Offroad Owners

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Jeep Jamboree Big Bear May 12-14, 2011

Redlands Jeep was a sponsor of The Jeep Jamboree in Big Bear in May 2011. There were 82 Jeeps registered for the event, and Loren Campbell went along with the Orange Group through Holcomb Valley and Gold Mountain.
See the Photos Holcomb Valley

Holcomb Valley Video

Gold Mountain Photos

Gold Mountain Video

White Mountain, Pilot Rock and Cleghorn April 23, 2011

We did a run on Saturday, April 23 with a total of 3 Jeeps. We left Redlands Jeep at 8:15, then took Bowen Ranch Road out of Hesperia and over White Mountain on 3N17, which was a 3+ trail. We followed 3N16 through the Big Pine and Crab Flats forest to Arrowbear, going through several water crossings on the way. Finally we drove over to Arrowhead and took the Pilot Rock Trail back to Lake Silverwood, going down a couple of 4 bypasses that we did with a lot of excitement and no damage! We were on the dam at Silverwood by 5:00.

White Mountain Photos

Mill Creek and Jacoby Canyon April 2, 2011

6 Jeeps met up at the Mill Creek Ranger Station at 9:00 and setoff for a beautiful day offroad in the San Bernardino Mountains. We aired down at 1N12 and followed it to Angelus Oaks. Views were awesome with beautiful clear skies and 70 degrees. We tried to do Glass Road, but it was closed, so we took 1N45 down to Bear Creek, had lunch and then backtracked 1N54 up to 1N04 and back out to Highway 38. We drove up to Baldwin Lake to meet our friends Don and Christy to run through Jacoby Canyon. The creek had a lot of water running down it, we took some pictures going through the Squeeze and finished up at about 5:30.

Mill Creek Photos

Dale Mining District March 13

On Sunday, March 13 there were 13 Jeeps that met up for an all day run that met at the Joshua Tree National Park South Entrance through the Dale Mining District. This is a historically interesting mining area of Southern California rated as a level 1 to 2+.

Dale Mining District Photos

History of Dale Mining District
Prospectors and miners were drawn to the area known as the Dale Mining District, located 15 miles southeast of Twentynine Palms, as early as 1881 by reports of gold in the Pinto Mountains. By its peek production period in 1898, there were as many as 3,000 miners within the district. During its heyday, lode and placer gold mining took place and spawned the birth and death of two mining camps. Dale City sprang up around a well that was dug in 1884 and continued to grow until water began to be pumped to the mines in 1899.

Once the mine owners no longer had to bring the gold ore to Dale City to be milled, the town pulled up roots and moved to a new site 6 miles south, known as New Dale. It was situated near the two largest producing mines, the Supply and the OK mines. When the Supply and OK mines closed down in 1917, New Dale was also abandoned. Small-scale mining continued through the Depression until all mines were closed by executive order at the outbreak of World War II. The Virginia Dale Mining District is a popular area for present day recreational mining.

Once the mine owners no longer had to bring the gold ore to Dale City to be milled, the town pulled up roots and moved to a new site 6 miles south, known as New Dale. It was situated near the two largest producing mines, the Supply and the OK mines. When the Supply and OK mines closed down in 1917, New Dale was also abandoned. Small-scale mining continued through the Depression until all mines were closed by executive order at the outbreak of World War II. The Virginia Dale Mining District is a popular area for present day recreational mining.

Tip Top Mountain Trail Ride February 13, 2011

Trail Destination: Tip Top Mountain, located just east of Big Bear Lake off Highway 38

Trip Date: Meet at Highway 38 turnoff at 9:00 AM. Expect to be back at Highway 38 by 3:00 PM

Trail Rating: Moderate, Level 2-3. See Trail Rating Description and Equipment Requirements

Trail Organizer: Loren Campbell lcampbell@redlandsautoplaza.com 909-793-2141

Trail Description: Trail begins off Highway 38 where we will air down tires and organize the group. Please bring either a CB Radio or FRS walkie talkie for communications. You will also need to bring a Forest Service Adventure Pass and a full tank of gas. We will begin moving down the Forest Service trails through Broom Flats and Round Valley. After crossing a small stream, some of these trails are pretty rutted out, creating some interesting travel. We will stop at the remains of the Rose Mine. The Rose Mine was originally operated as the Homestake Mine in 1897, and produced more gold per ton of ore than any other mine in the San Bernardino Mountains. We will make the run to the summit of Tip Top Mountain, part of the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness. We will finish by running back up through Lone Valley to Baldwin Lake, where we will air up tires and return home.

Trip Summary: On Saturday, Loren and Joe were joined by Dale and Carol from Backcountry 4x4 for a prerun of the route. We had 6 Jeeps on Sunday meeting at 9:15 at 2N01 for a 6 hour trip. Participants were Loren Campbell, Joe, Cindy, Gail, Alex and Joan, Scott, and Mike. After airing down, we made the run to a 19th century miner's camp, and then proceeded to Rose Mine and Tip Top Mountain. We then proceeded back down 2N02 and crossed Arrastre Creek and back to Baldwin Lake.

Tip Top Mountain Photos

Jeep Patrol Big Bear Event March 12

The inaugural mini Jeep Patrol is set for Sat. March 12, 2011 in Big Bear. We will met at 9:00 AM in the Subway Sandwich store parking lot next the K-Mart in Big Bear Lake. The K-Mart is located at the intersection of Big Bear Bulvd. and Fox Farm Road east of Moonridge Road (about 2 miles east of the Village and just west of the Von's and Stater Bros. shopping centers).

We will meet at 9:00 AM and head out for a trail drive promptly at 9:30 AM. Bring lunch, plenty of water and snacks and warm. layered clothes (it can be very cold in Big Bear and the mountains in March).

We will explore an area east of Big Bear that is slated to be closed this year, so this may be the last chance we get to visit this historic mining area. The drive will be on challenging EASY green trails, but be prepared for snow. High Ground clearance is a good idea (stock Jeeps are OK).

There is no need to register, there is no fee, but it will help to let us know if you plan to join us. Visit our site for more info at www.backcountry4x4.com .

Send a note to don@backcountry4x4.com or rely to this e-mail.
Hope to see you in Big Bear on the 12th of March.