SplurGn Posted July 18, 2022 Report Share Posted July 18, 2022 (edited) Hey everybody - This month's MORG will be at the Niagra Rim Trail near Sonora, CA. Please let me know if you are interested. Location is on Hwy 108 up past Strawberry / Pinecrest and Bumblebee - rating is difficult. Time - should be around 3 hours. https://funtreks.com/off-road-trails/niagara-rim/ All obstacles can be bypassed except "Hard Brake Hill". Minimum Requirements 32" Tires & locker preferred. Recommendations for camping would be great - i have not been up here before - there is one place I found - https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/stanislaus/recarea/?recid=15043 that is a first come, first serve type location. Very open for feedback..... Thank you, Serge aka SplurGn These guys do a pretty good description of the trail - Edited July 18, 2022 by SplurGn SDS, Mr.BlueSky, Elherbinator and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.BlueSky Posted July 19, 2022 Report Share Posted July 19, 2022 If we could, we would be there! This has been on the list for a while ; ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustav Dow Posted July 19, 2022 Report Share Posted July 19, 2022 So I may be able to make this with some of the East coast guys coming out from NARR. Ill chat with them this week and work on this plan. SDS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teds Posted July 19, 2022 Report Share Posted July 19, 2022 Darn, we will be on the Delta boating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted July 19, 2022 Report Share Posted July 19, 2022 I plan to come and see how far I can get I’m in for camping as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Chapomint Posted July 20, 2022 Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 Can't wait! planning on be there with my adventure sausage. Mr.BlueSky and SplurGn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So...Yoder Posted July 20, 2022 Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 (edited) Count me in! I've been eyballing Donnell lake and the ohv up there, probably is Niagra creek ohv. (Niagra rim is somewhere north). I'd probably scout this area before/after the trip. Its a ways off, but beardsley lake is beautiful, power boatable, but smaller camp ground. Caught a 14" brook trout at 2:30 in the afternoon just floating a worm throwing sticks for the dog. Gas is just down the road, but wasn't open at 5pm on a Sunday, bathroom break? I tried to get to Sand Bar 9. It's ten miles down ohv trail from the nearest campground at the end of the pavement. Another nice hosted campground. Lots of OHV trails lead out from here, if SPI didn't just permanently close their lands (I might have gate codes that still work🤣), they used to offer permits for camping on their land, and it would be possible to drive up to the Dardenelles and Slick Rock. I was looking for a place to ride down the long ridge on my mountain board and with the dogs when I found all this stuff. I got about a mile down the trail in my Civic coupe loaded up with too much gear before I was forced to turn around due to passenger and dogs, though it looks awesome on Google maps. Little resivoir and a bridge that looks like good jumping or tying a raft off to. The trail I was on has potential for some serious fun. Either because is an old overgrown narrow railroad log road or because of all the springs making washouts/falling rocks. The offshoots who knows! Edited July 20, 2022 by So...Yoder SplurGn, Mr.BlueSky and RobertDingli 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR4HD Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 I'll be coming too for the day. This will be my first MOrG. I have HD package, but I'm on 30" tires . . SDS, Elherbinator, Mr.BlueSky and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 I believe every obstacle has a bypass, so we can take it one at a time, except for one, and that's just going down a short, steep hill - so, as long as you point yourself straight down, you should be ok. LR4HD, Elherbinator and Mr.BlueSky 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So...Yoder Posted July 29, 2022 Report Share Posted July 29, 2022 I may have to cancel. Misfire 4&6 came back. Gotta go through the motions and figure what it is. Just did plugs wires, but didn't do the coils. PO had the left cat clog and replaced it, original still on the right side, and it's had rpms creep down after holding steady... Could be easier than internal stuff at least! SDS and Mr.BlueSky 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2022 Well, if you can make it, we’d love to have you! If not, catch you on the next one! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 Hey everyone - really looking forward to this trip this Saturday. Let's plan to meet at the trailhead by 9:30 am/ 10 am. From what I read the trail takes about 3 hours or so. So, if we factor in 4-5 hours, we should have time to make it to camp before it gets dark. Gabriel mentioned that Lost Lake West & East have some nice camping spots (see below) - so, let me know - I have not been up here before - so, I am looking for all the guidance/suggestions you may have. If you are coming - please text me at 925-518-3902 by Friday - so we can coordinate - and set up a group text thread. I am going to be in Arnold on Friday - so I will stop by the local distillery and pick up a bottle or two of their fine bourbon for the campfire. Again - looking forward to the trail and seeing everyone this weekend. Thanks, Serge "SplurGn" Mr.BlueSky 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilotgabe Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 Hey everyone - really looking forward to this trip this Saturday. Let's plan to meet at the trailhead by 9:30 am/ 10 am. From what I read the trail takes about 3 hours or so. So, if we factor in 4-5 hours, we should have time to make it to camp before it gets dark. Gabriel mentioned that Lost Lake West & East have some nice camping spots (see below) - so, let me know - I have not been up here before - so, I am looking for all the guidance/suggestions you may have. If you are coming - please text me at 925-518-3902 by Friday - so we can coordinate - and set up a group text thread. I am going to be in Arnold on Friday - so I will stop by the local distillery and pick up a bottle or two of their fine bourbon for the campfire. Again - looking forward to the trail and seeing everyone this weekend. Thanks, Serge "SplurGn" http://content.invisioncic.com/j299939/monthly_2022_08/PHOTO-2022-07-24-21-05-57.thumb.jpg.4406028edfadede415320fb88ac054f7.jpgI can maybe head straight to Lost Lakes and secure camping spots if you want. Weekends see more activity there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.BlueSky Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 1 hour ago, pilotgabe said: I can maybe head straight to Lost Lakes and secure camping spots if you want. Weekends see more activity there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Does this make them the found lakes? have fun everyone! pilotgabe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elherbinator Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 Wish I could make this trip, but have Rovicon prep to deal with. I have not run this trail yet. Looking forward to hearing about it. Maybe Serge can tell us about how it went on the podcast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 I can maybe head straight to Lost Lakes and secure camping spots if you want. Weekends see more activity there. Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThat would be really, really amazing if you could! . I will have a bottle with your name on it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 On 8/1/2022 at 9:20 PM, SplurGn said: Hey everyone - really looking forward to this trip this Saturday. Let's plan to meet at the trailhead by 9:30 am/ 10 am. From what I read the trail takes about 3 hours or so. So, if we factor in 4-5 hours, we should have time to make it to camp before it gets dark. Gabriel mentioned that Lost Lake West & East have some nice camping spots (see below) - so, let me know - I have not been up here before - so, I am looking for all the guidance/suggestions you may have. If you are coming - please text me at 925-518-3902 by Friday - so we can coordinate - and set up a group text thread. I am going to be in Arnold on Friday - so I will stop by the local distillery and pick up a bottle or two of their fine bourbon for the campfire. Again - looking forward to the trail and seeing everyone this weekend. Thanks, Serge "SplurGn" These look like nice camping spots! I just wanted to confirm that we will be able to make it there after the trail in a reasonable time. If I am not mistaken, the trail is a bit south of 108, and the Lost Lakes are south of 88. That's quite far given that there are no highways between the big roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 9 hours ago, SDS said: These look like nice camping spots! I just wanted to confirm that we will be able to make it there after the trail in a reasonable time. If I am not mistaken, the trail is a bit south of 108, and the Lost Lakes are south of 88. That's quite far given that there are no highways between the big roads. You make a very good point - the drive looks to be three hours from the trail - I don't think that would be the best plan...... My apologies - as mentioned before - its my first time up in that area. In looking at a map - there is the Niagra Campground, Mill Creek Campground, Cascade Campground, or, dispersed camping by Donnell Lake? We can decide the morning of, if everyone is cool with that. I will reach out to @pilotgabe to ensure he doesn't have to hold down a spot for us - although - it looks like a good place to go on another trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 (edited) 13 hours ago, SplurGn said: You make a very good point - the drive looks to be three hours from the trail - I don't think that would be the best plan...... My apologies - as mentioned before - its my first time up in that area. In looking at a map - there is the Niagra Campground, Mill Creek Campground, Cascade Campground, or, dispersed camping by Donnell Lake? We can decide the morning of, if everyone is cool with that. I will reach out to @pilotgabe to ensure he doesn't have to hold down a spot for us - although - it looks like a good place to go on another trip. Deciding the morning of sounds good to me. I am not familiar with camping there either. Maybe someone who is will chime in between now and then 😉 Edited August 4, 2022 by SDS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2022 Worst case - I know a place we can crash a couple hours away...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2022 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Mr.BlueSky and SDS 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Chapomint Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Hope everyone had a great time this weekend and made it home safe! Post up all your photos in the google link below so I can live vicariously through them. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NteAsYLC1NBaYQjq6 Mr.BlueSky, Gotrovr and Tyler Mattson 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.BlueSky Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 How did the trip go? Any fun and exciting stories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SplurGn Posted August 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2022 (edited) Trip went really great! We had a really good group, it was a pleasure to wheel with both @SDS and @LR4HD. Nobody died, nobody rolled, did not need to use any recovery equipment. There was an incredible amount of trail walking that day, so we definitely got our steps in. Big shout out to Daniel (Sasha's son) and Ron (my copilot) for doing the majority of the spotting for the day. They did a great job! The trail was very steep, in a lot of places. There were a bunch of puckering moments - but our vehicles overcame them will relative ease. David had his 2011 LR4 with HD package and Sasha has a 2005 LR3 with the HD package, and I took my 1985 90. We bypassed the following obstacles: (three of eight) Sidewall Suicide - because there was some risk of tire cutting from the lava rocks Lion's Butt - had a mini "Moab" feel (we scoped it out - walked it). There was a lot of loose shale, and as capable as our rigs were, I was not comfortable attempting the lines, because I was not confident in which direction to go. There was no one else there - so, we couldn't see the best options to take. Plus, I had Gustav's famous "Hey look ma - we are all grown up now" Moab pic in the back of my mind... Rock Pile - which is like a mini "Little Sluice Box" from the Rubicon Trail - we drove past it - and it there were a bunch of buggies on 40's+ crawling around them and having fun. After a wrong turn which led us into an enchanted forest, we stopped at Double Dome Rock for some nice pics - and then headed back to camp. All in all, a great trip. Taking our time was our best friend up there - we didn't rush into anything, no body damage, just some slight pinstriping, but everyone made it home ok. Edited August 10, 2022 by SplurGn accidentally posted without finishing SDS, Mr.BlueSky and El Chapomint 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted August 10, 2022 Report Share Posted August 10, 2022 Thank you Serge for organizing the trip and for describing it in both podcast and here. Your laid back "let's take out time" attitude was much appreciated. I enjoyed your's and Ron's company a lot. It was also great to meet David and his daughter Sierra. Hope to see them again in future outings. I don't have much to add to Serge's description of the trip. "Lost in lion's butt" does come to mind though 🙂 El Chapomint and SplurGn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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