Trail Report: Rattlesnake / 2N02 / 3N03

[Mitch]

After worry's with the weather yesterday, I got a call this morning last minute to go up to the snow via Rattlesnake Canyon. It was 30' when I left Hesperia, and the drive thru Apple Valley was freezing with complete snow cover and still no hardtop. I met up with Scott and Lesa (AVjeepfreek), Dan and Steph (VVjeepfreak), and their friend John and his son Jacob. As we traveled to and thru Lucerne the ground was dry and snow-free. As we pulled off Hwy 247 to the Rattlesnake trailhead, we looked back to see John and family (Hot Rod Oil) pull right behind us with 6 or 7 rigs from NAXJA and LOST. Small world. Before we started, Dan had the front diff breather tube end up in the fan, which then took out the bottom radiator hose and also one of the trans cooler lines. So Dan spent some time re-hooking up the lines and topping off fluids, while we did some clean up of the trail. As we drove up the wash and canyon towards 2N02 the weather continued to warm up. We all expected more snow but it was scattered at best. When we hit 2N02 we headed west towards Big Bear. The road was very muddy with some occational snow. Once we hit the Rose Mine area the snow covered the trail and increased as we headed west. After a break at
2N02/3N03 we decided to take 3N03 through Cactus Flats to Hwy 18. We had 6"-8" for the first half of the trail and then it turned to mud for the rest of the way. We took a side trail to a couple of mines, and after exploring we headed to Hwy 18.

A perfect day of wheeling. Blue skys, snow, mud, and good friends. Thanks to everyone for the invite.

Mitch

Trailhead with some company behinds us


Dan is down before we started!






Dan had a unique way of starting his Jeep


John and friends having lunch when we drove by


Rose Mine area


Heading through 3N03



A cool little mine that John and Scott showed us



Snow turned to mud


Dan playing in the puddles

[VVjeepfreak]

Mitch great pictures as usual. Gee how come you got so many of me UNDER my Jeep :hide:

That's what I get for doing PM on it Thursday to get ready for today and next weekend. Someday I will figure out why it stops starting from the switch with no warning and then works again no problem for a few weeks. Im glad I was able to take the day off get back out for what was a great day (of course after that embarssing start :doh)

See you guys next weekend,

Dan and Steph

[Roger]

Dan,

It's really cool that even though you started out with some problems, you were able to fix'em right on the trail. You should be proud of yourself! I'd like to have talent like that when I grow up.

Roger

[VVjeepfreak]

Also I our camera is not working so here are some I got with my phone

Down the trail






Mitch outside a cave(bet you have never seen that)



The mud aftermath

[VVjeepfreak]

Dan,

It's really cool that even though you started out with some problems, you were able to fix'em right on the trail. You should be proud of yourself! I'd like to have talent like that when I grow up.

Roger

Im not sure that its as much talent as it was "Hey there's about 10 jeeps behind you wondering who the guy is under his jeep and you haven't even started the trail yet"

[avjeepfreek]

Great day, Great friends and an awesome day of wheeling! Couldn't ask for anything more!

Scott

[dirtman13]

I thought you were staying in? Nice pics. That is a fun run in the snow.

[JJsKJ]

Good seeing you guys out there yesterday. we had a blast ourselves. we ended up going up 2no2 to Baldwin and then got a wild hair to run Jacoby....uh oh...trail was buried in snow and half way through I was breaking fresh tracks in 8-20+ inches of fresh white stuff. Kinda spooky doing so for my 1st real snow wheeling trip but lots of fun until we got to that long steep hill that took 20+ trys just to get to the top Crazy!
mind If I post some pics?

[avjeepfreek]

Yea! Go ahead and post some pic's, We'd love to see'em! Good seeing you all out there too

[JJsKJ]

Heres some pics from the LOST JEEPS So-Cal groups run. We had Mark (guardian7) from the High Desert 4 Wheelers in attendance.

[avjeepfreek]

Great pic's! Love the ones of you all sleding... and sleding behind the Jeep....Classic Redneck style!! :wink: Looks like you had fun. We debated going up Jacoby, but we decided not too!

Scott

[Mitch]

John,

Great pictures. After we aired up at Cactus Flats we hit Hwy 18 and as we passed Jacoby we noticed it was virgin snow. We all thought about it but kept going, too bad for us. Looks like you guys had fun. Good to see you.

What was the snow situation in Big Bear? We all laughed our A$$'s off at the people that went by Cactus Flats on Hwy 18, doing 50 mph with chains still on on bone dry pavement!

Mitch

[GP4Play]

[QUOTE=great88;122400]John,
What was the snow situation in Big Bear? We all laughed our A$$'s off at the people that went by Cactus Flats on Hwy 18, doing 50 mph with chains still on on bone dry pavement!




LOL,I've seen them down in LV with em on.Great pic's all,looks like you had a great time.

[JJsKJ]

John,

Great pictures. After we aired up at Cactus Flats we hit Hwy 18 and as we passed Jacoby we noticed it was virgin snow. We all thought about it but kept going, too bad for us. Looks like you guys had fun. Good to see you.

What was the snow situation in Big Bear? We all laughed our A$$'s off at the people that went by Cactus Flats on Hwy 18, doing 50 mph with chains still on on bone dry pavement!

Mitch

There was no snow on the roads in BB but from what I was told, there was a stage 3 alert that morning and the prior night due to snow and icy conditions so chains were required coming up the South side. I imagine Most people leave them on once they install them so they don't have to do it all over again, lots were driving around w/ them while we were there.

[1 Bad F N Z]

Good seeing you guys out there yesterday. we had a blast ourselves. we ended up going up 2no2 to Baldwin and then got a wild hair to run Jacoby....uh oh...trail was buried in snow and half way through I was breaking fresh tracks in 8-20+ inches of fresh white stuff. Kinda spooky doing so for my 1st real snow wheeling trip but lots of fun until we got to that long steep hill that took 20+ trys just to get to the top Crazy!
mind If I post some pics?

You went down Jacoby, from the Balwin mine? Thats cheating, LOL, Kevin.