all set to go, hopefully at 5am tomorrow, the 80 is fully loaded... Man, I love this big safari roofrack. Got wood, toolboxes, all the clothing and sleeping bags for 4, and it's still only half full....
March 28th, 29th & 30th Coyote/Sheep Canyon
- Thread starter gon2srf
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I have some more venting to do....This paving seems really counterintuitive.... Some of you might or might not know this but there is a small population of desert tortoises up in sheeps canyon and those little guys are pretty shy and rare as it is in those parts. Increasing the traffic cant be a good thing for the torts man...I guess im glad they close it down for a time in the hot season.
Mostly im just pissed they made my favorite trail easier...
Mostly im just pissed they made my favorite trail easier...
- Thread starter
- #23
I have some more venting to do....This paving seems really counterintuitive.... Some of you might or might not know this but there is a small population of desert tortoises up in sheeps canyon and those little guys are pretty shy and rare as it is in those parts. Increasing the traffic cant be a good thing for the torts man...I guess im glad they close it down for a time in the hot season.
Mostly im just pissed they made my favorite trail easier...
I'm guessing the hikers and equestrians can't be too happy about it either.
Report and pics of the damage please. This is truely sad. I hope the place isn't run over with rifraf that the rock gardens had previously kept out of there. That was the beauty of Sheep Canyon...not may people could get there!
- Thread starter
- #25
I will take pics and plan to have a nice chat with the ranger. She is a real nice gal and it will be interesting to hear her take on this situation. Someone earlier pointed out that the 3rd water crossing keeps most of the "cars" out. The trail will get rougher with use and my hope is that this "fix" isn't publicized. As far as rifraf, a lot of damage has been done to the Sheep Canyon campground in the last year, by whom I don't know but I have run into some pretty nasty looking toothless fellows in 4x4's out there.
FYI Myself and a few other Adventure 4x4 members are trying to adopt Sheep Canyon or at least help fix up the campground. We want to remove the broken benches and build some new ones on the spot, add a couple new fire rings and such. Keep it rural, but tidy up a bit. I hope to make some headway this Friday, I'll let you know.
P.S. for those of you that haven't heard, the trail up to Sheep Canyon has been leveled to little more than a gravel road. The sharp rock that hangs out into the trail on the top of the second or third rock garden has been bashed off too
So, I just finished talking to my co-worker who has a house in Ocotillo and is in the Ocotillo/Borrego area every weekend during this time of the year. And he told me that the rangers do this for several reasons; one is that if the rangers allow access to the area they have to be able to access the area as well as emergency crews. Another reason they do this is because the area is too remote and particularly closer to the border in the Ocotillo area, the border patrol wants to be able to check for illegals.
So anyway, that was his quick sum it up answer.
So I guess, we need to inform these rangers and BP Agents that they should import some kick A$$ cruisers.
I will take pics and plan to have a nice chat with the ranger. She is a real nice gal and it will be interesting to hear her take on this situation. Someone earlier pointed out that the 3rd water crossing keeps most of the "cars" out. The trail will get rougher with use and my hope is that this "fix" isn't publicized. As far as rifraf, a lot of damage has been done to the Sheep Canyon campground in the last year, by whom I don't know but I have run into some pretty nasty looking toothless fellows in 4x4's out there.
I've known about the Adventure 4x4 efforts from day one when Highbeams talked to the ranger about adoption. Remember the SoCal 80's group has technically adopted 3N08, but we've not done too much up in Big Bear. I remember the state ranger going 'oh that might be a good idea' or something to that effect.
When we were there two weeks ago, there were signs on the pit toilets that they were closed and the seats had been removed. Don't know if that's part of the vandalism or just because the things are getting full!
I'd love to pitch in on the renovations if you ever get it off the ground. It's my favorite campground.
- Thread starter
- #29
Yeah the toilets have been marked closed since December. That's a bunch of crap!
I appreciate the offer to help out, I'll let you know if anything works out.
Would that be Ranger Louann Thompson?
- Thread starter
- #31
I don't know her personally, is that her name? Whatever her name is, she is always friendly and greets you with a smile.
Scott, Have fun this weekend. Take lots of picks. Put me on the list for the campground remodel/repairs.
- Thread starter
- #34
Well sheeeit, I'm bailing. Some family demands came up and I have to cancel, this sucks. No s***ty comments please, I feel bad enough as it is. Oh well go ahead I know it's coming anyway.
FYI- Some other Adventure 4x4 guys are still heading up there tomorrow night so look for Frogeye (Chris) and Ollie both in silver FJ's.
FYI- Some other Adventure 4x4 guys are still heading up there tomorrow night so look for Frogeye (Chris) and Ollie both in silver FJ's.
Well...then I'm not going. What's going to be for dessert?!
well, spent several days there.
did go up to Sheep Cyn. No Landcruiser there. There was one FJC, though... Very nicely built at that. Lifted, snorkel, etc. Looked nice and performing. But nobody around there to talk to.
Well, there obviously has been some work done on the access trail. Most noticeable are a couple of big boulders on the ground that may have been broken up, and some ruts filled up with rocks, and especially a couple of narrow points widened, including the projecting rock on the right as you go up. To be realistic, though, it's still pretty rough. Don't need a huge lift or lockers, though. I think a stock 80 could make it up without damage with some care. I saw several trucks going up and down but there were the type that would have gone before too. (Most built Wranglers and one H3.) I don't think it's close to smooth enough looking that your average SUV would even try it. There were 5 or 6 trucks parked at the bottom of the rocky part, unwilling or unable to go up. There were about 10 trucks in Sheep Can camping on Sat pm OTOH. Don't know if that is much more than usual.
So, it's no freeway by any means. I don't think it'll make much difference as to access or crowds. Not too bad a change.
Talked to the lady ranger. She's driving a Rube. Friendly.
added: oh, and the third (?) crossing (the jungle) was a bit deeper than usual too. Water came to the bottom of my doors. Sheesh... don't feel like opening the diffs up etc...
did go up to Sheep Cyn. No Landcruiser there. There was one FJC, though...
Very nicely built at that. Lifted, snorkel, etc. Looked nice and performing. But nobody around there to talk to.Well, there obviously has been some work done on the access trail. Most noticeable are a couple of big boulders on the ground that may have been broken up, and some ruts filled up with rocks, and especially a couple of narrow points widened, including the projecting rock on the right as you go up. To be realistic, though, it's still pretty rough. Don't need a huge lift or lockers, though. I think a stock 80 could make it up without damage with some care. I saw several trucks going up and down but there were the type that would have gone before too. (Most built Wranglers and one H3.) I don't think it's close to smooth enough looking that your average SUV would even try it. There were 5 or 6 trucks parked at the bottom of the rocky part, unwilling or unable to go up. There were about 10 trucks in Sheep Can camping on Sat pm OTOH. Don't know if that is much more than usual.
So, it's no freeway by any means. I don't think it'll make much difference as to access or crowds. Not too bad a change.
Talked to the lady ranger. She's driving a Rube. Friendly.
added: oh, and the third (?) crossing (the jungle) was a bit deeper than usual too. Water came to the bottom of my doors. Sheesh... don't feel like opening the diffs up etc...
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Thanks for the report back Eric.
x2 Eric. Good to hear! 10 trucks is a traffic jam in Sheep Canyon!
BTW - a stock 80 (mine) could and has done Coyote Canyon w/o damage. On a Norcal trip we even managed to get a stock 4-runner w/street tires up there. We did stack a few rocks for him, but it's doable.
- Thread starter
- #39
Eric-
Thanks for the post, great report. A buddy of mine was in a blue FJ and camped, another 2 friends in the silver FJ's were there for the day. If the H3 was black with lights, lifted 35's and a guy and gal that was my friend Byron. It's funny, how many people went out there this weekend and didn't even talk each other. My friends gave the same report about the trail but call it coincidence there were more cars out there than ever. Byron said there were 15 rigs parked at the end of Sheep!! All 4x4's mind you but still a lot of rigs. We all need to go up there and rough it up a bit.
Thanks for the post, great report. A buddy of mine was in a blue FJ and camped, another 2 friends in the silver FJ's were there for the day. If the H3 was black with lights, lifted 35's and a guy and gal that was my friend Byron. It's funny, how many people went out there this weekend and didn't even talk each other. My friends gave the same report about the trail but call it coincidence there were more cars out there than ever. Byron said there were 15 rigs parked at the end of Sheep!! All 4x4's mind you but still a lot of rigs. We all need to go up there and rough it up a bit.
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yes, these were a silver FJC and a black hummer 3. I saw them together (I guess) at the visitor center but was busy unhooking the trailer. And when I went to check on them they had left.
The rocky part is kind of weird. It's like they "paved" it with large boulders in places. Picture cobble stones but 1 or 2 ft across. Much of the dirt is newly covered with stones. But as I said, still pretty rough. And I did put a nasty tear/puncture in one of my MT/Rs.... There are signs of jackhammering too IIANM. As usual, there were some folks sitting near the entrance waiting for trucks to go up and enjoying the show. A few rains and some tire spinning and you'll have jumbled piles of rocks. At least it's wider now, that will stay so for a while.
The rocky part is kind of weird. It's like they "paved" it with large boulders in places. Picture cobble stones but 1 or 2 ft across. Much of the dirt is newly covered with stones. But as I said, still pretty rough. And I did put a nasty tear/puncture in one of my MT/Rs...
. There are signs of jackhammering too IIANM. As usual, there were some folks sitting near the entrance waiting for trucks to go up and enjoying the show. A few rains and some tire spinning and you'll have jumbled piles of rocks. At least it's wider now, that will stay so for a while.