Oct 20-21: Shenanigans in Anza Borrego Desert SP

Hey All,

The weather looks a little on the warm side during the day, but otherwise pretty nice conditions. Bring lots of liquids and shade. We'll likely be breaking up into three groups (see below), but meeting up for lunch and camping.

Time:

• Sat 10/20 - 8:00 AM (8:30 departure)
• Sun 10/21 - 8:00

Place: Serpent Sculpture (Christmas Circle no bueno due to parade)

Camping: dispersed in the desert; 2 gal drinking water per person per day; totally self-contained

Meals: every man for himself (sorry, too many to coordinate)

Trails:

• Sat, 10/20: Borrego Badlands Area Trails
  • Lunch: Pumpkin Patch (bring shade)
  • Camp: Near Fish Creek, but be flexible
• Sun, 10/21: Carrizo/South Area Trails

Comms: sort that out on Saturday

Confirmed Attendees:

Francis' Group:
1. @Porschetech29
2. Land Cruiser Guy (Derek)
3. Sequoia Guy (John?)
4. Friend of Francis #1
5. Friend of Francis #2
6. Friend of Francis #3
7. Friend of Francis #4

Spartan's Group:
8. @Spvrtan
9. Friend #1
10. Friend #2
11. Friend #3
12. Friend #4
13. Friend #5
14. Friend #6


Group 3:
15.@nishibot
17. @Sunnier
18.@TheFreshMouse+1
20.@Gibzki
22. @sdde4n



Tentative:
@aperezsh
@Mithrandir

 

Edit: this gathering is open to all!!!

 

+ @nishibot

 

Damn. I’ll be out of the town that weekend :/
Anything early Dec. I should be free.

 

I can most likely attend and if I do then I could also lead a group. I would suggest starting way earlier though to take advantage of the daylight.

 

Sam, here's the most recent "confirmed" list for this trip. Post 2030 on the Shananigans thread:

 

How many groups you guys usually have?

 

You asking me or @Spvrtan? So far, "we, SoCal Shenanigans" have run as one group at every meet, and that's sometimes 27 trucks....

So far, we've not limited the number of trucks, so being ready to divide into smaller groups for the Anza-Borrego trip will be a good thing!

 

Sorry the question was for you.
27 trucks is a lot of trucks. How do you guys divide the groups, and how do you guys gap out the groups?

 

We have not. We've been rolling deep, starting out as one huge group and mainly staying together.

On Bee Canyon, we ended up in 2 groups (approximate halves) because some guys stopped to play on a steep embankment, then radios didn't reach from front to back. And then we encountered oncoming traffic (including other full-sized trucks). We reunited at the picnic spot and convoyed again from there.

That's when we learned to predesignate more than one radio frequency. And we've talked about breaking into smaller groups, with leaders for each, for every meet after the first, but haven't done it yet.

In Big Bear, @BestGen planned an awesome, easy, WIDE route, and we did not have trouble with oncoming traffic. So again, even though we designated multiple channels, and talked about breaking into smaller groups, it didn't happen, and again, it worked for us to convoy as one group. It wouldn't if we were doing technical trails, but we haven't.

Our first run, to Anza-Borrego last January, we did a long convoy at Lower Coyote Creek (the hardest bit was fitting that many trucks into the turn-around place) then convoyed across the valley on pavement to get to a dry riverbed. We all ran that tiver bed together (rock dings on my hood to remember it by!), then the Big Dawgs moved to a more challenging route, while rookies left to go home or squeezed into Sandstone Canyon. That was tight and would not have worked for more than about 6 1/2 trucks, which is what we had (@eccracer104 led the rookies in a 1/2 Tundra = Taco).

So, no matter how many times we say it, and no matter how hard it is to believe... ... we have actually done every run as a huge group. If we can get team leaders to commit, this will be our first time actually splitting into groups. Once we know how many confirm, and how many are willing to lead, we'll figure out group sizes.

A challenge every time has been that people show up that haven't said they will. I think maybe because we're so welcoming ? But @Marty McFly encourages this; he doesn't want to discourage his fans. So far, the size of his entourage is proof he's still a Big Star. His publicist had been very pleased with the exposure. And, I mean, Alex, made a commercial, so....

 

Oh! Another dynamic is, we're ridiculously social. Picking small groups would be like picking dodge ball teams in the 4th grade. No one wants to be a different team than their BFF's.


LOL!!
























Kidding. (Not kidding.)

 

Thanks for the tag @sdde4n
Is anyone planning on camping Friday 10/19?

 

@sdde4n Damn dude I didn't check my calendar, but I have another wedding to attend that weekend

 

I am!

 

Do you have any spots in mind for Friday camping?

 

Nope. I'm hoping to find out this week who's camping Friday, so I know if I'm doing my own thing (probably try to get a campground site, so my Fambly can hike from camp + getting to the Sat a.m meet wil be close and easy). If I'll have camp-anions , I'm willing to look farther afield... or go along with someone else's good idea. I don't know the area well, so if I don't get a recommendation from someone on here, I'll pick based on on-line info.

Headed to sleep. I'm excited to find out later what plans any of you make for me.

 

Camping Friday is a possibility. I'm thinking just a meet-up for dinner and social hour at a location that can accommodate all comers. Ideas anyone?

 

Edit: earlier start (thanks, Kris)

 

Those who drink go left. Those who drink excessively go right.

My truck is still down, I really need it up so I can start joining you all.

 

Rent a Chevy Spark to get to Anza. Jump in with us! #noexcuses

 

If I did that i would need Marty to bring me back in n time before anybody saw me driving a Chevy spark

 

Whatever it takes! That was as opposite-a-Tundra as I could imagine. But if you wanna make it out with us , I'm sure @Marty McFly can help rectify any necessary... lapses in judgment. He's all about giving The Fans what they want.


Just don't ask him about the casting couch.

 

That reminds me of the time I flew in to SLC for work and the guy at the AVIS counter handed me keys to a purple PT Cruiser for a three-hour drive to Wyoming.

Me: "Uh, no."

 

Hahaha! Wyoming locals: "Yer not from around here, are ya son?"

 

It's okay, @Marty McFly. That's not the couch. He's trying to break your concentration so he gets your role. Don't let him win. It's okay. Breathe through it. Good, Man, you got this. Breathe....

 

The casting couch is real in the industry

 

Lucky this days are passed for you. Big Stars don't gotta... audition.

 

I have a rule, you can’t ride in the delorean if you were just in a chevy spark LOL

 

Ummmmm .... yeah those days are long behind me