TheSamba.com :: View topic - SoCal Bajas September Run: Monache Meadows

Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:51 pm

OK here's the deal....

We've decided to make the official SoCal Bajas Septemper run to the Monache Jeep Trail in the Kennedy Meadows area on September 27th-28th. This one will be a weekend trip, and some of us have even planned to play "Hooky" on Monday. We're going to camp at the Fish Creek Campground overflow area, and details will be forthcoming.

For those of you who have never been to this area, this is in the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains, and has some of the most scenic stuff that you can ever imagine. I've been on the Monache trail numerous times over the years in my bug, and never been stuck or broken anything. One time though, I met up with a Forest Ranger at the end of the trail. She told me that she had worked the area for 17 years and never seen a VW up there before. It's kind of one of those hidden secrets for those of us who know about it. The trail itself is challenging, but there's a bypass for the one part that was REALLY tough years ago. It's mostly just a fun drive now, but there'll be some great video spots that should be a blast.

If you like to fish, you can catch (realistically) 30+ natural Golden Trout per day in the South Fork of the Kern River, which we'll see, and hopefully cross if the water is low enough. That's a conservative figure, as I know I've had days where I've caught over 50, myself. We may find a few minutes to stop along the stream if you guys want. There's also an old airplane crash site that I've heard about for years, but never investigated, that might be fun to try and find.

After the run on Saturday evening, I'd love to make a big batch of (and I'm going out on a limb here...) the absolute BEST carne asada that you have ever tasted. Seriously. Just try me. If you're willing to put $10 in the pot to cover the costs, I'll gladly refund your money of you don't agree. You'll be begging for more.

This should be a fun run, guys. As always, new members are welcome (and encouraged!) to come along. We're just a bunch of fun guys who love to get together and get a little dirty. Bring your families, too!

Let's get a head count for this one on this thread, and I'll get a map up soon!

57 out!

Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:24 pm

So the club meeting will be the Thursday before - 9-25? Just checking... not sure if I can make either at this point, but trying to see what can happen.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:13 am

I'm in, especially with carne asada and a scenary I'll bring the Salsa and $10. the wife makes some good salsa

Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:46 pm

Skidmark wrote: So the club meeting will be the Thursday before - 9-25?

Yep.

elco wrote: I'm in, especially with carne asada and a scenary I'll bring the Salsa and $10. the wife makes some good salsa

It better be HOT!

Sounds good so far. I know mgirdner was all fired up at the meeting. He should check in here anytime. I think regnbus said he would make it also. He should be checking in, too. DUSTY BUS was a maybe, and I think there were a few others, too. Maybe they'll all post a confirmation.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:34 pm

I'll won't be able to stay Monday, but I'm down for Saterday and Sunday.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:33 am

57baja wrote: I know mgirdner was all fired up at the meeting. He should check in here anytime.

Present!

Yeah, my plan is to drive up there at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning. I will most-likely tow my Thing up there with my Jed Clampett deluxe motor-home.
I think I'll stay both Saturday and Sunday nights at this point.
I can't wait!

xxooxxoo
Mark

Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:14 am

Quote: xxooxxoo
Mark

I just have to say.. those x's and o's at the bottom of your post are somewhat disturbing! :D

Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:40 pm

Here's a map of the Fish Creek Overflow campground area that I found. It should get you there:

Fish Creek Overflow Campground

I'm not a big fan of "Campground Camping", myself. I'm more of a guy who likes to pull off the side of the road wherever and camp. However, since we have a group of an unknown size with various different rigs going up, this is a good compromise. I have never really seen anyone in this overflow area to speak of, and it should give us some fairly good privacy where we can enjoy ourselves. I can't force myself to give the secret location of my incredible super-duper Kennedy Meadows spot yet, but maybe we'll do that one next year! I'm heading up Friday night and I'll be sure to park the ole '57 in an area that's visible from the road as you go up to make it easy to find.

So far, here's our confirmed list (so far) for the run:

57baja
mgirdner
elco
regnbus

It's a bit early for confirmations, but if you're planning on going, please check in on this thread.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:21 pm

im still a maybe, trying to get my bus finished and my son just started school, im trying. Will be last min like always.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:22 pm

i wish i could make this one, but i will hopefully make the next one

Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:38 am

I wish i had my vw done.

Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:59 am

I am gonna go with a "most likely" at this point . . . are we setting up camp and then going on daytime drives (sat and sun) and returning to camp for the evening(s) or are we driving in all camping gear and setting up camp in the back country?

Fri Sep 12, 2008 6:22 pm

Right on Kevin! I'll be glad to see you again! We'll set up camp in one spot and drive from there.

Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:37 pm

So far the confirmed list is as follows:

57baja
mgirdner
elco
regnbus
kevinrhanson

....with a "Maybe" from:

DUSTY BUS

....and a definite "NO" from

Skidmark

I'm trying to make sure that we have a sufficient game plan and we don't leave anyone behind, so if you're gonna make it, get on board. I figured Butterscotch would be checking in on this, as well as some of the others that said they'd be interested. I talked to John The Welder friday, and he'd love to go, but he's taking his boat out to the Colorado River that weekend. He had a twinkle in his eye, though, like he might try to swap weekends or something for the river trip. For now, he's out.

Please check in, and I'll see many of you at the meeting Thursday.

Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:41 pm

I want to go but it looks like its not in the cards for this month. Definatly next month.

Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:46 pm

i will be in cal city that day...maybe i can swing by

Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:00 pm

I called ranger station about if green stick buggy's could go on trails, they said yes. but she did'nt sound to sure. is there any way to get a flier or is anyone been up there lately that knows the rules up there?
A partner of mine wants to take his buggy but it's a green sticker. is there going to be ant pavemant between the dirt roads where Lic. plates will be needed?

Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:45 pm

There will definitely be some pavement involved. We'll probably spend most of the day on the Monache Jeep Trail and running around on the various spurs of that. There'll be no pavement involved in that part of it. There are many other roads in the area, and we may do a bit of exploring if we have time after Monache.

I dunno.

If it were me, I'd probably take a green sticker car and tow it to the trailhead. That's just me, though. I couldn't really tell ya much more than that. I don't think you'll find any CHP up there, but what do I know?

Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:32 am

I'm definitely in! Lauren (the girlfriend) and I are planning on heading up friday afternoon/evening and camping, will anyone else be around?

The Monache Jeep Trail allows green stickered vehicles (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/recreation/ohv-osv/cm/cm_ohv_map.html). I don't know if this helps though as to get there you need to cover some paved "highway licensed and equipped" road.

Don't know if there will be any real children along, but I plan on bringing a GPS (or 2) and nabbing a few geocaches along the way, if you all haven't done this yet it's quite a bit of fun!

Also, I will be bringing some homebrew (beer) up for the evenings . . .

Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:38 pm

my 8 year old would like to do a geocach, we did'nt have time to do one last run at big bear.