Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX Xcursions => Topic started by: SD_Frontier on January 15, 2014, 11:27:31 AM
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I'm heading out just about an hour east of San Diego (near Jacumba) to check out the trail to Mountain Springs Stage Station as well as the Border Trails, including Smuggler's Cave and Elliot Mine.
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Thanks for posting up the invite Paul. Right now, I'm booked for the 25th, but I will see what I can do. This sound fun!!
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No takers. I guess I'll head out with JustRuns. It'll be fun to see their reaction when I drive up.
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Awesome run. Went with JustRuns. Out of 18 rigs, I was the only Nissan and only truck.
We aired down at the Jacumba gas stations then made our way to the mica gem mill rd underpass via a dirt road. We then proceeded down the trail passing table mountain then heading east up a very narrow shelf road. A couple of narrow spots on the way to the stage station. In one particular area, I was off camber and pushed about as far right as I could against a rock and the mountain side. On the left was a large rock taller than my bedsides. It was quite a squeeze. Scraped the left bedside a bit but they're not painted so no harm no foul.
Dropped down partway down the desert floor and had lunch at the Mtn springs stage station ruins. On the way out of the loop, we climbed a narrow shelf road again and back to the start of the trail. This is where the group split. Some went home but there was also a small group that took a wrong turn on the trail and didn't make it back to the trail head. It really brought up the importance of trail communication. You are responsible for making sure the rig behind you knows which fork or turn to take. Conversely, the rig behind needs to let the the rig directly in front of him that he cannot keep up.
Anyway, 9 rigs crossed old highway 80 and made the way to Elliot mine. Most of the trail is easy but toward the top are a couple of rutted and off camber obstacles. Every rig made it just fine. Great views of valley of the moon from Elliot mine. We didn't get a chance to go down to the border since our trail boss didn't like going down there so late in the day (it was nearing 2:30). Was only going to be another 3.5 miles but probably would have taken at least an hour and a half.
All in all, we did about 17 miles off pavement. No major issues. Solid outing with a good group. One older guy with a 2014 JKU Rubicon even commented on my ability to get my rig through the trail.
Sorry, no pics. The group only stopped for comfort breaks and at the sites.
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Nice run report Paul. :)
Sent from Planet Claire using Tapatalk
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Sounds like you're gonna have to lead us on a run Paul ;D
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Sounds like you're gonna have to lead us on a run Paul ;D
I wanted to. I posted in the SoCal Frontiers Xcursions section. Got no takers. I'd love to do it again before it gets too hot.