Welcome Guest!!

Welcome to SCCX, for full access to the forums, please register and join our community, it's free.

Author Topic: Cerro Gordo 2018  (Read 24820 times)

Sage Bromax

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 848
  • 4wd Pts: 15302
    • 2015 Pro-4XM6 Silver
Cerro Gordo 2018
« on: March 27, 2018, 05:40:39 AM »
Cerro Gordo And Salt Trams Trip


When:   Memorial Day Weekend May 25-28, 2018
Where:   Overnight in Lone Pine on May 25
           Meet at trailhead 0900 May 26 – 36.5245, -117.905
           Camping Saturday night at 9630’ elevation, 36.6324, -117.9167 (or nearby)
                Camping Sunday night at 6700’ elevation, 36.5653, -117.7820 (or nearby)
What:   Historic salt trams (36.608, -117.854) and mining town (36.538, -117.795)
Who:   Fourteen vehicle limit due to space, time and cat herding limits

Lots of pictures from last year's trip here:
http://www.sccxterra.com/smf/index.php?topic=4070.0

Info sites:
http://justruns.com/test/places-we-visit/california/south-eastern-sierrainyowhite-mountains/saline-valley-salt-tram/

http://www.codectest.com/2016/offroading-the-inyo-range-swansea-to-salt-tram-to-cerro-gordo-owens-lake-lone-pine-buttermilk-trail-in-bishop

http://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/swansea-cerro-gordo-road?referrer=everytrail

http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/saline_tramway3/page50c.html

“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Sage Bromax

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 848
  • 4wd Pts: 15302
    • 2015 Pro-4XM6 Silver
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2018, 05:42:36 AM »
Be sure to read and follow the SCCX Xcursion Guidelines.  In addition, here are a few of mine for this trip:
A)   Rig requirements:
1)   Good clearance, or thick skid plates (having both is preferred)
2)   In generally good mechanical order
3)   Good recovery points front and rear – in case we need to drag your mall-crawler chassis over some rock outcrops (see item #1)
4)   Communications of some variety, in descending order of preference – ham VHF, FRS, CB, horn, whistle, smoke signal, sign language
B)   Driver requirements:
1)   Good attitude, especially when A3 is occurring
2)   Generally self-sufficient
3)   No whiners
C)   Navigator/passenger requirements – driver’s responsibility:
1)   Good attitude, and definitely when A3 is occurring
2)   Generally self-sufficient
3)   No whiners
The current plan is as follows:  Saturday we will be travelling from Swansea up to our first camping site.  This is the reverse, or tougher, way as gravity won’t be helping rigs get down ledges or obstacles (if there are any). It shouldn’t be too difficult, but it is a gain of 6,000 feet in less than ten miles (~15 road miles).  We will NOT be hard-charging this trip.  Saturday will be devoted to getting to the crest of the Inyo Mountains and finding the ideal camping site.  If we depart Swansea by 1000 I expect we will be in camp by 1400, if not sooner.  There will be plenty of time to stop for pictures, check out the geology, and be amazed at the ingenuity and determination of the folks that built the salt tram.  We will be surrounded by “wilderness” and there are lots of hiking and exploring opportunities.  Just watch out for light-headedness, over-exertion, dehydration, and other signs of altitude sickness.  Sunday will be a drive along the crest south to the salt trams (~7 road miles) where we can spend a couple of hours exploring and having lunch.  Then it is on down the road (~7 more road miles) to Cerro Gordo ghost town.  Note that the crest trail is a shelf road in many places, and can cause severe (even debilitating) sphincter contractions.  Those with weak dispositions should be medicated or blindfolded and muffled.  We will camp east of the ghost town Sunday night.  Monday, we will explore the town for a couple of hours, and then head back to pavement and home.  The last section of dirt road from Cerro Gordo down to Hwy 136 is ~6 road miles long, but you drop almost a mile in elevation as well.
Location information:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=21880
Friday night accomodations – you are on your own.  I am staying in Lone Pine at the Comfort Inn.  If you are in the vicinity and want to meet up for dinner, that would be great.  Rooms are going fast, as it is Memorial Weekend.  Alternatively, you could get up early on Saturday and drive directly from home to the trail head meeting at 0900.
Please post your number of persons/vehicles and send me a confirmation PM.  Also note what type of comms you have or intend to use on the trip.  I have put together a comm plan.  There will be no name tags. 
Confirmed attendees:
1)   Sage Bromax
2)   SCUBA_Dale + 1
3)   CAWoody
4)   Celt + 2
5)   Fathead + 2
6)   Mr. Rubicon - Celt's jeep friend
7)   pyrofox79
8)   xxSVxx
9)   Riz98
10)   
11)   
12)   

Wait list:
1)   
2)   
3)   
4)   
5)   
6)   
7)   
« Last Edit: May 22, 2018, 05:56:13 AM by Sage Bromax »
“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Sage Bromax

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 848
  • 4wd Pts: 15302
    • 2015 Pro-4XM6 Silver
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2018, 05:48:35 AM »
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Ch #   Function        Channel Name   Receive Frequency (MHz)   Receive Tone (kHz)   Transmit frequency (MHz)   Transmit Tone (kHz)   Remarks
1       Convoy        Primary Trail                  146.5350                    none                        146.5350                      none           Main group channel
2       Convoy        Backup Trail A             146.4750                    none                        146.4750                      none                Fallback channel in case above channel is too busy
3       Convoy        B/U Trail B - FRS CH 5      462.6625                    none                        462.6625                      none           Fallback channel in case above channels are too busy
4       Convoy        B/U Trail C - FRS CH 6      462.6875                    none                        462.6875                      none           Fallback channel in case above channels are too busy
5       Convoy        B/U Trail D - CB CH 14        27.1250                    none                          27.1250                      none           Fallback channel in case above channels are too busy
6       Travel/Hailing   National VHF Simplex   146.5200   none   146.5200   none   Wilderness Protocol and general hailing
7       Travel/Hailing   National UHF Simplex   446.0000   none   446.0000   none   Wilderness Protocol and general hailing
8       Distance   Victorville repeater   146.9400   none   146.3400   91.5   Open repeater
9       Distance   Randsburg repeater   145.3400   none   144.7400   100.0   Open repeater
10     Distance   Ridgecrest VHF repeater   146.6400   none   146.0400   none   Open repeater
11     Distance   Ridgecrest UHF repeater   447.0200   none   442.0200   123.0   Open repeater - Linked to Trona VHF
12     Distance   Trona repeater   146.9700   none   146.3700   123.0   Open repeater - Linked to Ridgecrest UHF
13     Distance   Silver Peak (Bishop) repeater   146.9400   none   146.3400   103.5   Open repeater by Bishop
14     Long Distance   Silver Peak (Bishop) WIN repeater   444.6000   none   449.6000   100   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states
15     Long Distance   Ridgecrest WIN system repeater   147.9750   none   147.3750   100.0   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states
16     Long Distance   Ridgecrest WIN system repeater   448.8000   none   443.8000   100.0   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states
17     Long Distance   Victorville WIN system repeater   448.9000   none   443.9000   162.2   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states
18     Long Distance   Palomar (San Diego) WIN system repeater   449.0800   none   444.0800   100.0   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states
19     Long Distance   Hemet WIN system repeater   446.8600   none   441.8600   100.0   WIN system linked repeater, system covers several states


Use the minimum power level necessary for clear communications.                  
Use repeaters for initial contact, or in case of emergency.  When within range, switch to a simplex frequency.                  
The WIN system is mostly UHF. See complete listing and site location map here:             http://batchgeo.com/map/dd38a77a78536badb47ce3eeaef65c0a      
« Last Edit: March 27, 2018, 06:03:35 AM by Sage Bromax »
“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

Celt

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: In the basket of Deplorables. FJB Edition.
  • Posts: 3535
  • 4wd Pts: -20000
  • What this World Needs Is A Few More Rednecks.
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2018, 05:58:31 AM »
Giddy up Batman!

 Edit: 3/29/18, I just got off the line with Fathead and he said he is confirming on going.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2018, 03:36:53 PM by Celt »
Isaiah 6:8

pyrofox79

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • 4wd Pts: 4
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2018, 09:21:45 PM »
I'd like to go. I think my ankle should be well enough to drive a stick shift by then. BtW I broke my ankle and my truck is stick just to clear that up.

EJsarus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Whittier,Ca
  • Posts: 607
  • 4wd Pts: 52
    • 5th gen T4R
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2018, 10:19:05 PM »
:( Got family (in laws) camping at Sequoia that weekend...

RikRong

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Freedom Country
  • Posts: 1423
  • 4wd Pts: 70
    • 2015 Pro4X Xterra
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2018, 08:26:09 AM »
:( Got family (in laws) camping at Sequoia that weekend...
That's a hop, skip, and a jump away.  ;)

Frank, it's probably just going to be me and only camping on Saturday.  We've recently discovered that the baby gets pretty car sick in her new, larger seats, so we decided two days off-road probably wouldn't be the best for her.
R. Long
2015 Metallic Blue P4X-->Clicky

JFanaselle

  • BOD
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Location: Murrieta, CA
  • Posts: 2351
  • 4wd Pts: 12000
    • 2010 Xterra S 4x4
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2018, 09:18:56 AM »
Room has been booked for Friday night for the Mrs. and I. Getting very pumped up about this trip.

Tony - have you reached out to Robert at Cerro Gordo to let him know we'll be coming through again like last year? Maybe they can do something different for us this year (although last year was pretty amazing). Of course we can bring $ donations and supplies.

Jayrat

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: SAN DIEGO / WPG
  • Posts: 1616
  • 4wd Pts: -668
  • FLBLFY
    • 2013 X
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2018, 09:49:51 AM »
I'm very jealous  :'(
wish I could join you gents ,but with the way my Asthma has been this year, I don't want to risk the altitude
You can pick your nose & you can pick your friends,   But you can't wipe your friends under the couch

Ghost65

  • Old-Schooler
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: East of You
  • Posts: 862
  • 4wd Pts: -476
    • 2019 Ready Mix Taco
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2018, 10:26:25 AM »
**stuck for quick reference**
KD6DCI

Once again, I must state for the record: We are not a club, we are enablers for your addiction.

JFanaselle

  • BOD
  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Location: Murrieta, CA
  • Posts: 2351
  • 4wd Pts: 12000
    • 2010 Xterra S 4x4
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2018, 11:36:38 AM »
Our plans have changed slightly. It looks like we will no longer be able to make it up on Friday (school function on Friday evening that we have to attend). We will meet the group on Saturday morning instead at Swansea, or we can meet in town at Lone Pine (we'll need to top off gas anyway).

Before I cancel my reservation at the Lone Pine Comfort Inn, is there anyone who needs a room that wasn't able to book one? Let me know. I'll keep it reserved for now, I think I have to cancel no later than a week before in order to avoid fees.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2018, 11:38:20 AM by JFanaselle »

Celt

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: In the basket of Deplorables. FJB Edition.
  • Posts: 3535
  • 4wd Pts: -20000
  • What this World Needs Is A Few More Rednecks.
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #11 on: April 30, 2018, 08:57:12 PM »
Tony, as much as I would like to be a complete slacker and follower on this trip let me know if there is anything I can do to help from Cat Herding to the guy who gets up early and starts coffee.
Isaiah 6:8

xxSVxx

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Oceanside, CA
  • Posts: 1479
  • 4wd Pts: 10093
  • Something inspiring, witty and funny goes here
    • 2010 BAMF version
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2018, 10:24:19 AM »
I'm gonna throw my hat into the ring for the waiting list; this is a trip I've wanted to do for a while now.

Let me know if you need the PM for wait list-ers please.

Thx

SCUBA_Dale

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 406
  • 4wd Pts: 39
    • 2015 Xterra Pro-4x
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2018, 09:49:19 PM »
Less than a month away!  Can't wait to do this trip again! 

I know I sent a PM to a few folks, wanted to see if anyone might be interested in going up a day early and camping in Monache Meadows?  I'm thinking going up in the A.M. on Thursday, camp Thursday and Friday night, pack up and meet the main group Saturday A.M. 

Celt

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: In the basket of Deplorables. FJB Edition.
  • Posts: 3535
  • 4wd Pts: -20000
  • What this World Needs Is A Few More Rednecks.
Re: Cerro Gordo 2018
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2018, 04:30:27 AM »
Less than a month away!  Can't wait to do this trip again! 

I know I sent a PM to a few folks, wanted to see if anyone might be interested in going up a day early and camping in Monache Meadows?  I'm thinking going up in the A.M. on Thursday, camp Thursday and Friday night, pack up and meet the main group Saturday A.M. 

  I wish I could do that with you as I want to see that place. I won't be able to unfortunately due to work time restraints. You may want to give Fathead a call?
Isaiah 6:8

 


Powered by EzPortal