Since this Club was established, Randy has helped our club become involved with the Condor Release program and CCORE, which has helped us become recognized by the USFWS and the USFS for our work. He also wrote and presented the proposals for us to adopt the Pine Mountain Trail and the Garcia Ridge Trail. Randy's persistence resulted in the reclassification of the Las Chiches Trail and The Stairsteps for four-wheel-drive use.
Opening trails is one of our most lofty club goals, and we appreciate all the hard work Randy has put into the SLO 4 Wheelers.
Thanks again, Randy!
You may be a four wheeler if...
Players Pizza, 8845 El Camino Real, Atascadero
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Good eats, good company, good fun!
As an informal group, eleven 4-wheel drive vehicles & their owners saw fit to traverse the Lockwood creek trail March 15th for the last time, or so they thought.
Randy & Kathy P (CJ-7), Mike & Jonathan A (CJ-5), Tom C (Blazer), Mark B (CJ-7), Ray & Whitney M (CJ-7); Mike, Michael, Jonathan & Joshua A.(CJ-5); Danny & Steve (Toy 4-runner), Frank S (CJ-2A), Jenni B (CJ-7); Dave, Donna, Davie & Jim H (CJ-7); Henry & Jane H (CJ-5) traversed the Lockwood Creek trail, Yellowjacket trail & Miller Jeep trail in the Mt. Piños district of Los Padres National Forest near Frazier Park (I5).
We left the SLO area about 7p.m. Friday, picking up Dave in the 5-cities area and Jenni at Hwy. 166. On the way along 166 Dave H noticed a Gross vacuum leak in his engine compartment. It was repaired with duct tape and tie-rapped clear of the exhaust manifold. We arrived at the first campground along the Lockwood creek trail at about 10:50 to find a campfire blazing tended by Mark, Ray & Whitney. Moments later tents were erected, ground pads inflated & sleeping bags unfurled. It was a cold night, not to be surpassed by an even colder early morning sunrise. Breakfast, Coffee & Hot Chocolate were the order of business for the early risers. By 7:45 Saturday most wheelers were up and packing their vehicles when Henry & Jane H, Mike A and his boys & Mike A, Sr. arrived with Don & Steve in a Toy 4-runner. By 8:30 we were all headed out of camp on the Lockwood Creek trail for Yellowjacket Cyn.
The trip up Yellowjacket proved as beautiful as ever, although it was quite a bit dryer this year than this time last year. Things got a little nasty when Tom C tried the mini Rubicon trail over the rocks in the dry creek bed. But within 30 minutes he freed his Blazer from the Jaws of a huge bolder that had him by the transfer case. Undaunted he continued up Yellowjacket to find a cut in the sidewall of his new 35" BFG MT front left tire. Within 30 minutes the tires was changed out for a 38" swamper, and all that remained to be fixed was the crack in the frame near the steering box.
About this time two US Forest Service OHV M/C riders pulled up to our lunch spot and announced that Yellowjacket trail was about to acquire a fence at its origin near Lockwood Creek and advised us to head back down the cyn before we got fenced in. They also answered all questions about the trail closure and planned reroute.
We learned that the Lockwood Creek trail was being closed as part of the Long David Valley Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail Project. We were told that Lockwood creek trail will be closed from March 15- July 15 to reduce impact on the riparian habitat & bring the trail system into compliance with standards & guidelines of the Forest Land Resource Management Plan & Clean Water Act. Lockwood Trail is to be rerouted, increased in length and 4-wheelin' challenge, by July 15. If this does not happen by July 15, the existing trail will be re-opened.
So we moved at a faster pace than might have been comfortable for some out of Yellowjacket, down Lockwood to Piru Creek & Sunrise Camp where there was another force of volunteers putting up fencing to close Lockwood creek trail at the Alamo Mountain end. We got past the fence before it was erected, into the open area where we ate lunch, played in Piru creek & welded up the crack in Tom's Frame (thanks to Dave's onboard welder).
We ascended the Miller Jeep trail up Alamo Mt. at a slow pace, stopping to take in the beautiful view of Lockwood Valley and enjoy each others attempts to get over the hard spots. Henry had some trouble with his clutch, but a couple of sheared off bolts in the bellhousing were replaced in short time and we all continued up the incline. As the sun set, we topped Alamo Mt., regrouped and rounded out our 4-wheelin adventure with a brisk trip down the other side of the mountain to Hungry Valley SVRA and Frazier Park.
We all gathered at the Flying J truck stop for fuel, air, food & the restroom. Frank headed home via I-5 & 166; Mike, Mike, Danny & Mark took the Cerro Alto road to 166 where they split, some taking Soda Lake Rd. to 58, some on home on 166-101-1. The rest of us put on the feed bag at Flying J's restaurant, leaving 1½ hr. later to follow the Cerro Alto Rd to 166-101 and home by 12:30 Am Sunday.
The trip was one that will not be forgotten for some time to come by those who could make it.
Randy P., Lockwood Trailboss
PS: The Pt Magu 4-Wheelers might accept some help with the Lockwood reroute. They have adopted the trail and the US Forest Service would like 4-Wheeler volunteer efforts to be focused through their group.
Before we left we had a bathroom check and Ed found out nothing is sacred even behind closed doors. (Enough said!) Going past Pozo and up the hill we heard Dave H. on the CB. They were meeting us on the other side.
Going over the mountain a couple of the people were car sick (or is that Jeep sick?). Whatever they were in, they looked like they were ready for St. Patrick's Day. Darlene spotted something that just might have been something but Ray convinced her to wait till we got done playing to investigate.
We caught up with Dave, Donna, and Davie and there was Mark in his new Geo Tracker. We started up the canyon. Scenery was beautiful. Started going through the creek beds. There was some talk about needing a possible boating license for this part of the trail? Found out Ed did not have his with him this day. Kudos to Ed for 4wd spirit!! Good thing the vehicles were not any wider!
We went around the corner and ran into Pat in his Cherokee. I think he was glad to see us. We came to a small problem the road was gone so the guys move some rock and made a new and improved pathway. It was a little like Fright Night without the snow. But as small brainers will know, we kept on going till we could go no more. Ask Darlene about the energizer bunny. I think Mark promised at one time up to $100 not to tell Margaret. So I guess this is enough for now. We had a great time.
"Backpacker" Storage Locker for behind the rear seat in CJs. $25. Call Will H.
As of March 17,'97 this is the tally thus far
Ann A. #1, Tom C. #1, Will H. #1, Ray M. #1, Jenn B.#1,
Randy P. #1,
Pretty dead even, Ya got only 3 more weeks!
Pass out flyers, mention it at Parties!
"JOIN The SLO 4-Wheelers!" for 4-wheelin' fun
The only restriction is the winner must bring in at least a
minimum of 6 members!
Otherwise contest starts over! (This
means every one starts back at 0 )
contact Mark B. e-mail [email protected]
Win a Warn Snatch Block!
Get' em to JOIN!
There was a good deal of getting aquainted going on while we waited for the Tri-Tip to cook and watched videos of Saturday's run to Lockwood Creek & last years snow run to Big Bear. Shortly before 4pm we began discussing the Safety Clinic and how it is presented by the Esprit De Four Club at Hollister SVRA.
It was noted that six club members have qualified as in field instructors at last falls Safety Clinic conducted at Hollister by Esprit De Four (Mark B, Brian & Jennell T, Henry H, Randy & Kathy P).
After itemizing the tasks involved in a safety clinic, we quickly surmised that we need more qualified in field instructors to complete the project. On the spot (kinda') Dave H, Mike A, Tom C, Kyle C and Mike & Sharon G indicated that they would be happy to go to Hollister May 3 & 4 and take the in field training to qualify as an instructor (we could use even more club members qualified as instructors). There is no cost associated with the training, and individuals helping out with the safety clinic at Hollister camp there free and get a great dinner with homemade ice cream Saturday night.
Locations in SLO county for the Safety clinic were suggested and Jim Z & Mike A agreed to check into 3 locations. Ann A volunteered to do registration with Darlene M's help. Tom C said he would gladly complete any computer related tasks associated with the Safety Clinic. (And, as she edits this, Jenni B. volunteers to do any publicity we can to draw participants to the clinic.)
It was noted that there are two things that must happen before the SLO 4-Wheelers can provide a 4WD Safety Clinic for our community. First, the club must become incorporated to limit liability of its members, and second, we will need to insure our officers & directors for liability. Ray M is working on the incorporation item, and insurance will have to be a cost item taken from registration for the safety clinic.
Hope to see you at the next general club meeting where we can discuss this after a short report.
Randy Peterson Safety Clinic chairman
JAWBONE CANYON/DOVE SPRINGS This was supposed to be our club run in February, but when no one let the trailboss know they wanted to go, and with all members called saying they definitely were not going, the trailboss, too, decided to stay home. But Jerry, Lizby, Jim Z. and Avanette all went out to Jawbone Canyon and Dove Springs. When they didn't find any other Club members, Jerry and Lizby went out exploring the desert, and Jim and Avanette found Redrock Canyon and had a good time getting their '69 Bronco stuck and unstuck.
CLEAR CREEK PRE-RUN Kyle's Clear Creek weekend after run was great and all during the meeting the video of the big mud hole was playing.
TIERRA DEL SOL Randy and Kathy went down to the Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari in the Truckhaven Hills near Salton City on February 28-March 2. There were 800 vehicles registered for this great run. There was plenty of room for all those vehicles, and the four wheeling opportunities were endless. And just do the math. Clearly this was a tremendous fundraiser for the club that organized this event!
Hats $12 T-shirts $10
Long-sleeved T-shirt $12 Tank tops $8
Crew-neck sweat shirts $15 Hooded sweatshirt $20
Special children�s sizes & prices!
T-shirts $8 Crew-neck sweatshirts $12
Hooded sweatshirts $15 Tank tops $6
Special orders available, too.
Contact Anne A. at the next club meeting or call her