- Joined
- Feb 20, 2006
- Threads
- 160
- Messages
- 698
- Location
- San Clemente, California, USA
- Website
- www.yopo4x4.com
Land Rover Club San Diego - LRCSD
Snow Run – February 21 and 22 @ Big Bear
It is really hard to explain how Venezuelans get into a Snow run; basically we came from the Caribbean , where the average temperature is close to 80 degrees (f) all year round. How we ended playing in 30 degrees (f) or less is hard to explain.
As people say here, we are complete green horns in the snow activity, but on the other hand, driving in snow is quite similar to driving in mud, and we had lots of experience with muddy terrain, or we believe so.
Alexis and I had our first lesson last year, on the basic steps. How to get chains? Because every one will tell you that you can get them in every shop, at any corner in the mountain towns. Well, that works only if you have regular size tires, but if you have oversize ones (33” +), you must order them online at http://tirechain. com/ or similar sites. Don’t be an idiot, order your chains before even considering playing in the snow with your vehicle.
Well, this year was the same for all the new Venezuelans that joined our gang, they believed what other people said, they don’t listen to us and they ended up without chains by the time we had our trip. So instead of having five or six rigs, we just drove two, and we are using my chains in one of them while Buttercup is safely parked at home.
The Land Rover Club of San Diego meets as expected at San Gorgonio Ranger Station and the SoCal Land Cruisers cancel their trip due to the lack of interest, just two people showed up and we joined the rovers group with no problem.
The Rangers at the Discovery Center told us that “nobody has tried those trails because they are smarter than that”
We put the chains on at Polique Canyon (2N09). Our plan was to reach Holcomb Valley Campground along 3N16 but the snow was over 3 feet and we fought against that until we were extremely tired. Meanwhile, we rescued a group that has been rescued already by another group, but they managed to get stuck again in no time.
We finally realized that it was time to set-up our camp in a different spot, so we ended up at Serrano’s Campgrounds, paying less that $40 per space plus $5 for each additional car up to 4 vehicles. I admire the camping structure of the United States, because everything that you could need, was there for you, such as clean restrooms, hot showers (had to pay a quarter), picnic tables, fire ring with grill, you name it…all included, even plenty of snow to play.
Half of the group returned home, the one day only people, but Roberto’s team stayed for one more run before sunset. We packed our basic camping gear just in case that we were stuck in the middle of no where (like Big Bear trails are really far away from civilization) , but you never know, it is better to have your stuff with you all the time, specially if we have the room for it.
We passed the fire station at the north area of the lake and we hit 3N14 and then 3N12. We drove for no more than 3 miles until we were stuck again. We decided to have a descent meal and rest, so we managed to turn around, some better than others! That is why we hang out as a group. To help to each other with situations that are way to complicated if you are alone.
On our way back, we rescue a solo kid with a brand new JK. He tried to turn around and he was totally stuck, with no gloves, no shovel and no nothing, so we helped and advised him to join a club, which is the smarter way to enjoy your 4x4.
I called Carol to let her know that we were okay, out of the trail, that there was no carnage so far, and that we decided to stay overnight, because it was too late to return home, as originally planned. We set our sleeping bags inside the 80, as we usually do, and watched other people preparing their tents. It was a fun spectacle.
We had a great meal; I’m not even going with details, but hey Land Cruiser guys, we need to invite the LRCSD people at the Sand Chef competition somehow…
We drank some red wine and spirits at camp to warm up and chat around the camp fire until each one went to bed…
On Sunday 22, Roberto’s team woke up early and went to Starbucks for breakfast! Remember we didn’t plan for camping, and by the time we came back, almost everyone was already up, fixing breakfast and later, packing all the stuff to leave.
Highway 38 is less crowded than the 18, so we returned that way and we did one more run before leaving town. We left pavement at River Road (1N45) and we connected with 1N04. We stopped and played with the slide board for a while, but hitting pine trees with our head was not fun so we move on. We found a couple of Jeeps working to remove a fallen tree from the road without success, so we helped them and with the big group of people, it was piece of cake, so our community service was complete. We continued and connected with Radford Road (2N06), then with Glass Road and we hit the 38 again. We returned home without any issues, just a big smile in our faces.
Final reminders:
Thanks Olaf and all the guys of the LRCSD for such a great trip…
Roberto & Roberto, the Land Cruiser guys…
Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow
Snow Run – February 21 and 22 @ Big Bear
It is really hard to explain how Venezuelans get into a Snow run; basically we came from the Caribbean , where the average temperature is close to 80 degrees (f) all year round. How we ended playing in 30 degrees (f) or less is hard to explain.
As people say here, we are complete green horns in the snow activity, but on the other hand, driving in snow is quite similar to driving in mud, and we had lots of experience with muddy terrain, or we believe so.
Alexis and I had our first lesson last year, on the basic steps. How to get chains? Because every one will tell you that you can get them in every shop, at any corner in the mountain towns. Well, that works only if you have regular size tires, but if you have oversize ones (33” +), you must order them online at http://tirechain. com/ or similar sites. Don’t be an idiot, order your chains before even considering playing in the snow with your vehicle.
Well, this year was the same for all the new Venezuelans that joined our gang, they believed what other people said, they don’t listen to us and they ended up without chains by the time we had our trip. So instead of having five or six rigs, we just drove two, and we are using my chains in one of them while Buttercup is safely parked at home.
The Land Rover Club of San Diego meets as expected at San Gorgonio Ranger Station and the SoCal Land Cruisers cancel their trip due to the lack of interest, just two people showed up and we joined the rovers group with no problem.
The Rangers at the Discovery Center told us that “nobody has tried those trails because they are smarter than that”
We put the chains on at Polique Canyon (2N09). Our plan was to reach Holcomb Valley Campground along 3N16 but the snow was over 3 feet and we fought against that until we were extremely tired. Meanwhile, we rescued a group that has been rescued already by another group, but they managed to get stuck again in no time.
We finally realized that it was time to set-up our camp in a different spot, so we ended up at Serrano’s Campgrounds, paying less that $40 per space plus $5 for each additional car up to 4 vehicles. I admire the camping structure of the United States, because everything that you could need, was there for you, such as clean restrooms, hot showers (had to pay a quarter), picnic tables, fire ring with grill, you name it…all included, even plenty of snow to play.
Half of the group returned home, the one day only people, but Roberto’s team stayed for one more run before sunset. We packed our basic camping gear just in case that we were stuck in the middle of no where (like Big Bear trails are really far away from civilization) , but you never know, it is better to have your stuff with you all the time, specially if we have the room for it.
We passed the fire station at the north area of the lake and we hit 3N14 and then 3N12. We drove for no more than 3 miles until we were stuck again. We decided to have a descent meal and rest, so we managed to turn around, some better than others! That is why we hang out as a group. To help to each other with situations that are way to complicated if you are alone.
On our way back, we rescue a solo kid with a brand new JK. He tried to turn around and he was totally stuck, with no gloves, no shovel and no nothing, so we helped and advised him to join a club, which is the smarter way to enjoy your 4x4.
I called Carol to let her know that we were okay, out of the trail, that there was no carnage so far, and that we decided to stay overnight, because it was too late to return home, as originally planned. We set our sleeping bags inside the 80, as we usually do, and watched other people preparing their tents. It was a fun spectacle.
We had a great meal; I’m not even going with details, but hey Land Cruiser guys, we need to invite the LRCSD people at the Sand Chef competition somehow…
We drank some red wine and spirits at camp to warm up and chat around the camp fire until each one went to bed…
On Sunday 22, Roberto’s team woke up early and went to Starbucks for breakfast! Remember we didn’t plan for camping, and by the time we came back, almost everyone was already up, fixing breakfast and later, packing all the stuff to leave.
Highway 38 is less crowded than the 18, so we returned that way and we did one more run before leaving town. We left pavement at River Road (1N45) and we connected with 1N04. We stopped and played with the slide board for a while, but hitting pine trees with our head was not fun so we move on. We found a couple of Jeeps working to remove a fallen tree from the road without success, so we helped them and with the big group of people, it was piece of cake, so our community service was complete. We continued and connected with Radford Road (2N06), then with Glass Road and we hit the 38 again. We returned home without any issues, just a big smile in our faces.
Final reminders:
- Rinse of your undercarriage to remove the road salt and prevent corrosion.
- Rinse and lube your tire chains with WD40 or some water displacing fluid prior to storage.
Thanks Olaf and all the guys of the LRCSD for such a great trip…
Roberto & Roberto, the Land Cruiser guys…
Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow
