Events/Trails 10th Annual Coyote Plateau (Flats), Inyo, August 14-18 2025! (1 Viewer)

[elripster]

There is so much scenery but the clouds made this one.

Driving a stickshift makes it a bit hard to take pictures so I didn't grab anymore on the way up. Wampa was having an issue where when the truck traversed rough terrain and pitched side to side it would start bogging and belching black smoke. I am not sure why, it's almost like the float got stuck down for a bit but fixed itself after the road smoothened out. However, it made it!

The next morning we were up making breakfast. Here are some pictures from camp.

Raptorpat's Raptor. If you want an overland rig that can chew up miles of rough roads in comfort, this will do it.

Mustafa's Tacoma. He was a friend of Pat's who was up here for the first time and loved it.

 

[elripster]

We were on the opposite side of the area vs. most years. There was someone on the far end we figured we'd give them their peace since we were a large group. Credit to Justendit and Loober for scouting out camp ahead of the group. There was no water this year, it had dried up.

Our youngest adventurer looking for someone to take her for a ride on a bike or "Vroom vroom" as she calls them.

For day 2, we decided to keep it easy and explore a bit. It is nice to have an acclimation day before hitting the hard hikes. This was the first day I got to ride my bike up there. We all went to Funnel Lake to hang out a bit. Daniel went ahead on his 85 which he dutifully rejetted for the altitude. I followed my 11 year old on his razor to make sure he made it Ok. That kid was more than Ok, he tore it up riding like a little pro. I could hardly keep up with him. Here are some shots from one of the harder spots.



Here Raptorpat and Claire in our 80 tried this hard section but it was too steep and soft to make it up.

 

[elripster]

Finally at Funnel! Check this out. On Sunday I spoke with some locals who were having lunch at the Green Lake Overlook and they gave me the DL on why there are no fish in Funnel Lake. They said that the Forest Service moved the fish to Rocky Bottom lake to protect a grass frog that lives in... the grass. The fish in Funnel were of a more aggressive form of trout that out competed the existing trout in Rocky. Then Rocky Bottom lake dried up and killed all the fish. Now there are no fish in either lake.

Claire

Me and my 11 year old, Garrett.

Our rides...

Perfect day!

 

[elripster]

Frog!

Our dog Caramel, with Karleigh looking on as Justin give Caramel some proper training on how to take a treat without a finger along with it.

My oldest kiddo Daniel (14) and youngest Karleigh.

While there might not be fish in Funnel, it's still a great place to let the kids practice casting and get your gear ready for the other lakes.


On the way back to camp...

The area is so beautiful. I really hope the Forest Service doesn't pave the road up there and flood it with people. It's just hard enough to get to that it stays like this year after year.

 

[elripster]

Back at camp, it was time to make some food and have some fun.

Brennan my 7 year old was ready for the ride to Funnel (but don't tell him that!) so he made up for it cruising around the area.

Under that try is 12lb of tri-tip.

Bakes beans with peppers and other goodness.

I took this picture of a group that strangely set up close to us when the other end of the area was wide open. Weird. They yelled at you if you got too close to the meadow which is funny when you consider the high water line gets well into the areas we camp. I guess it's just up to the mood of the beholder.

 

[elripster]

We all ate well! There was much delicious desert. Everyone pitched in.

It wouldn't be a Beach N Toy's trip if we didn't keep the food going. Next morning we made sure everyone was full and ready to do some hiking!

Some of us left for Baker lake earlier and folks with kids like us took longer but we got there! I road my ebike there trying to chase Daniel and learned a few things.
1. My bike is great on smooth hard surfaces, it's quite, quick, and you just hear the tires and wind.
2. It is terrible in soft sandy surfaces. It's really hard to control.
3. It's ever more terrible over rough terrain. It sends shocks up my spine. I don't have the best suspension and it really showed.

I am ready to hike my littlest up to the lake. I thought about it, over 10 years, I started hiking Garrett, then Brennan, and how Karleigh. I am not getting younger so it's probably good she is the last one for us.

 

[elripster]

Pausing for a much needed break on the way up. It's not a long hike but it's steep in sections and the altitude makes you work.

Once there we got to fishing!

After spending a couple of hours there, we headed back.

And then an adventure occured. Raptorpat had stayed back to do some studying for his medical practice. He decided to take a break and go for a hike near the parking area. During that hike he lost his key (fob). He looked and looked but no luck. About 4-5 of us retraced his steps with him. He talked us through the hike, what he was thinking, feeling, doing etc... Towards the end we were not feeling optimistic. The meadow had wet thick grass that would swallow up anything small. We hiked for at least a half hour. Then, as he was going over this weird rock next to these wildflowers he was photographing, he shouts "Key!!!!" and finds it! Then he puts it into his pocket, on his hydration pack, that it fell out of the first time, turns, and it flies out again. This time I suggested I hold onto it until we got back to the truck. That worked.

The weird rock.

 

[Coredawg01]

Pausing for a much needed break on the way up. It's not a long hike but it's steep in sections and the altitude makes you work.
View attachment 3974552

Once there we got to fishing!
View attachment 3974553

View attachment 3974554

After spending a couple of hours there, we headed back.
View attachment 3974556


And then an adventure occured. Raptorpat had stayed back to do some studying for his medical practice. He decided to take a break and go for a hike near the parking area. During that hike he lost his key (fob). He looked and looked but no luck. About 4-5 of us retraced his steps with him. He talked us through the hike, what he was thinking, feeling, doing etc... Towards the end we were not feeling optimistic. The meadow had wet thick grass that would swallow up anything small. We hiked for at least a half hour. Then, as he was going over this weird rock next to these wildflowers he was photographing, he shouts "Key!!!!" and finds it! Then he puts it into his pocket, on his hydration pack, that it fell out of the first time, turns, and it flies out again. This time I suggested I hold onto it until we got back to the truck. That worked.

The weird rock.
View attachment 3974562

Here is the moment he found the key!

 

[Honky Tonka]

Awesome photos and write up Frank. Looks like and incredible trip.

 

[elripster]

We headed back to camp. I was trying to be so careful on my bike not to wipe out but alas about half a mile from camp I did. I wasn't going fast and didn't get hurt but need to fix a few things on the bike. However, that's not important, what is important is more food!

It was mexican food themed and oh so good.

Let's change gears a bit. One of the things I did to Wampa to increase the "oomph" is swap out the disaster of an exhaust manifold for 3FE manifolds. This required some machining but also a solution for the EGR pipe. After much, much searching I found adapters that would allow a propane extension hose to do the trick. However, just before the trip the pipe fatigued and broke. I ordered another one in hast and installed it bending it differently hoping to make it last longer. It made it about half way to Coyote before it failed creating a loud, stinky exhaust leak that messed with the idle. While at camp Daniel and I took a shot at fixing it. I took a hose clamp and poked a hole in the tail bolting it to the manifold to try to stifle the vibrations I figured were the culprit. Daniel donned gloves and slathered the two pieces in JB weld. Lastly I took a can, cut and notched, and wrapped it with 2 hose clamps to try to further splint the joint. What you see below is the result. And, it worked.... for a while. It made it to somewhere passed the Cajon pass on the way home before I heard the noise and knew it had failed again.

Once that was done, as it was Sunday, we proceeded to head to the Green Lake overlook. This is the crest of Coyote Ridge where you get a spectacular view of Mt. Whitney and even the back side of Yosemite. It's truly breath taking, it's over 12,000' after all. Side note, Daniel's ride, Greta the 85cc two stroke, decided it couldn't go on north of 12k' so we hid it in a bush and he road up with us. Can anyone guess Greta's last name?

Not much grows up this high up.

What was cool is that the remainder of the group, which had left earlier to explore, was able to meet up so we all got to head to Green Lake together.
I wish I had a fraction of the energy the kids had at this elevation, or anytime for that matter.

 

[elripster]

Awesome photos and write up Frank. Looks like and incredible trip.

It was. Each year has something else to offer. We gotta do it again next year.

Frank

 

[elripster]

Green Lake! The view is awesome, like another planet, but the hike down there and back up is tough. Trying to do that with Karleigh on my back is a real physical test so passed on it this year. I'd love to get back to fish it, Daniel caught a big old girthy trout that we cooked up, but you need to be ready for the hike back up.

Even Caramel is working hard at this elevation.

Top of our little part of the world!

 

[elripster]

Corey's family, his wife was a trooper hiking their baby to Baker lake and beyond.

On the way back we stopped to get a better pictures of the rigs with the mountains in the background.

We headed back to camp to enjoy our last day. Garrett is dreaming of the day he can drive this!

Mommy might have indulged him a bit.

 

[hamilt0n]

We headed back to camp. I was trying to be so careful on my bike not to wipe out but alas about half a mile from camp I did. I wasn't going fast and didn't get hurt but need to fix a few things on the bike. However, that's not important, what is important is more food!
View attachment 3974564
It was mexican food themed and oh so good.

Let's change gears a bit. One of the things I did to Wampa to increase the "oomph" is swap out the disaster of an exhaust manifold for 3FE manifolds. This required some machining but also a solution for the EGR pipe. After much, much searching I found adapters that would allow a propane extension hose to do the trick. However, just before the trip the pipe fatigued and broke. I ordered another one in hast and installed it bending it differently hoping to make it last longer. It made it about half way to Coyote before it failed creating a loud, stinky exhaust leak that messed with the idle. While at camp Daniel and I took a shot at fixing it. I took a hose clamp and poked a hole in the tail bolting it to the manifold to try to stifle the vibrations I figured were the culprit. Daniel donned gloves and slathered the two pieces in JB weld. Lastly I took a can, cut and notched, and wrapped it with 2 hose clamps to try to further splint the joint. What you see below is the result. And, it worked.... for a while. It made it to somewhere passed the Cajon pass on the way home before I heard the noise and knew it had failed again.
View attachment 3974718
Once that was done, as it was Sunday, we proceeded to head to the Green Lake overlook. This is the crest of Coyote Ridge where you get a spectacular view of Mt. Whitney and even the back side of Yosemite. It's truly breath taking, it's over 12,000' after all. Side note, Daniel's ride, Greta the 85cc two stroke, decided it couldn't go on north of 12k' so we hid it in a bush and he road up with us. Can anyone guess Greta's last name?
View attachment 3974719
Not much grows up this high up.

View attachment 3974720

What was cool is that the remainder of the group, which had left earlier to explore, was able to meet up so we all got to head to Green Lake together.
I wish I had a fraction of the energy the kids had at this elevation, or anytime for that matter.

View attachment 3974722

I have to admit I mentioned a view of Mt. Whitney from the ridge and I was wrong. It's Mt. Goode @ 13085 ft. Whitney would be out of view and further south.

 

[elripster]

Fortunately we did a fair bit of packing Sunday at camp before dinner. This helped us and Corey depart at 9AM which is a record for me. Typically if I bring the kids by myself I am lucky to hit the road by 10AM. Well.... on the way down I noted I was hearing some noise from the 60. For one the body bushings have settled so much the body is hitting the frame. Also, the p-side front wheel bearing feels loose. Not the worst I have seen, but needs some attention. Just as we made the last turn at the bottom of the mountain Corey sees fluid leak from our 80. We check it out and it's from the p-side axle. Closer inspection reveals the radius arm to axle bracket is very broken. I put the truck 2WD, unlocked the hubs, and proceeded to the air up area. After numerous calls Corey noted we should look for a fab shop and sure enough we found one.

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This gap shouldn't be there, the bracket must have worn away.

The otherside is probably worse.

The owner Jared was very cool. He's an avid off roader and said bring it by to check it out. He had us out in an hour and was very reasonable. I will say, if you are in Bishop and need fab help, look up his shop, he was a solid guy and very good. Once we had the 80 fixed, we were ready to get gas and make our way home.

Driving a 60 and not hating means you need to accept the 60 for what it is. Driving into a 30 MPH headwind means at 60MPH your windspeed is 90MPH and that's all that 2F is going to give you. I think Karleigh's expression sums it up....

At least we had 6 plus hours of Parry Grip music to keep her happy.

And, to the adventure what wouldn't quite quit, as I rounded the corner from I15 onto Citricado, I felt the rear end get weird and pulled over right away. The spacer's studs were 5/6 gone as were the lug nuts. Claire pulled up and got Daniel home so he could shower and race to scouts. I pulled the wheel and spacer reinstalling the wheel with the spacer lug nuts. It looks like the wheel studs are just touching the inner wheel so I will have to shave them a bit. It's odd, they were flush but cleared when I installed them but it is what it is. Anyway, we all made it home and enjoyed a hot shower and good nights sleep.


I found a 12" propane line that shouldn't fatigue and a new spacer so will have that fixed tomorrow. The 80, however, is another story. Axles are expensive on FB. I have reached out to Georg and Valley Hybrids to see what options he has.

Regardless, I can't wait for next year. This place really recharges my batteries and my kids talk about all year so we will be returning for year 11.

Frank

 

[elripster]

I have to admit I mentioned a view of Mt. Whitney from the ridge and I was wrong. It's Mt. Goode @ 13085 ft. Whitney would be out of view and further south.

Ah, good to know!

 

[Coredawg01]

Such a good trip with so many epic moments and stories for days. Thanks for organizing, Frank! We will be coming back next year!

 

[custyota]

I have to admit I mentioned a view of Mt. Whitney from the ridge and I was wrong. It's Mt. Goode @ 13085 ft. Whitney would be out of view and further south.

I was going to say you can't see Whitney from Coyote area. Whitney is on the southern end of the forest, you can see it from Lone Pine.

 

[custyota]

Looks like y'all had a good time! I'm not on mud much and always miss out on this trip.

 

[elripster]

Well let's get ya in next year!

frank