Hello fellow Patriots,

I've seen some interests in doing NorCal meet & greet. How many people would be interested in doing it this fall before the raining/snowing season starts. I would think it'll be on a weekend. Just trying to get an approximate number of people who would definitely go. I was thinking maybe getting together and drive through some scenic routes for lunch or any other ideas are welcomed. From my personal experience it is real fun to meet other members from this forum and talk Jeep stuff like we always do. So please let me know who is in and where you would like to meet. I'm in Sacramento so right in the middle of everything and could drive to Bay area, Tahoe or you name it.

Count the Murman Clan as in...

If we met at a group pavilion in a CA state park, or National park, I would be happy to cook brats, dogs, burgers, carne asada for tacos... stuff like that, on a grill.

I used to do stuf like this w/ a group called the Chevy Avalanche Fan Club of North America.

Awesome. Any preference on the place we meet?

Lake Oroville SRA???

Is there a place where you can off road the Jeeps?

Lake Oroville SRA???

Yes, it'll work. It's 100+ miles away from Sac. For those interested see the link below.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=462


Is there a place where you can off road the Jeeps?

Dixie, there are plenty of places for offroad in CA. Maybe there will be some offroading getting there...who knows.

very interested, if we're including a challenging trail ride--maybe some go the scenic route, others take a teeth-rattler?

A very very brief googling of Lake Oroville SRA didnt reveal any interesting trail rides, and I usually try to avoid state parks anyway, cuz they're usually the most expensive option, and with RVs and drunk teens, etc. I can think of many places to meet, camp, and ride, and personally know some great spots in Mendocino Natl Forest, which has many 4x4 trails of various difficulty in the southern portion. Personally, I've been wanting to explore more in the Sierras, not necessarily high up, there's plenty of good stuff in the lower elevations.

Regardless, I suggest we take advantage of our vehicles to get us to somewhere we'd be far from the RV folks. Maybe an easy-difficulty to get to the site, and some challenging options once at the site.

JLofferman also has some good knowledge on locations around Travis AFB, i suspect he will chime in to this tread soon. I also have a great new book that identifies NorCal trails (w/ difficulty ratings) & campsites, and if we determine a general region, I can put together some suggestions---and in the meantime I'll go thru the book to come up with some preliminary suggestions anyway.

probably best if we see who is interested, then figure out a central location

Murman, I assume yer around Susanville, yes? MannyR is in San Jose.

Count me in from San Francisco

Phineas Phreek, I was thinking more of a meet & greet rather than trail run. I was planning on bringing my wife and the kid so they can spend some time outdoors. Plus my Patriot isn't a really trail ready: not tow hooks, stock tires, not lifted. I'd hate to break anything on fairly new vehicle especially it's my DD. What do you mean state parks are expensive? It's $8 to enter the park. Just my thoughts but would like to know what other members have to say. No offense in any means just had in mind something different. If I was by myself, the trail run probably would be my choice.

If we wind up at a place with campsites, I may get there a day or two ahead and do a little camping...

We picked up this tent last weekend and want to give it a shot.

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Phineas Phreek, any other location you'd like to explore? Looks like it's four of us so far. Are you OK meeting in October? We should finalize the date and location.

JeepNow,

sorry, didn't mean to hijack yer plan, just throwing it out there as something that might increase interest--certainly would increase mine :). Probably shouldn't have interjected into the conversation, cuz I have no idea what my October is going to look like, and there's always I chance I flake at the last minute. If you want to stick to your original idea, I wouldn't be offended. I'd almost suggest it! :) Don't let me drag y'all into somethin' yer not interested in!

Haven't had a chance to considered a location, will be a few days before I can get to it, but still perfectly willing to hear that you want to stick with a meet instead of a ride--so please interject. Heck if you and Murman aren't interested in a ride, its probably easier for MannyR and myself to plan our own ride closer to us.

re: state park costs: the one's I've considered in the past or am familiar with: around Big Sur, or Sinkyone Wilderness for example, are around $25 per day for camping, and I usually don't go unless I'm going for more than a couple days, so it quickly adds up.

Murman, nice tent

No worries at all. I want more people to come. I don't mind taking an easy trail if it requires to get to our destination place. I'm open to any time but thought October weather wise will be the best choice. Sorry I didn't think about camping fees you were talking about originally. I was thinking about the entrance fee to the state park which I've never seen more than $10. Please let us know when you're open to see if we end up having enough people for the meet.

whoa Lake Oroville SRA is like 2 1/2 hrs from me lol

... me too. ;)

2 hrs for me too. I'm open to any other suggestions as well if Oroville isn't going to work. Have your suggestions coming as it's already mid September.

That will make 5 of us if everyone shows up. I think it'll worth it. Just need to finalize the location and the date.

Check out Hollister off road vehicle park--it's 45 min. from San Jose, about the same from Monterey, and hour and a half from the San Joaquin Valley....and it's been known to be rugged!

Check this out: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1179

Jack, it is too far...2.5 hrs from Sac/Vacaville and almost 6 hrs for Murman.

We San Joaquin Valley types GLADLY drive 2-1/2 hours (Exeter to Cambria, for example...) to escape the heat and enjoy the fog of the coast! Monday, we did just that--head over the hill to the coast for some cool air, lunch, shop browsing, and back home.

Anyway, "Holly Hills" was just a sugession--and if any of you get headed that way--check it out--We managed to get several Army jeeps stuck there--I was the only one who didn't just venture into that swamp--and I was the only one with a 40' tow strap that rescued the others! Moral: Don't go off roading without your "support staff!"

Jack, I'm totally with you on driving to the coast escaping the heat. I don't mind driving there if other people agree meeting there. I like to drive and the distance does't scary me much. That's why this thread is still open as we're still weighing our options where to go. Thanks for the proposal though.

Found a few OHV parks in NorCal besides Hollister.

Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is located two miles west of the town of Oroville.
http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25572

Prairie City is situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills, 20 miles east of downtown Sacramento and three miles south of U.S. 50.
http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1221

Oroville OHV

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Lake Berryessa is a nice lake for camping not much for off roading if you want to 4x4 an OHV park like prairie seems to fit in the distance for everybody. I leave like end of this month for 6 haha but when i get back i'd love to hit the trails with you guys hope you find a good spot.

For those of you that will be going, which weekend in October you'd prefer?

Oct 8-9
Oct 15-16
Oct 22-23
Oct 29-30

OCT 8-9 gets my vote.

Columbus Day weekend is 8-10 OCT. I have that Monday (10th) off... So it is a four day weekend for me... (I work 4-10s) ;)

I was thinking along the same lines except I don't get that Monday off. Is Oroville still the place to meet?

I am good with it... what do you think?

I'm good with that as well. I think it's great location: lake, park and off-road park all in one place. Things to do for everybody.

Phineas Phreek, MannyR, ponyboy,

Are you guys ok with October 8-9 weekend in Oroville? It'll make five of us if everyone commits. I sent you guys PMs but apparently it didn't go through as I haven't received any responses nor I can see it in my sent folder. Please reply back so we know a total head count as there is only a little over two weeks left.

Anybody else interested?

Sorry for the delay replying JeepNow, I did receive the PM, just hadnt had a chance to reply.

I hope you don;t mind the suggestion: I did not find a better alternative trail/camp around Oroville, the closest was around Nevada City, a trail that starts right near BLM's South Yuba Campground (http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/yubacampground.html) --which has a well-known hiking trail, and there is a 4x4 trail nearby: (http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=BGS135-076 which I have more info on in my trailin' book, but note "scenic rating: 10 out of 10" in my book! And this one has been on top of my list since I got the book mid summer-- I'm 100% on for Oct 7 if this is our destination). But I assume that Oroville is the max Murman want's to drive, yes? Murman, you interested in traveling instead to Nevada City to get a scenic trail ride from a more scenic campground? Just throwin' it out there. I assume not, which is perfectly understandable. JeepNow, thoughts on the suggested location?

I will say that that Oroville OHV is one UGLY lookin' thang, vs the trails I take, which are nicely scenic, but I guess thats what OHV parks look like sometimes! I definitely have NOT decided I won't be going to Oroville, lets just say I'm leaning towards it right now... which for me is as big a commitment I generally make on these sorts of things, but I'd be alot more likely to go if we were talking a campsite and trail that was more scenic

Murman & JeepNow, are either of you even planning on riding the OHV park?


If I do go, I would show up a day early, thurs, maybe even wednesday


PS, the alt suggestion of Clay Pits', the 4x4 area looks like it's reserved the Oct 8 weekend on the website



AND... IM THINKING OF HITTING HOLLISTER HILLS SVA THIS WEEKEND IF MANNYR IS AVAILIBLE, EMAILING HIM NOW. ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED?

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P2 - Sorry, but I am not interested in taking my PAT to the OHV park or off-road. That is not my thing at this point in my life, my off-roading is done in Merrell's and a backpack these days. If I were to go trailing on the suggested route, I would pull off the running boards, crank up the T-bars and take my Avalanche.

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Why don't you folks figure out the details and I will make a decision based on the final results. Its all good. Really, it is.

Phineas Phreek, I'm leaning towards meeting at Oroville lake just to meet everyone and spend some time outdoors. As I said before, my Patriot isn't ready to hit off-road and I'm planning to bring my wife and the kid who is under two. So for me it's more like hanging out outdoors with family and people who we have something in common - Patriots. I do not plan on camping at this point so for me it'll be a one day trip. Sorry if you planned on something different. So let us know if you're still interested in meeting and if you could ask MannyR as he hasn't been around lately.

No problems folks, Oroville is a tentative yes for me, just throwing the alt suggestion out there, and it doesn't require you to go trailin', just an alternative campin' location that appears to be a bit further for Murman. Emailed MannyR last nite and flagged his attention to here, but note, he'd actually have the longest haul, I suspect

If I were to go trailing on the suggested route, I would pull off the running boards, crank up the T-bars and take my Avalanche.

That's nice Avalanche... I think you should crank the torsion bars anyways... maybe don't completely level the nose, the back is high enough that I would just raise it 2 maybe 3 inches :smiley_thumbs_up:

I like your campground location as well and it's about the same distance for me as Oroville. Murman, have you looked at that campground? It's about 3.5 hrs away from you compared to 2.5 hrs to Oroville. There are picnic tables and fire grills available.

The South Yuba Campground would be an easy drive from the Compound.

The South Yuba Campground would be an easy drive from the Compound.

Is that a "yes"? If so, I don't mind either as it's about the same distance for me and will make P2 happy :)

Yep, it is a "yes". We may even "take a hike..."

Alright! I'm glad we're starting to have everyone on the same page.

Phineas Phreek, so are you definitively in now?

I'm in, unless somethin' screws up my plans, but I don't see that happening. I'm looking forward to it, and plan on arriving before that friday. Hoping someone else decides to join us and wants to hit the trail, but I'll be takin' it regardless.

Ponyboy? MannyR? Jack? Anyone?

Sweet! I have that Friday off as well. I'd love to camp out there but it's pretty much impossible with a little kid unless my wife agrees to stay home with him :) We'll see. Regardless, I'll be there for a day.

hey sorry guys havent been on here in a while. what days is it?

Hey ponyboy

long weekend of oct 8th, but I will be there Thurs afternoon.

Planning on coming? Interested in taking a trail?

Phineas Phreek,

Are you going to camp out there for a few days? I have that Friday off so I might show up on Friday and sleep in a Jeep if my wifey decides to stay home with the kid. Are you guys planning on bringing your significant others or any other members of your family?

Jeep_Now, am planning of camping several days, and going solo



NOTE ALL: chance of a bad weather outlook on the long forecast. Way too early to tell at this point. But stay tuned


.

Just checked 10 day forecast and it should be nice. I'm still pending a final decision if I arrive early and spend a night there.

Fri Sat Sun
Sunny Sunny Partly Cloudy
69°F 72°F 74°F

sorry, I mean nighttime lows, not daytime highs, jeepnow. I generally avoid going camping when forecast lows are below 45F. On WeatherUnderground, Thurs nite is forecast at 36F, Friday nite 40F. Improvement to 45F Sat nite, and a couple degree drop Sun nite.

am now thinking I'll come fri not thurs, to avoid the 36F, but still hesitant to camp in 40F, and not a big fan of risking coming on a Sat and not finding a site... particularly because its a long weekend. So I am keeping a close eye on the forecast.

Also concerned about Murman's thoughts regarding this temperature issue

and the currently ongoing rain could screw up my ride--my motivation for going. My trailbook warns about wet weather for the challenging section of this trail. Will be checking in for alternates with the forest service

Am PMing you and Murman with my cell and email

Folks, I regret that we are going to withdraw from this event. A few things have changed (nothing bad) since its inception and I must tend to them first. I hate it when life gets in the way of fun.:doh:

Phineas,
Yes, the forecast has changed drastically since the last time I checked. Plus, Murman is out and I don't know if anyone else is coming. Let me know your thoughts on this. I'm still in if others will show up.

Yeah, Im out. Weather. And now, no Murman

That's really too bad it all fell apart. I was looking forward to it.

I started a fire in the wood stove last night and this morning... It sort of like camping here...:icon_rolleyes:

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We were looking forward to the M&G, also. I believe in the end, the weather will play the trump card.