Hammers in July

[crawlnjeep]

So how quick will I pass out from heat exhaustion if I head to Johnson Valley in July?:D
I'm actually wondering if anyone is planning to be out there over the July 4 long weekend. I'm visiting friends in L.A. during the beginning of July and want to head to JV for a couple days. It would be sweet if I could hook up with some others who plan on being out there.

[RE:Todd]

Originally posted by crawlnjeep
So how quick will I pass out from heat exhaustion if I head to Johnson Valley in July?:D
I'm actually wondering if anyone is planning to be out there over the July 4 long weekend. I'm visiting friends in L.A. during the beginning of July and want to head to JV for a couple days. It would be sweet if I could hook up with some others who plan on being out there. U R nuckin futs if you think I'll be out there. We ran an insomniacs run last August, it was still hot at night.

[Mustard Dog]

Originally posted by RE:Todd
U R nuckin futs if you think I'll be out there. We ran an insomniacs run last August, it was still hot at night.

Quit being such a pussy, let's go:D

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally posted by Mustard Dog


Quit being such a pussy, let's go:D


I think the sun from previous trips you made has fried your brain. :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

[crawlnjeep]

I'm quite willing to take the heat after about 7 months of snow and ice in Edmonton:D

[gtidrivr]

I will also be in so cal from the 4th to the next saturday whatever the hell day that is. I have been debating if I want to bring the jeep from salt lake to do some hammers... if someone would meet and greet and show me the ropes I would love to do some wheelin' preferably on the weekdays.

[Co Pilot]

Originally posted by crawlnjeep
So how quick will I pass out from heat exhaustion if I head to Johnson Valley in July?:D
.

after 7 months of snow & ice in Edmonton..

I predict 3.4 minutes. :flipoff2:

[camo]

you will not see me out there in july.

wheeling is not the problem. it is trying to deal with fixing and removing broken rigs that is hard to to in temps that are well over 100 during the day and 95 + at night. if something goes wrong and it usually does at the hammers then you MUST be prepared to deal with heat exhaustion and dehydration. help is hours away if shit goes bad and medical attention will take hours to get. BE PREPARED. bring 2 gallons of water per person per day. and bring your own shade.

[BobWilliams]

all I can say is not a chance its 118 degees here in vegas right now and hammers has our same altitude and climate.

[gtidrivr]

appearently i wont be bringing the ol' jeep with me this time. i'm not sure it could handle the heat as well as i could. hahaha when is the best time? early fall?

[BobWilliams]

about a month ago our club went there and it was perfect accept for the wind. you camp in a dry lake and the wind gets rippen pretty hard. all of the fall winter and spring are good times to go but it does get cold in the winter. I am originally from washington and thought it was cold there in the winter but the desert is a dry cold sounds stupid but it hurts.

[crawlnjeep]

I'm still interested in heading to JV if anyone else will be out there, but I would also consider other areas close to L.A. for decent wheeling. I know the heat would definitely cut into the enjoyment of wheeling. I will be trailering my Jeep, so does anyone have suggestions for other places to head to?

[axle59]

If you still want to do some desert wheeling on the 4th weekend why not look at Calico. While it might not be as hardcore as the hammers both Doran and Odessa offer some challenges. There is another trail on the far backside I have found that most people know about if you want something to get vertical on. Plus you are a lot closer to civilization if some thing does happen (The am/pm is only 5 minutes away from base camp). Not a bad idea if you're not sure how your rig (or you) will stand up to the heat.

[woody99]

I think Calico would be hot too. Big Bear / Arrowehead would be my choice for something near LA in July.

[gtidrivr]

it sure doesnt matter to me as to where i go wheelin' i would just like to bring the jeep meet and greet and do a trail i really dont care where it is as long as i can get a trail guide and a decent trail to go with them... let me know only 4 weeks...

[axle59]

If you want to do some wheeling on the 4th of July weekend I'd be more than happy to guide you around the Calico area. The Big Bear area is nice too but it will probably be packed on the big weekend. Just let me know what days and I'll meet you there, I'm only 40 minutes away. Or you can just shoot me an email allen.rose8@verizon.net


Axle

[withamc]

We're looking for somewhere to go that weekend. We were thinking Cedar City, but I'm not sure I want to deal with holiday traffic on the 15. So we're thinking Hammers. Wheel early in the morning, hang out in camp during the day and go back out in the evening again. I guess we could do Calico, but I'm looking for a challenge. Who else is going somewhere in the So Cal area?

[gtidrivr]

what kind of challenge is calico? is it worth pullung the jeep that far and not doing the hammers to due to heat but doing callico? just curious

[axle59]

The two most challenging trails out there are Odessa and Doran. There is a nice little waterfall climb at the bottom of Doran. There is also a trail out on the backside that I found that would make a good challenge. My truck isn't up to the task but I'd be willing to show it to you and you can give it a shot. If you're into geocaching then there are plenty of caches in the area to check out. The coyote dry lake bed is pretty cool to check out also, especially at night. Also if you want to do any mine exploring the area is filled with mines of all sizes. There are plenty of trails out there to go on and the difficulty just depends on the line that you choose.

[crawlnjeep]

So morning/evening runs at the hammers or Calico? Where is Calico? I'll be in the L.A. area for about a week after the 4th. I'm visiting a friend down there, and don't have any set plans, since I'm moving to Grand Junction and will get there when I get there.:D Hey, I'd be up for checking out both places:)

[gtidrivr]

i would like to go any day the week of the 6th to the 11th anytime no set plans, if you can do this please let me know and i'll get things going

[withamc]

Calico is up by Barstow. The first 100 yards of Doran can be a challenge if you don't pick your line right, but otherwise it's not very tough.
We did a Saturday run out to the Hammers last summer. It's hot as hell! I wonder why we were the only ones out there...:confused:
So anybody else up for the Hammers?

[axle59]

Originally posted by gtidrivr
i would like to go any day the week of the 6th to the 11th anytime no set plans, if you can do this please let me know and i'll get things going

I can definately do it on the 6th if you're asking me about Calico. Just let me know and I can round up a few of the others from here on post and let them know too.

Axle

[crawlnjeep]

withamc-I'd be down for doing the hammers if you want to, I'd like to be with someone who had been there before:D When would you want to get out there. Calico sounds like it would be fun, but I want to get some hammertime in!:D

[axle59]

Here's a few pics of the Calico area if you're interested.

http://www.superjens.com/xterra/davejeep.jpg

This is my buddy in his jeep coming down the Doran canyon a few weeks ago.

http://www.superjens.com/xterra/doran1.jpg

This is me going up the same spot as the jeep above coming down.

http://www.superjens.com/xterra/odessa1.jpg

This is another buddy coming down the narrows in Odessa canyon.

[withamc]

Originally posted by crawlnjeep
withamc-I'd be down for doing the hammers if you want to, I'd like to be with someone who had been there before:D When would you want to get out there. Calico sounds like it would be fun, but I want to get some hammertime in!:D
As of right now, it looks like we're leaving Thousand Oaks Thursday evening and getting to the lake bed around midnight. We'll probably get a morning run in on Friday and then hang out until late evening and do some night wheeling. Ditto for Saturday, maybe go into town for some dinner and do some more wheeling Saturday night, head home Sunday morning. We've wheeled all day in July there before, but it's pretty damn hot!

[crawlnjeep]

I hope to be getting into L.A. Thursday evening. I'll check with my friend to see what he thinks about heading out there on Friday. I hope to join you for a Friday evening run and Saturday. What's your rig look like? You can check out pics of mine from the link in my sig. So what trails were you thinking of doing?

[withamc]

White Wrangler on 35's. Ted's got a yellow rock buggy with a clear hood. Possibly a green, slightly rumpled TJ. Maybe some other folks - it's still early. There's a SLIGHT possibility that I'll have to work that weekend and won't be able to make it, but more than likely I'll be there.
Trails? Well, I definitely want to run Sledge. I've run Clawhammer and Wrecking Ball before - they're both fun.
This is me:

[crawlnjeep]

I'd be up for those trails. So where on the lakebed do people typically camp? On a map I have it looks like a few of the roads converge at the north end of the bed. From there where would you camp?

[withamc]

You'll come into Johnson Vally OHV area on Boone Rd off of 247. Boone Rd comes into the Means Dry Lake bed on the south side. Continue across the lake bed and look for us off to the left. I think we'll be wheeling early in the morning, then taking the afternoon off and heading back out to wheel again in the early evening.

[crawlnjeep]

Sounds good. I'll let you know when I expect to get out there. Let me know if anything changes.

[withamc]

I'll post something as we get closer to the 4th.

[scwafish]

BTDT-it was not fun....too fricking hot to have any fun.

[Im4yotas]

Trying to plan a Hammers night run. Probably the 5th. Maybe do the 4th & the 5th? Want to do Sledge, Claw, Jack, maybe Aftershock.

[Im4yotas]

withamc, this is OT, but I just ran across this pic from 2-17-02. Just thought you's like to see it:D

[Heywood]

Im in for the hammers. Night runs. Head out friday late morning, wheel late afternoon evening.

[withamc]

Awww, CRAP! I ended up getting a ton of work coming in over that weekend, can't be out of town in case my guys run into trouble. And Ted's spotting in a comp that weekend.
We're gonna (fingers crossed) head out tomorrow morning for the day if anyone's interested.
Chris

[crawlnjeep]

I still plan on being there Friday afternoon, who else is going to be there the 4th/5th?

[withamc]

Hopefully the weather on your July 4th trip is as good as yesterday's was. Mid 80's and enough of a breeze to make it comfortable. The 3 of us ran Jackhammer. Fun day.
A couple guys that we met out there didn't fare so well. Lesson 1 - don't flat tow a Jeep out to the Hammers without a spare. Lesson 2 - don't decide your buddies aren't set up well enough to run the Hammers and take off to run Sledge by yourself.

[Im4yotas]

Originally posted by withamc
Hopefully the weather on your July 4th trip is as good as yesterday's was. Mid 80's and enough of a breeze to make it comfortable. The 3 of us ran Jackhammer. Fun day.


[crossing fingers]


Sounds like you had a good time. But the other guys...well, JV is definatly a place that will teach you some hard lessons.

[crawlnjeep]

I'm glad I have a trailer, and lots of spares and tools!:D

[woody99]

Looks like I am towing my shiat down there as well. Just need to finish hooking up the hydro assist :D

crawlnjeep - been there before but it was about 10 years back and I think sledge was the only trail.

If the weather is going to be nice then I just might head to JV otherwise probably going to stick to a cooler location...