December.[/quote]

They were a really good group of people... think I like the dynamic of a smaller group though. I plan on leading an IOR run to Fordyce next year... probably do a week like I was saying above and do this and the Con. Maybe you should talk with me about a week to do both as well?? You organize and lead the Con section and I'll do the same for the Fordyce leg... people can come for one or both! IDK about you... but that sounds like a dream trip to me!![/quote]
I would have to do the Sierra Trek event; I will be with other rigs with smaller tires so want the added insurance of lower water levels, and I like that it is done over a long weekend so I don't burn a lot of valuable vacation days. Long weekends are about the only thing I can do anymore after my family vacation, week long tuna fishing trip, and Moab EJS.

[chuckanut105]

Sounds like you had a fun time man. I told you that it was hard ass hell. Grad you had fun.

[Desert Dog]

7th pic down is AWESOME!!!

Both front tires off the ground while at 50*!!!!

[abendx]

[quote="chuckanut105"]Sounds like you had a fun time man. I told you that it was hard ass hell. Grad you had fun.[/quote]

Next year... you are GOING!

[quote="Desert Dog"]7th pic down is AWESOME!!!

Both front tires off the ground while at 50*!!!! [/quote]

It was Eric's first time wheeling with Infectious.... I think he might have had the best time in his ~40 years of running Olympic and I am positive his rig got more trail kisses on Fordyce than in all its time at the Con and everywhere else it goes. Following one of us is very different than following another vendor... I should have used Henry's roll over line (speaking of Henry... where's he been at??).

On to that double up.... that obstacle (and many others) were extra hard for him... that wheel base was a bitch on this trail. He got to see what his sliders (tub mounted ) were all about.

[Lake_v2]

we will be up for it im sure, this is one of those trails that is on the to-do list, I am sure I will have to waterproof a few electrical items on my jeep, and heck with what your saying ill have to check the winch, a 110" wheelbase sounds like a challenge here...

Glad you had fun and hope tomake the trip next year...

[chuckanut105]

[quote="abendx"][quote="chuckanut105"]Sounds like you had a fun time man. I told you that it was hard ass hell. Grad you had fun.[/quote]

Next year... you are GOING!

[quote="Desert Dog"]7th pic down is AWESOME!!!

Both front tires off the ground while at 50*!!!! [/quote]

It was Eric's first time wheeling with Infectious.... I think he might have had the best time in his ~40 years of running Olympic and I am positive his rig got more trail kisses on Fordyce than in all its time at the Con and everywhere else it goes. Following one of us is very different than following another vendor... I should have used Henry's roll over line (speaking of Henry... where's he been at??).

On to that double up.... that obstacle (and many others) were extra hard for him... that wheel base was a bitch on this trail. He got to see what his sliders (tub mounted ) were all about. [/quote]


Might be deployed again by then. Also that will give me time to upgrade my shit cause the sport wont make it as it sits now. Oh and Sara says no to Moab.

[abendx]

[quote="chuckanut105"][quote="abendx"][quote="chuckanut105"]Sounds like you had a fun time man. I told you that it was hard ass hell. Grad you had fun.[/quote]

Next year... you are GOING!

[quote="Desert Dog"]7th pic down is AWESOME!!!

Both front tires off the ground while at 50*!!!! [/quote]

It was Eric's first time wheeling with Infectious.... I think he might have had the best time in his ~40 years of running Olympic and I am positive his rig got more trail kisses on Fordyce than in all its time at the Con and everywhere else it goes. Following one of us is very different than following another vendor... I should have used Henry's roll over line (speaking of Henry... where's he been at??).

On to that double up.... that obstacle (and many others) were extra hard for him... that wheel base was a bitch on this trail. He got to see what his sliders (tub mounted ) were all about. [/quote]


Might be deployed again by then. Also that will give me time to upgrade my shit cause the sport wont make it as it sits now. Oh and Sara says no to Moab.[/quote]

You have lockers now, right?

[chuckanut105]

[quote="abendx"]You have lockers now, right?[/quote]

No still running 3.21s open. The trick is to side step the clutch, apply enough RPM to make all four tires spin and make it look like I have lockers I'm thinking I need some 37's, lockers, and some 5.13s. Some more armor would be nice too. Frame mounted sliders??? Maybe Eric will be making some soon.

[abendx]

[quote="chuckanut105"][quote="abendx"]You have lockers now, right?[/quote]

No still running 3.21s open. The trick is to side step the clutch, apply enough RPM to make all four tires spin and make it look like I have lockers I'm thinking I need some 37's, lockers, and some 5.13s. Some more armor would be nice too. Frame mounted sliders??? Maybe Eric will be making some soon.[/quote]

I don't think you can do a trail like Fordyce without lockers.

[Goatman]

I definitely have to do Fordyce again next year, haven't been now for a couple years. Very fun trail, and very scenic. I also can't do the week, has to be a long weekend. But, those that have more time could do the 'Con before or after.

I'd park the tow rigs at Cisco Grove and run Fordyce both directions. Then drive over to the Tahoe side of the 'Con and park the tow rigs at the trail end parking lot and run the 'Con both directions.

[abendx]

As promised, video of the trip!

Enjoy....

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxCYWXBCrbI][/youtube]