Topic: New Johnson Valley Trail

[rockhound]

I was out at Johnson Valley over the Thanksgiving holiday. I was invited to help build a memorial trail dedicated to a 4-wheeler who lost his life wheeling.

When the trail is complete, the location will be revealed.

Here is a link to my write-up.



http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Riffel%20Canyon%20Build.htm

[Rocksurfer]

Cool, that area is turning into a wheeling mecca!

[rockhound [OP]]

Rubicon,Moab,Hammers. Yeah!

[Rocksurfer]

I wouldn't call the 'con a Mecca but it is the premier trail of offroading.

[rockhound [OP]]

I wouldn't call the 'con a Mecca but it is the premier trail of offroading.

What? The Rubicon doesn't classify as a Mecca? What are the qualifications.

If JV is turning into one, and Moab is one, why not the Rubicon? Doesn't a mecca draw the faithful? Are not the faithful drawn to the 'con? 

[TurtleTruck]

Looks like a great trail!  I look forward to learning where it is.  That is a beautiful canyon.

[Shoyrtt]

Great write up Steve Riffel must be proud of the work being done. I can't wait to run the new trail. 8)

[rockhound [OP]]

Looks like a great trail!  I look forward to learning where it is.  That is a beautiful canyon.

They plan to finish the trail in two more outings. 

Great write up Steve Riffel must be proud of the work being done. I can't wait to run the new trail. 8)

Hey Shoyrtt, thanks for the compliment. I'm sure Steve must be, what a way to be remembered!

[rockhound [OP]]

OK, you are all invited to check out the Riffel Canyon trail. We just broke through last weekend.

I hope you enjoy the write up about it.

Thanks,
Al

http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Riffel%20Canyon%20Completion%20Run.htm

[Loosekannon]

Damn!! I was going to go out last weekend and help Didn't know who all was going to be there. To bad for me 

Good pics I work with Ben, he told me they were going out. Was going to bring my boy, but with my left rear leaking air and my rear drive shaft on the verge of breaking, I didn't want to risk it. But got a spare now for this weekend and fixed the leak.

[rockhound [OP]]

Sounds like you're good to go.


OK if you know Ben, you probably know this trail is awesome.
There are a lot of great shots of the action, but I didn't want to overload the site. It was hard to put this report together, with all the good pics to choose from.
I can't wait to see what other people think of the trail. I like it. 

[topar]

Good write up.  Nice pics!

[rockhound [OP]]

Good write up.  Nice pics!

thanks! 

[TurtleTruck]

Congrats on completing the trail!  I thought those rocks in the background looked familar (like the Fry Mountains) on your previous write up.

I did find a possible error in your write up:

It's in Johnson Valley in the Fry Mountains. We camped in the Fry lake bed, which is northwest of the Hammer trails. Exit Green Rock Mine Road off of 247, 13 miles out of Lucerne. The lake bed is 3 miles in. Looking at the mountain, the canyon to the right is Riffel Canyon.

By Fry Lake Bed do you mean Soggy Dry Lake?  Soggy is the only dry lake in the area.  If so, the approach to Soggy Dry Lake is Bessemer Mine Road, not Green Rock Mine Road.  These 2 roads start about a tenth of a mile from each other but end several miles apart and you wouldn't want to try to tow a trailer or drive a motor home between them.  Green Rock Mine Road goes due north and ends right at the Fry Mountains, near the Shaft Canyon trail.  Bessemer Mine Road goes northeast and goes right past Soggy Dry Lake and continues north northeast.

I look forward to trying Riffle Canyon trail...

[rockhound [OP]]

TurtleTruck,
Ah hah!
Your powers of deduction are keen, grasshopper.

It is the Fry mountains, I'm told. We camped at the foot of the mountain. I was told it is Fry lakebed. At the foot of the Fry mountain, it seemed logical. Soggy is east, southeast of the powdery little campsite, yes?

We entered the area on Green Rock Mine Rd., heading due north, as you said, to the mountain. About three miles in we turned right for a couple hundred yards maybe, and camped a hundred yards or so north, toward the mountain.


I'm interested to hear everybodies take on the trail. Just the fact it's a memorial trial it has my respect. Whether it will be considered technical or extreme by the hard core, remains to be determined.

I enjoyed the whole process and the trail itself. I hope everybody finds something they like about it.

[TurtleTruck]

It is the Fry mountains, I'm told. We camped at the foot of the mountain. I was told it is Fry lakebed. At the foot of the Fry mountain, it seemed logical. Soggy is east, southeast of the powdery little campsite, yes?

We entered the area on Green Rock Mine Rd., heading due north, as you said, to the mountain. About three miles in we turned right for a couple hundred yards maybe, and camped a hundred yards or so north, toward the mountain.

I have never camped in that area.  There are some private cabins at the end of Green Rock Mine Road and I didn't feel right about camping too close to them.

We always camp at Soggy when we are work on our trails there (Crowbar and Shaft Canyon).  Yes, Soggy is east of Green Rock Mine Road.  Soggy is a nice dry lake.  Large and flat, good for high speed runs!  It is usually much quieter than Means and is very close to the Fry Mountain Trails.

Powdery would be very accurate for that area!  The next time I am out there I will first find Riffle Canyon trail, then your camping area, so I can be sure of the facts.

Fry Mountain itself is the large mass above the end of Green Rock Mine Road.  The Fry Mountains are the entire chain, beginning just north of Soggy Dry Lake and continuing for many miles north northwest.

Take care!

[rockhound [OP]]

Mark, I dig the Hotrod! Let me know when you head out. 

I'm always up for an outing. 

[dizzydevil]

OK, you are all invited to check out the Riffel Canyon trail. We just broke through last weekend.

I hope you enjoy the write up about it.

Thanks,
Al

http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Riffel%20Canyon%20Completion%20Run.htm

looks like a good trail. Next time you head out give me a call Al.
thanks
Jason

[rockhound [OP]]

You bet I will.
I just heard from Brian. Steve Riffel's Dad and Sister are comin from out of town to attend the grand opening celebration of the trial. It is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24th at 9:00 am.
A good showing of support from all our wheelin' buddies would be welcome. I'll post up when it gets a little closer.
 

[TurtleTruck]

You bet I will.
I just heard from Brian. Steve Riffel's Dad and Sister are comin from out of town to attend the grand opening celebration of the trial. It is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24th at 9:00 am.
A good showing of support from all our wheelin' buddies would be welcome. I'll post up when it gets a little closer.
 

That is VERY cool!

[Loosekannon]

You bet I will.
I just heard from Brian. Steve Riffel's Dad and Sister are comin from out of town to attend the grand opening celebration of the trial. It is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24th at 9:00 am.
A good showing of support from all our wheelin' buddies would be welcome. I'll post up when it gets a little closer.
 

Soooo, I just might be there for that. The truck is still together, should be back from the sand box by then.

[rockhound [OP]]

Yeah, you should try to make it Chase. The sand box? TDS?

[Loosekannon]

Yeah, you should try to make it Chase. The sand box? TDS?

Nope, headed over to the war Be over there for a couple weeks, be back the weekend before the run. So it will give me some time to fix a couple things on my truck Right now I am in London , leaving in a couple hours.

[KYOTA]

very cool. is this accessable from where all the other JV trail are? would like to check it out if I can make it to the Benders run

[rockhound [OP]]

Nope, headed over to the war Be over there for a couple weeks, be back the weekend before the run. So it will give me some time to fix a couple things on my truck Right now I am in London , leaving in a couple hours.

Oh, THAT sand box.      Godspeed my friend. Come home safe. 

very cool. is this accessable from where all the other JV trail are? would like to check it out if I can make it to the Benders run

It is accessable. Just not real close. If you shoot north out of the lakebed, like toward Outer Limits, past Resolution and Back Door, then take a left, go through Soggy Lakebed and keep going. You should come upon dusty little lakebed with the Fry mountains to your right. Takes about an hour. GPS co-ordinates to the trail head...

 N     34 - 28 - 18.2
 W  116 - 42 - 12.8 

Otherwise, if you want to check it out on your way in...Take a left on Green Rock Mine Road (about 13 miles from Lucerne) and go in 3 miles. the mountain in front of you is Fry. Riffel Canyon is the canyon on the right. You can't miss it. 

[rockhound [OP]]

Here it is! The official grand opening run. 

http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Grand%20Opening%20Invitation.htm

[dizzydevil]

See ya out there Al, thanks for the update.

[rockhound [OP]]

Yep. I think there will be a good turnout. 

[rockhound [OP]]

Just came back from dedicating the trail, with Steve Family in attendance. Check it out.

http://www.runandplaymotorsports.com/Riffel%20Canyon%20Dedication%20Run.htm

[Loosekannon]

That was a fun trail!!!!!

Get into that front end yet Al? Found my water leak, fix it this week and goig to TDS. You going to make it by any chance?

You want me to send some pics I got of you for your web page? The ones I got of you almost on your side?