Cougar Buttes / Johnson Valley 12/27 - 12/29

Checking to see if anyone is interested to wheel on a weekday between holidays. Bit of everything down there: slow stuff for the slow people, fast stuff for the fast people, and everything in between.

@Sunnier - here's your personal invite

Monday 12/27: head down, hit some trails
Tuesday 12/28: trails all day
Wednesday 12/29: head home

You can do whatever trails you want but these are on my to do list:
Bullfrog
Hammer Down
Turkey Claw

 

Very possible I can make Mon-Tues.

(Thank you for the invite!)

 

Kyle said he's in.

 

Nice! I’m still tentative but I think I can do it!

 

Dude. That first obstacle on Hammer Down. I gotta find another angle; it looks like a tiny Jeep has to Austin Powers to get around the boulder on the passenger side, while limited by the wall in front. Gonna be a good challenge for sure.

Unless your 40’s let you pass right over that boulder….

 

Don't worry there's a way around that tight squeeze
At the beginning of this video you can see the Blazer going off to the right of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIusUNNWsOU&t=55s

 

At first glance I thought it said “ cougar butts”

 

And your point is-?

Cruzer is inviting you to come out for Cougar Butts.

 

A tad more clearance than I have... lol

 

looks like a fun time.

 

If cougars are involved, I’m pretty sure lol

 

Cougar butts are the best, they’re not interested in cubs.

 

Got my buddy in a jeep joining for Monday

 

I may be able to make it Monday/Tuesday also. Not sure how my truck would do, never been there...

 

I doubt most of our trucks can run this. But I think Cruzer can. I hope to go, spot for him and take video, run what I can , get rescued where I can’t , and share some steaks and wine.

That said, I think with our long wheel base and significant width, I’ll be betting on Hulk’s LT (running 33’s, the max for 1st gens to preserve full articulation… and I don’t have a locker), and will stick with spotting and and watching if Hulk can’t bring it.

If you guys with later gens and MT don’t have a locker and 40’s… or a willingness to drive this far to camp, hang out, and watch… or hit up other nearby trails…, it may not be all that you hope. Basically, it looks like Jeeps go between the boulders our length and width won’t fit through, but Cruzer plans to roll over the tops of those.

 

I’ll be in Utah those days but will live vicariously through the pics and video

 

I’ll sure enjoy hanging out with you and @Mrs. Kdogg77 if we all make it though!

 

It's been a while since Bald Mountain. Haven't really been out in a while, was thinking of maybe towing out the Can-Am also for some fun. What's the camping like?

 

I haven’t been, but I understand it’s desert at the base of mountains. Shade at the bottom of big boulders, or under the awning you bring. Not my preference at all, but the landscape will be interesting, the obstacles and company entertaining, and the timing… that week between holidays… should work for me. So… camping will be great!

 

My biggest hope is that we pick one spot to camp, instead of moving each day. (I hate that.)

 

Well I ran Turkey Claw last week....in my 87' XJ Cherokee on 37's. I couldn't imagine taking my Tundra through that trail but I haven't upgraded my tires yet. Shoot video!

 

I am on 35's with a 6" lift, haven't had many problems in the places I have been, but definitely not comparable to Cruzer's 40's. LOL

 

Ever ran Gold Mountain? Taking my Jeep there Saturday morning not enough guts to run my Tundra through there

 

Nope, haven't been there.

 

I don't see myself getting any time off, but I'll come up to camp at least.

 

I think Bull Frog is doable with its bypasses. Check out this video and correlate it with this GPX track. Let me know what you think.
On Tuesday we could run the 13 mile long Rattlesnake Canyon trail up to Big Bear then hit Motino Wash and then back track to camp.

All primitive camping on BLM.

Definitely would need to unload and setup base camp. So you're saying you don't like overlanding??

 

Gold mountain is doable with a lifted Tundra as long as you’re not freaked out about pinstripes. A locker or LT make it easier, but good line-picking makes it possible without. Sliders and armor would be a good thing, unless you feel about your truck the way Cruzer feels about his.

 

I love overlanding! But I hate being my own Sherpa. If someone else set up and took down, I’d overland full time!

 

Pinstripes are fun

 

I’ll watch when I get more minutes.

What day will you arrive? Asking because a long run on Monday will work better for me than Tuesday, because I’ll likely need to drive home Tuesday evening. Are you not arriving ‘til Monday?