I dont know if people already have memorial day plans but I will be out of town May 23rd - 30th so that would be a no go for me. I guess we are gonna wait til we are 60 days out and vote on it. So give it another 2 weeks and then we will nail down definite dates.
Spring 2016 OBDR (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter HAAANK
- Start date
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My vote would be for the weekend of the 14th. I could make the following weekend work as well I think. But it might be better to stay further from the memorial day weekend.
That weekend works for me as well. The snow will be gone by then as well, although it is snowing a bit this weekend it won't stick around for long.
I like it. Where are we planning the starting point is again?
We had talked about starting in Sisters. However, @tacosupreme is the expert on this route so maybe he has a better idea?
Ha! Not an expert, just a hillbilly who knows his way around the Oregon woods. Starting in Sisters sucks for me because I am at the other end of the state, however I realize I am the minority and most of you will be coming from the darkside. However you want to do it, I would prefer to not be the chief navigator or trail boss. What I mean is I don't want to spend a lot of time mapping it all out and I especially don't want to be the guy herding cats down the trail. To do list for the navigator/trail boss:
1. Figure out route that works for most of us, and map it out with google earth or something similar that is easy to share (Sisters to Seneca, Seneca to Pendleton?)
2. Figure out who can actually make it, exchange contact info/comms
3. Pack, pre-flight checks on rigs and gear
4. Meet in some parking lot early in the AM and hit the trail
5. Get stuck/break something/get lost and abandon all plans while enjoying the sound of the wind in the pines
I don't know if this is way too ambitious of a plan but can we start Friday morning in Sisters/Prinville, get almost to Senica for Friday night? Then do Senica to Unity on Saturday? Sunday would be Unity to LaGrande?
My thought is that if we were able to finish the weekend at LaGrande it would be easy for people to travel home from there. Again. Maybe too ambitious. What do you think @tacosupreme?
My thought is that if we were able to finish the weekend at LaGrande it would be easy for people to travel home from there. Again. Maybe too ambitious. What do you think @tacosupreme?
That is totally do able if the cat herder is ambitious. Starting in Prineville would be a good idea, the leg from Sisters to there takes almost a full tank of gas... I'm not saying that leg isn't possible, but it would make for a very long day. It would be a good idea to have at least 5 gallons of extra fuel on board, a tow strap, full size spare, etc etc. I'm sure this isn't your first rodeo.
which parking lot.....
44.308781, -120.847420 The gas station on North Main St in Prineville across from the grocery store. Is 0600 too early?
44.308781, -120.847420 The gas station on North Main St in Prineville across from the grocery store. Is 0600 too early?[/QUOTE]
This sounds like a fine starting place/time to me. I dont think I can be the "cat herder" since I have never been on any part(s) of this route. I am willing to buy the gps coordinates and route from the OBDR website but someone else who is very good with GPS/navigation should probably also buy the route. (would cost $30-45 for maps and gps coordinate for the routes we will be on).
This sounds like a fine starting place/time to me. I dont think I can be the "cat herder" since I have never been on any part(s) of this route. I am willing to buy the gps coordinates and route from the OBDR website but someone else who is very good with GPS/navigation should probably also buy the route. (would cost $30-45 for maps and gps coordinate for the routes we will be on).
I just ordered the entire paper map set.
I don't know any of you, and have just had some bad experiences with group runs. I went on a TTORA outing once, couple of 80 guys, handful of Tacoma's, early pickups, etc. Gnarly trail, not novice level in any way. One dude shows up in a beat up truck that didn't have any shocks. No joke. We figured the first "gatekeeper" obstacle would send him packin', but somehow he managed to bounce his way up it. Several miles later in the bottom of a canyon with no bypass out, he breaks the steering while going balls out over an obstacle he should have idled through. Imagine the fun dragging that thing out through a boulder patch up the side of a mountain, backwards. We get him to the trailhead, and he doesn't even have enough gas money to get home let alone money for parts. That experience, among others, has made me very apprehensive to be the trail boss. Don't get me wrong, I will gladly drive 150 miles for parts, but don't expect me to break out the Visa when we get there, and don't show up with a rig that is completely unprepared for the journey.
As for the Nav, I'll get us there eventually. Always remember, you're never truly lost till you're out of gas.
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I just ordered the entire paper map set.
I don't know any of you, and have just had some bad experiences with group runs. I went on a TTORA outing once, couple of 80 guys, handful of Tacoma's, early pickups, etc. Gnarly trail, not novice level in any way. One dude shows up in a beat up truck that didn't have any shocks. No joke. We figured the first "gatekeeper" obstacle would send him packin', but somehow he managed to bounce his way up it. Several miles later in the bottom of a canyon with no bypass out, he breaks the steering while going balls out over an obstacle he should have idled through. Imagine the fun dragging that thing out through a boulder patch up the side of a mountain, backwards. We get him to the trailhead, and he doesn't even have enough gas money to get home let alone money for parts. That experience, among others, has made me very apprehensive to be the trail boss. Don't get me wrong, I will gladly drive 150 miles for parts, but don't expect me to break out the Visa when we get there, and don't show up with a rig that is completely unprepared for the journey.
As for the Nav, I'll get us there eventually. Always remember, you're never truly lost till you're out of gas.
I totally understand where you are coming from and I have had similar experiences myself that actually completely ruined runs. I am hoping we can narrow down exactly who is serious about committing to this trip in the next few weeks and then get to know each other a little bit (both people and vehicles) before the actual run. Sounds like as of right now its;
@tacosupreme
@CDmpc
@70 FJ40
@beachboyy
I know there are more that will probably join but it would be nice to know exactly who is coming so we can start planning the details here soon. I will tag those that were interested in this run in the beginning to see if they are in or out.
@yohavos
@retrofive
@FJP971
@dubyahard
@Pike
@sbman
@HAAANK
Agreed. Short Bio- My name is Logan, Oregon native (born in John Day), 36, married ten years, no kids (but have a lab that doesn't know he's not a kid), did ten years in the Army and currently work for the weather service. I have significant offroad experience, and my job takes me to various remote mountain tops year round. The White Dragon is of 1992 vintage with a leisurely 180K miles on the clock, lockers front and rear, 4.88's, fresh birfs, axles, PM up to date, and 33's. I would drive it to Alaska tomorrow. No winch, but I know how to use a hi-lift and come-a-long and rarely get stuck stuck. I enjoy long walks on the beach and campfire dinners.
Last year, camped near Seneca. It got cold at night, bring some wool blankets!
The Malheur Ford may be impassible depending on how high it is. I've seen it 6' deep here, in late summer I've been across it in a VW bug. There is a bypass that adds a few miles on if required.
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My name is Gus. I am also a native Oregonian (Born in Seaside), 32, Married with 2 kids (they will all be coming on the trip, i hope other significant others/kids will be joining). I am a fisherman by trade which allows me to have long chunks of time off to have fun! I have been into offroading since college and have built multiple different vehicles (FJ55, Samurai, Xterra). I am still learning lots every day. I drive a 1995 FZJ80, 220k miles, PM up to date, full 6" slee lift, 37" tires, 12,000lb winch, F&R bumpers, and ARB F&R lockers and 5.29 Nitro gears are on order and should be at my door step in the next couple weeks. Only thing I can say doesnt work right now on the 80 is my A/C compressor died last fall and I wasnt gonna fix it until I needed it (which wont be on this trip I dont think).
I'm in pending dates! The weekend of the 13th should work. It looks like we've got a grid and a time--the two things I need to make this happen.
Name is Mike, 31, did a tad over seven years in the Army and am now wrapping up the college thing. I graduate from law school in early May and this will be my graduation trip/pre bar prep gift to myself. I'm from NY originally but have been in WA since 04 and plan on staying.
I've got two FZJ80's, both lifted, locked, and winched, one cut into a single cab ute. Depending on the timeframe the fiancée may either ride with me or join us for part of the trup in whichever truck I'm not driving.
We've got two dogs, one hers and one mine, both of which love the cruisers and camping (and get along with kids and other dogs well).
My graduation is May 7th, and I start classes towards the end of the month, so anything mid month is good.
Name is Mike, 31, did a tad over seven years in the Army and am now wrapping up the college thing. I graduate from law school in early May and this will be my graduation trip/pre bar prep gift to myself. I'm from NY originally but have been in WA since 04 and plan on staying.
I've got two FZJ80's, both lifted, locked, and winched, one cut into a single cab ute. Depending on the timeframe the fiancée may either ride with me or join us for part of the trup in whichever truck I'm not driving.
We've got two dogs, one hers and one mine, both of which love the cruisers and camping (and get along with kids and other dogs well).
My graduation is May 7th, and I start classes towards the end of the month, so anything mid month is good.
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Here's mine.
Name is Max. 34 years old. Married 15 years in May. 2 yr old boy. 6 yr old girl. Also Oregon native. Born and raised on a ranch near Ontario. Own my own tile contracting business for the last 12 years. Pretty significant off road experience but wouldn't call myself an expert as I'm always learning more. Love to camp, hunt, shoot and spend time with my wife and kids.
Vehicle of choice is a well maintained '77 FJ40. 2" lift. 33x10.50 Toyo mud terrains. Warn winch. Always starts. Always runs.
I've done quite a bit of wheeling with a group but it's been several years. All my local friends seem to have outgrown it.
This will be my first time meeting up with a group I don't already know well.
Looking forward to it.
Name is Max. 34 years old. Married 15 years in May. 2 yr old boy. 6 yr old girl. Also Oregon native. Born and raised on a ranch near Ontario. Own my own tile contracting business for the last 12 years. Pretty significant off road experience but wouldn't call myself an expert as I'm always learning more. Love to camp, hunt, shoot and spend time with my wife and kids.
Vehicle of choice is a well maintained '77 FJ40. 2" lift. 33x10.50 Toyo mud terrains. Warn winch. Always starts. Always runs.
I've done quite a bit of wheeling with a group but it's been several years. All my local friends seem to have outgrown it.
This will be my first time meeting up with a group I don't already know well. Looking forward to it.
Oh here's a pic of my rig.
