A few freelander guys are planning a run, and I decided to join them... Since this is a day run on 9/18 (Sat), I'm going

to go to the (primitive) camp site located at the trail head on Friday night to avoid driving early morning on Sat.

http://www.freelanderliving.com/bb_board/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=&whichpage=1&TOPIC_ID=4004[/UR L]

This trail can be run with a stock Xterra w/ 4wd. If you want to get into a sport of off-roading, this is very a very good

chance for you...

[URL=http://community.webshots.com/album/92636649RfXTwo]Pics from last year\'s run

If anyone is intersted in this run, please sign up below.

Sign me up!
1. XSAL - camping Friday night
2.
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Cleaned up some URL typo's for ya, Akio.

A few freelander guys are planning a run, and I decided to join them... Since this is a day run on 9/18 (Sat), I'm going to go to the (primitive) camp site located at the trail head on Friday night to avoid driving early morning on Sat.

Freelander Living Board

This trail can be run with a stock Xterra w/ 4wd. If you want to get into a sport of off-roading, this is very a very good

chance for you...

Pics from last year\'s run

If anyone is interested in this run, please sign up below.

Sign me up!
1. XSAL - camping Friday night
2.
3.

Oh.. Thanks... I wonder what happened... I thought it looked good in preview...

CA4WD does run-a-muck there every year..."ballpein" is a cool little bit of trail. I'll try and get out there for a visit if the run comes about as it's pretty close to my place.

The Bear Valley Campground is actually really nice--at least it has a vault toilet. There is also an old codger that minds the place named Mr. Jellybean that'll hook you or your kids up with nature walks and bear survival tips (I'm not kidding)

Wheel the rental Josh...you know you want to... :p

Are you xterra guys going to try some harder trails too or just follow along with the freelanders? Or maybe just try the harder lines?

I might be interested, gotta try out my new lockers. I've had them for about two months now and haven't used them at all.

There are only 2 places you could possibly use your locker on this trail.

As I stated at first, this trail is moderate, not difficult. It's a good learning trail if you're not that familiar with off-roading.

Yeah, I know. I've just been itch'n to hit some dirt. I keep checking this board to see when you guys are going to plan your next trip since you guys are always going.

I might be able to talk to a guy that owns a ranch near there (J.P. with the Hills Angels). He lets guys wheel on his property and he has some pretty extreme stuff to go through. He also doesn't mind folks blazing trails. I think it's about 1,000 acres? within 25 minutes or so of Bear Valley in/near Loyalton. Joe's 4x4 Ranch would make a good side trip to test your rig. Let me know if that's something you would want me to try and set up.

Oh, no, thanks anyway charlie. I just want to go on a trip with other people and maybe get a chance to use the lockers.

Come on out on September 26 and run Barker Pass with us. You just might get a chance to use those lockers. Depending on who attends the "advanced" run we may even decide to run out to Observation Point and back.

Dean, I responded in the other thread.

No one is interested? :rolleyes: It's a fun trail... George? Robert? Anyone? Anyone?

You don't have to camp if you don't want to. I'm camping, so that I won't have to get up early on Sat.

im not sure if i have to work yet (oh the joys of working grocery) sounds like a blast!! ill let you know my if my schedule permits when i find out!!

Sorry Akio, I'm oncall for 2 weeks through that weekend so can not go anywhere out of San Jose boundary

Have fun

....

If you're concerned that this run will be TOO mild, all the Freelanders going will be modified with a lift and larger tires.

The author of the book Akio quoted rates the Bear Valley Loop on par with that of Gold Valley, which I have run, and there's pretty much no way I would have made it without the lift and tires.

I would love to go, but my X is still in the shop and will not be out by then. As for wheelin the rental, I have to pay for any damage. So that is out of the question. Besides, it a 2004 Durango and from what I have seen at work, it does not wheel very well. I have tested it on afew little things, and its kinda scary.

Have fun though, and do some wheelin for me. I haven't been in over 2 months.


Casper

I'm sorry Akio, i did say yes last saturday but work has catched up with me this week and i'll be working straight 'till monday.

Nah... This trail isn't too mild... I'd say it's just right, especially for Xterras w/o lift. Nothing extreme is there, so it will not be a stressful trip.

looks like it could be fun..
I will try to make this one..

seems like my schedule was in a bind. i might go after all...... i thought this will be happening this weekend. i'm in for now.

Okay... So... :rolleyes:
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2. Xtopher - I will try to make this one...
3. GrgX - i'm in for now.
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im not gonna be able to make it (damn store) got thurs & fri off but not sat thanx for the invite ! wish i could make it ...im gonna start getting weekends off now so i dont miss too much more!!! only 2 weeks till tahoe!!! im stoked!!!!

There is no "R" is stoked..

Just Kidding...
Have fun at Tahoe, i have to work that weekend

the word was STOKED yes this is true 1 simple letter and the word / sentence has a whole new meaning oh well $#it happens!! lol have a safe trip guys!!

Alrighty... Anyone else? Patrick? :rolleyes:
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1. XSAL - camping Friday night
2. Xtopher - I will try to make this one...
3. GrgX - i'm in for now.
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Akio, don't know which Patrick you are asking but I can't make it. I'm in a wheeling slump.

I meant both Patrick I know.. That is too bad...

Okay...so, those who are interested in going, are you planning to camp or get up early? As you can see from Freelander's site, they are meeting at the exit of I-80 towards Hwy 89 North in Truckee at 9 am. For me, that means leaving home at 5:30 am, so I'm camping at the site of the trail head.

GrgX & Xtopher - How's your Friday looking?

I guess I am camping as well..
More Top Ramin, and Hot Cocoa..

I hate to say this but the wifey is workin friday and saturday, and i'm workin friday graveyard so i have no chance in comin'.
Well you guys have fun and easy on the top ramen Xtopher, too much sodium.....

well, at least i get to take a few pics of the new bumper.. out of my driveway that is....

Well, Chris... I'll see you at Montgomery Wards parking lot off of I-680 at Monument Blvd. Exit in Pleasant Hill...about 3 pm tomorrow.

Sounds like a plan...

This trip was a blast, at least for me! I needed every millimiter of my clearance, and then some! Thanks to Chris, Andy, Akio, and Catherine for all the help spotting and rock-stacking.

I posted my pictures at http://www.pbase.com/bcm79/bear_valley_loop

Sorry for not getting more of the Xterra's, you guys just didn't have enough trouble with the tough spots for me to have enough time to get up to the front of the pack.

Very cool pix!!!! wish i could have been there but work wouldnt permit! tahoe is less than a week away and im really lookin forward to having some of those cool pix and memories of my own! Will any of you freelander guys be up there?

POLAR B

Freelander guys are very unlikely to be there...this coming weekend since 1) I don't think they are aware of the event, and 2) it is Xterra Championship event.

But, whatever the trail we'll hit after the event, I'm sure it'll be fun.

Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! That trail looks pretty challenging. Those Freelanders have pretty small tires for a trail like that! What are they, 235's? But it looks like you all did just fine! Did the Freelanders' ETC work overtime?

How long did it take to run the whole trail?

Their ETC didn't do squat in the rocks.. from what they said, it is great when it is slick, but jack when you lift a tire or two.. They were spinning and smoking a bunch for sure..
I think it took 6 or 7 hours, with lunch, and a break.. lots of stacking... lota & lots..
For low ground clearance, and no low range, I was really impressed with how well they did.. In the loose ricks they were fine, just when they were lifting tires.. then the stacking started..

That's a fun trail. I'm suprised that folks take those Freelanders out!

The tires are 225/75-16. The largest you can go before hitting the spring perch And these are 3" larger in diameter than the stock tires.

ETC just momentarily touches the brake, which is great in sand or mud or snow or shale, but when you're up against rocks it doesn't hold the spinning tire long enough for the torque to be transferred to the wheel with the grip. I think with low range they'd be able to climb and crawl a lot better.