Sightings Of The Willy Mammoth

[Cheesemaker]

My butt is puckering just reading that!

[Shamb]

Mrs.W I was the guy who you asked which way the trail went around 9pm when you went over the slab and down to the little creek crossing before it went over the "dam" .

I also yelled out "The Amigo made it!"  when I saw FCC cruise by.. .my truck had the pimp lean going on because of the rear shock blowing out..  I was going to chat for a sec but you guys looked like you were all on a mission. Nice to see the Mammoth in person, to bad it was so dark though.. looked good!

[unclejpl4x4]

   im back 2 sac  we rolled in at 4am    me and MIKE   helld down the trail head taho side while  FFC took bling and snowshoe back 2 loon lake 2 get the tow riges.

[TrackVino]

It all sounded like you had a good time. Cant wait to see the pics. Hope you get home safely. Maybe see you next year. Cant wait to see what Mark will do to prepare for next year

[Lady Di]

Mrs.W I was the guy who you asked which way the trail went around 9pm when you went over the slab and down to the little creek crossing before it went over the "dam" .

I also yelled out "The Amigo made it!"  when I saw FCC cruise by.. .my truck had the pimp lean going on because of the rear shock blowing out..  I was going to chat for a sec but you guys looked like you were all on a mission. Nice to see the Mammoth in person, to bad it was so dark though.. looked good!

Dangit Shamb you should have introduced yourself, even if it was just to shake your hand, say hi and get moving on we would have liked to have met you! That's funny that I asked you directions.

OK I'm going to find a few pics.

[Lady Di]

We had called Marlin the night before because we were concerned about FFC having trouble with her driveshaft and asked him to drop off a long slip DS on the way by the KOA if he could.
Of course, being Marlin, he was happy to help out. Unfortunately he had mechanical problems on the way up and didn't get to our area till after 3am! They had called then but we didn't get the call but they stayed in Pollack Pines for the night so the first pic is hooking up with Marlin at the Safeway in Pollack Pines.
So we finally hit the road and the next pics are scenic shots going up Ice House Rd. 

[Lady Di]

So... after a long slow drive we finally make it to the Loon Lake trailhead.
The first picture is BigMike's truck, of course, and his dog Ginger thinking "are we there yet?"
Next... patiently awaiting takeoff...
Thirdly... as you already know, no sooner did we hit the trail then the driveshaft came into play.
And last...Mark at work on one of his many trail repairs. That welder sure did come in handy!!

[Lady Di]

OK, lets see... first we have Mini and UncJ thinking "are we there yet?"
Next is the helicopter that would be providing the rides at the springs (THAT I WENT ON!!! What a BLAST!!) picking up some of Fireball's sound equipment.
Third - 4.3Headache stopped by to say hi on his way past.
And last, another scenic pic

[Lady Di]

and then... FINALLY we hit the dusty trail (and it was DUSTY!! Whew!)
Next two, we reach the granite bowl.
And last... a happy Mini!

[Lady Di]

aaannnnnd.... a not so happy Mini - his pivot block busted on the right side and the left side was cracked.
Out come the tools...

[Lady Di]

And finally... after over 12 hours on the trail, we are THERE!!!
It is a GRUELING ride, especially when you drive all the way through to the springs in one day/night. We got into the springs after midnight, but when you wake up and shake off the night was a good cuppa joe and see how beautiful it is there, and start meeting everyone, it is so well worth the ride.
The last picture is our campsite taken from the helicopter

OK time to make some lunch, I'll post more later. Hope you enjoyed the trip so far.

[TrackVino]

Really cool 

[CTENG in KS]

Does Mini regularly forget his name?

[cruzila]

And finally... after over 12 hours on the trail, we are THERE!!!
It is a GRUELING ride, especially when you drive all the way through to the springs in one day/night. We got into the springs after midnight, but when you wake up and shake off the night was a good cuppa joe and see how beautiful it is there, and start meeting everyone, it is so well worth the ride.
The last picture is our campsite taken from the helicopter

OK time to make some lunch, I'll post more later. Hope you enjoyed the trip so far.

No mention of me waiting over 4 hours for you guys to show up at Little Sluice??


I feel a butt kickin coming on..............

[Lady Di]

 

No mention of me waiting over 4 hours for you guys to show up at Little Sluice??

I feel a butt kickin coming on..............

Whoa, hold on thar big guy, I was saving the best for last!

So there we were, shortly after Mark took on the Soup Bowl (we'll have video on that later) cruising into the Little Sluice area when who do we FINALLY find trying to hitchhike to The Springs?
You guessed it, our beloved Administrator, Cruzila.   
We had to tell him it was against our policy to pick up strangers so we gave him a sandwich and sent him on his way
No, not really.

He had hiked in from the Springs. We hung out at Little Sluice for a while, then he walked with us, spotted us going down that gnarly drop on the bypass (I believe that was where Nub rolled his truck and his GF lost the tip of her finger. OW!).

Shortly thereafter Blackdogs springs had spread apart and were rubbing on his gas tank, so he helped get him back on the trail too.

Scott, it was really cool meeting you!

So here we have 4.3Headache getting spanked by Little Sluice, going up toward the bypass, Cruzila helping with BD's truck.

[Lady Di]

and then... a couple pics of coming up on Buck Island.

[79coyotefrg]

i assume THAT is not the bypass

[Shamb]

thats the box aka little sluice and nearly everyone got denied this year. I only saw 1 guy make it and he was in a 4 wheel steer buggy

[Hyena]

I got denied by it too.  but i actually wanted to get to the springs so i didn't try that hard.  i saw 2 buggyes make it all the way through when i was there and that was it.

[olivedrab85]

Props to 4DEES I watched him walk it in his truck with no sliders in the dark, only backed up one time. 

[Lady Di]

Mark really wanted to try it, but with 4.3 was in there and didn't seem like he was going anywhere fast and the crowd we had with us wanting to get to the Springs he decided to just push on.
Maybe next time

[Lady Di]

Livestock at the KOA...
Hey Kyota... the goats missed you!

When I went to see the goats these ducks kept following me around. At least they know where to cross the road

[79coyotefrg]

  duck crossing

[Lady Di]

Is that cute or what, Glen? They were quacking me up. 
If I walked toward them they would walk away but as soon as I turned my back and started walking they started quacking away and following me! DUCK!

and so tomorrow we head back to Fresno, looks like we have to stay at another RV park a little further from the shop. Like 17 miles away.

And then Wed. we head to Barstow to hook up with Rocksurfer. I just spoke with him on the phone. We're going to go to the Calico Ghosttown on Wed., check out the ghosttown tourist trap and do some wheeling in that area.

Then Thur. we head to Big Bear for another weekend of camping and wheeling but RV camping this time. I am really looking forward to this next leg of the trip.

RS said there is a big fire that has shut down the 5 in their area, rs is going to have to be routed around to get back home, doesn't sound like he's going to be a happy camper or going to make it to work at midnight tonight.

[Rocksurfer]

Yes, I'm going to kidnap the Mammoth's steal the Willy Mammoth, throw them into a mineshaft and leave them to the coolie ghosts. MUAHAHAHA!!!

[ZukIzzy]

I want a pick of the mamoth on obstacle 1 in Bismark canyon. Make sure they see wall street over look and tell the story. Then this weekend drive down the 18 to lucern and meet us for a Johnson Valley run. Im just kiddin I know you have plans but we will be out there if you want to run Sledge since you will be so close.

Wayne

[Lady Di]

Yes, I'm going to kidnap the Mammoth's steal the Willy Mammoth, throw them into a mineshaft and leave them to the coolie ghosts. MUAHAHAHA!!!

  I KNEW IT!!! But RS... you're not supposed to post your evil plans till AFTER the fact!

Hey, I looked at that link you sent and I'm thinking that the wheeling and the REAL mines would be way more fun then some cheesy tourist ghosttown. It looks very disneyesque.

Here is where we will be going on Wed. http://www.calicotown.com/ I assume if the click on the OHV link that is the area where we will be wheeling.

[Rocksurfer]

    I KNEW IT!!! But RS... you're not supposed to post your evil plans till AFTER the fact!

Hey, I looked at that link you sent and I'm thinking that the wheeling and the REAL mines would be way more fun then some cheesy tourist ghosttown. It looks very disneyesque.

Here is where we will be going on Wed. http://www.calicotown.com/ I assume if the click on the OHV link that is the area where we will be wheeling.

I've been to Calico hundreds of times, been to the ghosttown once maybe twice. Mule canyon it is then we'll camp there for the night and go to the mines and I'll show Mark Doran and see if he wants to give it a shot.  Try and get an as early start as possible tomorrow so we have ample time to explore some mines too, should be great!

Here's a link with directions and all kinds of info on the area, no for me I'm always prepared. I make these directions for our clubs bb so I always have directions for people when we go out places. I'll also Pm a link to you.

http://www.spinninfours.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=356

[Lady Di]

Looks pretty straight forward. this is going to be a blast!
We're on our way to Fresno now. We're on Grant Line Rd. heading for 99 and points Marlin.

[*FFC*]

Give Marlin a hug for me!! Hope you guys have a great trip back.... cya next year and THANKS A MILLION for all your help and support