June 1997   Newsletter for The San Luis Obispo County Four Wheel Drive Club
Editor Jennifer B.

Hume Lake Run �97

Fearless Leader Will H., led the crew again this year. This was his "virgin" run with the club last year and he trail bossed it then too. Word has it the run was much more challenging this time around! Trail report submitted by Will H.

Winches, rocks n' more!
The FUBAR award for this run goes to Maria, a sweet girl from Fresno driving a Chrysler Cordoba with "rich Corinthian leather." If you want to know why, be a the next meeting!

Due to coon hounds and RVs, we moved camp 2 miles down the Millwood trail to a neat spot under the trees next to Mill Creek. Sunny skies greeted the 20 campers Saturday morning and so, after some "creative" breakfasts, we headed up Abbott Creek Road (dirt) to 180 to start the "Ridge" trail with a short prelude called the "Sunshine" trail. Views of south fork of the Kings River, Hume Lake, Buck Rock, wild flowers galore, it was BREATHTAKING!

Debbie described." the hill" on the ridge trail with the same adjective. She agreed to continue based on the trailboss's promise "no more scary stuff." (I lied!) Seriously, this year's "Ridge" was much different than last! Let's just say the winch hook developed a special affection for Wranglers.

We blazed a short bypass to meet my friend Ryan ('78 CJ5) (RED!) and drove down to Hume Lake where some of us bathed the dust off.

Let me describe the campfire Saturday night with synonyms: Ray - Cobra Blood; Darlene - The Monkey Joke; Debbie - You lied, Will; Mike - Impression of Maria Driving her Chrysler; Rick (Ted's friend) - "You are an extraordinary group of crazy people"; Ted - "Rick, get me another beer!"

Sunday morning after the Craven's departure, we ran the rest of the Millwood Trail and at 11 a.m. Ray & Darlene and Mike & Sharon headed for home. The rest of us took Abbott Creek Road to the "Chicago Stump", the remains of a 2,000 year old Sequoia which was chopped down and carted off for display at the 1816 Chicago World's Fair.

We then hit the Hume Lake Store for ice cream, gas, and books. Finally after bidding farewell to Jim, Robin and Charlie, a Unimog, a Blazer and 2 CJ7s drove 10 Mile Road to the Buck Rock Trail. WHAT A TRAIL! 8,200 feet in elevation, 360 degree views, granite slabs (some, you drive on), some challenges (Randy had to WINCH up one!). This is a short, but REALLY cool trail with camping opportunities galore!

      We spent Sunday night overlooking the North and South Kings Canyon looking northwest some 50 miles at snowcapped mountains. Monday morning, we ran Buck Rock Trail backward and headed for home.

If ya' weren't there, ya really missed it!
Summitted by Will H.

Notes from June 4 Meeting/Videofest

VP Ray M. presided over the June meeting as Dave is moving into a new home! Treasurer Tom reported a slight increase in funds. Brian T. reported for Jennell that we made close to a hundred bucks on the benefit Pampered Chef Kitchen sale. (You so-called macho men might want to note that Kyle C. placed a substantial order . . . women go for men who buy kitchen tools.)
Events:
• The weekend after run was waived in favor of the Regular monthly run which is to Hume Lake with Will H on June 6-9. Will passed out a handout with directions to the camping place at Millwood near Sequoia Lake and describing the intended day trips including Cherry Gap Ridge on Saturday and Buck Rock on Sunday. Dry camping...bring h2o. Expect about a 4 hour drive. Will will be on Channel 1 for late comers.
  
• Next month's run will be to Red Mountain with Jim Z on July 18, 19, & 20. Jim's son has a place that we can use as a base camp, doing day trips to Strawberry on Saturday and Bald Mountain on Sunday, or, if the group prefers we can Jump off from base camp and camp on the Trail Saturday night. there will be a reconnaissance run June 13, 14 & 15 for anyone who wants to go. Call Jim for details on how to get to their place . Bring your trailer and take home pine firewood free.
  
• Templeton Parade is July 4th Will H is looking into entering us in the parade (bring your Super Soakers) and Will and Kathy H offered to have us all up for a swim, maybe BBQ and a night run up to High Mountain to watch the fireworks.
  
• Coyote Lake and Swamp Lake with Tom C is scheduled for Friday, August 22, Tom's leaving at 3 or 4 in the afternoon on and will be camping somewhere near the trailhead or Jim Z's Cabin Friday Night so he can be on the trail first thing Saturday. Boy, you can't say this club never does anything!

Trail Reports:

• Randy P reported on the 5/31 ribbon cutting for the Lockwood Creek Bypass. There will be three Lockwood Trail Workdays , June 28-29, July 19-20 & August 23-24.
  
• Randy also reported on the Weekend after run to do a trail check on Garcia Ridge. There were 7 or 8 vehicles participating with about 15 members. We visited by radio with 2 couples from Apple Valley who came to enjoy our trails. They had enjoyed watching a condor at close range on Pine Mountain Road, then did Garcia Ridge and Lopez Canyon.

Land Use


• Mike A., the Natural Resources Consultant for the Southern District of the California Association of 4WD Clubs came to our meeting to promote support for continued camping at the Oceano Dunes. Melissa J. a local teenager introduced a new kids' program for the CA4WDC called Off Highway Voyagers. One of their projects is to promote and coordinate the kids' games at CA4WDC events.

Mics:


Scrap book is on order and Randy is looking into a new banner.

Prepared by club secretary Kathy P. (with much appreciation from the editor . . . Kathy narrowed down her extensive meeting minutes to this brief for you to enjoy. If you want the nitty gritty, please check out the minutes!)

• EDWARD B.   79 Chevy Luv
  

• TODD & CARRY P. & TRAVIS of Atascadero    78 CHEVY

• KEVIN & LAURIE C. & daughters ASHLEY,KIMMIE of Templeton    Toyota FJ40

LOCKWOOD CREEK BYPASS

There's still plenty of work to be done on the Lockwood Creek project…sign posting, campsite relocation and development and rehab of the old Lockwood Creek Trail route.

Mark your calendars and make a commitment to the project, call Randy at least one week ahead. (Preplanning is a must for this project so the Forest Service, which has been very cooperative with this project, can plan workdays properly.

Be a part of the Lockwood Creek Trail success story!

Cal 4 Wheel Rep speaks out about Oceano Dunes issues

We had a special guest during the June club meeting CA4WDC Southern District Natural Resources Consultant Mike Ahrens.

After an extensive study required by its permit, the Coastal Commission and the State Parks have agreed that not only is the Oceano Dunes SVRA meeting the needs of the 4300 camping units allowed by the current permit, but it could host more.

The SLO Board of Supervisors is being swayed by a small number of local "environmentalists" who live on the strand and who consistently show up at Board of Supervisors meetings to protest OHV use on the beach. They want to change the definition of a camping "unit" to two vehicles from the current definition of two vehicles and all they can carry which includes all the quads, motorcycles, and/or dune buggies that come in on trailers. This would seriously decrease the number of vehicles allowed on the beach.

Mike brought a packet of pre-addressed cards which each member is urged to send to legislators. He also suggested we write personal letters to our supervisors, write letters to the editors of our local newspapers (particularly the paper of record, Telegram-Tribune), and most importantly go to Board of Supervisors Meetings and speak out during the public comment period to tell them that we want to retain the current level of campsites in the O.D. SVRA.

The Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce appears to be opposed to opposed to the reduction and State Parks feels the limit could have an adverse impact on local businesses.

Do you recognize this jeep?

I sure didn't! This is Ray & Darlene s "new" jeep after months of REALLY hard work tearing it apart, sanding it, sanding it more, and finally painting it Looks GREAT Ray! ( Is this really your jeep?)

July Club Run: Red Mountain

Our boss for this July 18-20 run will be Jim Z. who has promised to let us all campout on a 5-acre property near Shaver. Call Jim to find out more about the run and to let him know you're interested so he can plan ahead for us all. The trailhead is about 250 miles away.

Fun "Weekend After/Instead of Regular July Meeting" Run

Will and Kathy, who led some of us to their pool after last year's Templeton Parade and Picnic, have graciously offered to trailboss this year's run through the parade route (thanks especially to Kathy, who wasn't even at the meeting, but still volunteered wholeheartedly I'm sure!). This was really fun last year. Decorate your rig, grab a soda, and this year, DON'T forget your water guns, super soakers, water fire extinguisher s or "cooling systems" as Brian T. calls them. It was HOT last year and when the crowd accidentally got sprayed, they LOVED it. Could be fun to spray those in the crowd who beg for it!

After the parade, follow the Hesches home for a dip in the pool and a weinie roast. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if attending members chipped in some chips and dips and beverages since they'll be supplying the dogs and buns.

August : Coyote Lake

Tom C. is so excited about this trip I think everyone's heard about it by now. On August 22-25, the club will run up this rocky trail through the trees to Coyote Lake. Two years ago, the turnout for this run was fantastic (19 rigs, if I remember right) and talk about a fun campfire! (Maybe Darlene will share the Monkey Joke again, too!)

Coyote Lake trailhead is 250 miles away and also leads to several other lakes. (Tom may be staying extra long to get up some of these other challenging trails!)

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