Is there a list of the trails in order of difficulty?

[RockRanger]

I have been searching around trying to find a list of the johnson valley trails in an order of difficulty. From what I have found it seams that people say fissure (sp?) mountain trail is easiest. Then maybe clawhammer and after that Aftershock. After that I haven't found much in way of order of difficulty. We have done Clawhammer in my ranger and in my wifes jeep. We also did Aftershock in her jeep. Trying to figure out which trail would be best to run next. I just don't want to be that guy stuck on a trail that he had no business trying in the first place.

[Pook]

Sledge Hammer is a fun trail. We usually run it as a warm up when first get there.

We've brought toyota's on 35"s through it. All with the usual list of toy mods done dual cases, longfields etc.

[roastbeef]

i have never heard of fissure mountain. any pics from that trail? it would be nice to have more to run around on untill i get some bigger tires.

[Krusty]

as far as i know, no one has ever set an order of difficulity to the trails--

it would be kinda arbitrary at best--- cause one trip i ran wrecking ball twice with NO problems= then the next day COMPLETELY DENIED !!!!!!!

the trails change week to week and even day to day !!= just depends on who cut holes at the bottom of which rock or ledge !!

it is kinda given that Aftershock is the 'beginner' trail-- from there--- the older trails- Sledge/Wrecking Ball/ Claw/Jack=== would be the next-
Outter Limits can be easy/hard-- just a matter of a couple inches 'on line' or not------

BUT-- PLEASE, use a bit of common sense !--
#1- never run alone--
#2- you WILL get lost- carry 'survival' rations/drinks---
#3- let someone know where you think you are going-- so someone can hope to find you !!--


4 wheelers for Christ have scouted most of the trails and mapped them- on their website there is a GOOD topo map----

[_peteyg]

Originally Posted by Krusty

BUT-- PLEASE, use a bit of common sense !--
#1- never run alone--
#2- you WILL get lost- carry 'survival' rations/drinks---
#3- let someone know where you think you are going-- so someone can hope to find you !!--

Sometimes even that's not enough, but it sure helps....

Here's what happened to us last weekend, and the introduction of a new, VERY hard 4 mile long trail:

http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/t...TOPIC_ID=59033

[tjmark]

Originally Posted by _peteyg

Sometimes even that's not enough, but it sure helps....

Here's what happened to us last weekend, and the introduction of a new, VERY hard 4 mile long trail:

http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/t...TOPIC_ID=59033

But make shure you go on the trail your telling everyone your at so they can find you...

[shoyrtt]

Originally Posted by RockRanger

I have been searching around trying to find a list of the johnson valley trails in an order of difficulty. From what I have found it seams that people say fissure (sp?) mountain trail is easiest. Then maybe clawhammer and after that Aftershock. After that I haven't found much in way of order of difficulty. We have done Clawhammer in my ranger and in my wifes jeep. We also did Aftershock in her jeep. Trying to figure out which trail would be best to run next. I just don't want to be that guy stuck on a trail that he had no business trying in the first place.

If you are looking for a couple of trails to try after Claw and Aftershock, I would suggest the lower section of Big Johnson (northwest of Claw) or Sunbonnet (south of Aftershock).

[_peteyg]

Originally Posted by tjmark

But make shure you go on the trail your telling everyone your at so they can find you...

Heh...well, there is that. We DID wind up on a completely different trail than we thought we were on, and by the time we got to the end, we were easily 3 miles away from where we were supposed to be. That made it difficult for our rescuers to find us, especially since, when I did finally get through on the phone, I still thought we were on Outer Limits. That was a bad mistake on our part.

But, we did finally manage to get found, after I hiked all the way out and gave a better description of the landmarks around me, rather than insist I was somewhere that I wasn't.

Thanks again Mark. You all came through for us in a BIG way.

[Hammer Hog]

Originally Posted by Krusty

4 wheelers for Christ have scouted most of the trails and mapped them- on their website there is a GOOD topo map----

Here's a Link

The maps are interactive with hidden info and some photos...use your mouse. Feel free to copy them.


BTW, Krusty is correct when he says the trails can change week to week, plus one rig over another may do better than others.

But if I were to arbitrarily make a list from easiest to hardest, it'd go something like this:
Fissure Mountain
TacK-Hammer
Claw-Hammer
Lower Big Johnson
Boulderdash
Aftershock
Sunbonnet
Upper Big Johnson
Sledge
Jack
Jack North
Wrecking Ball
Bender Alley
Outer Limits
Back Door
Chocolate Thunder
Hwy 20 & 21
Resolution
FOH & FOL (Not sure of these 2, So I'm guessing they'd be in here some where(hadn't done them yet).

I'm sure I'm missing a few. And as Krusty said, they are arbitrary in degree of difficulty. But in my opinion they all have been easy to a degree, but only when I'm hitting everything just right. But then again, I have fought on most of them at one time or another. Seat time and a capable rig are key.
One more thing, it's way easy to get in over your head if you are not familiar with the Hammers.

Have fun!

[RockRanger]

Thanks for the pointers. We ran aftershock and clawhammer in my wifes cj7 during the victorvalley four wheeler run in September. Then we ran bullfrog on wedensday and claw on thursday morning in my ranger (35"s D44 duel cases winch and the other normal stuff).

We have been using EW4C's map while we have been out there. I didnt relized it was clickable with more info on it. Will have to print that all out before we head out again.

I think I will be avoiding spooner canyon for awhile.

[shoyrtt]

Originally Posted by RockRanger

Thanks for the pointers. We ran aftershock and clawhammer in my wifes cj7 during the victorvalley four wheeler run in September. Then we ran bullfrog on wedensday and claw on thursday morning in my ranger (35"s D44 duel cases winch and the other normal stuff).

We have been using EW4C's map while we have been out there. I didnt relized it was clickable with more info on it. Will have to print that all out before we head out again.

I think I will be avoiding spooner canyon for awhile.

Bullfrog?

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

Originally Posted by _peteyg

Sometimes even that's not enough, but it sure helps....

Here's what happened to us last weekend, and the introduction of a new, VERY hard 4 mile long trail:

http://www.jeepaholics.com/support/t...TOPIC_ID=59033

Pete,
I heard the story while I was out there this week, some of my buds were the guys that helped you out. I gotta question for you though, do you have GPS mileage that confirms that 4 mile statement. Reason being, all the Hammer trails combined measure out to be about 7.5.


If that trail is a real 4 miles...holy shiat .

I'm glad you made it out OK and congratulations on breaking trail.

Dave

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

Originally Posted by Hammer Hog

Here's a Link

The maps are interactive with hidden info and some photos...use your mouse. Feel free to copy them.


BTW, Krusty is correct when he says the trails can change week to week, plus one rig over another may do better than others.

But if I were to arbitrarily make a list from easiest to hardest, it'd go something like this:
Fissure Mountain
TacK-Hammer
Claw-Hammer
Lower Big Johnson
Boulderdash
Aftershock
Sunbonnet
Upper Big Johnson
Sledge
Jack
Jack North
Wrecking Ball
Bender Alley
Outer Limits
Back Door
Chocolate Thunder
Hwy 20 & 21
Resolution
FOH & FOL (Not sure of these 2, So I'm guessing they'd be in here some where(hadn't done them yet).

I'm sure I'm missing a few. And as Krusty said, they are arbitrary in degree of difficulty. But in my opinion they all have been easy to a degree, but only when I'm hitting everything just right. But then again, I have fought on most of them at one time or another. Seat time and a capable rig are key.
One more thing, it's way easy to get in over your head if you are not familiar with the Hammers.

Have fun!

Cool list... I'll play and add a new twist. Some of these trails are significantly harder going down than up...

Fissure (Is it Fisher or Fissure, I've heard and seen both)
Lower Big Johnson
Claw Hammer
Boulder Dash
Aftershock
Upper Big Johnson
Sledge
Jack North
Back Door Down
Jack
Wrecking Ball
Chocolate Thunder
Resolution
Lower Bender Alley
Highway 19,20,21
Outer Limits
Jack Down
Dirty Sanchez
Back Door
Wrecking Ball Down (Assuming driving the fall)
FOH
Upper Bender Alley
The Front Door - (Which I don't have the right to name yet, because no one has finished it despite the fact it's closer to any other trail to the Lake Bed)

I haven't driven FOL, Tack Hammer, Turkey Claw, Crow Bar, Riffle Canyon,or Spooners Canyon(but the winter is still young )

Dave

[Hammer Hog]

Originally Posted by JeepRecoveryTeam

Fissure (Is it Fisher or Fissure, I've heard and seen both)

It's Fissure. I think we still have it spelled wrong on our site.

Fissure Mountain Trail is named after the large fissures seen on the mountain. Most of which were easier to see shortly after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that occurred June 28th, 1992...centered at nearby north Landers.
As far as I know, the trail was first made in order to survey the faulting/fissures shortly after the quake.
These fissures had horizontal displacements of 20-some feet with 2-6 feet of vertical. Was an awesome ride!

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

Originally Posted by Hammer Hog

It's Fissure. I think we still have it spelled wrong on our site.

Fissure Mountain Trail is named after the large fissures seen on the mountain. Most of which were easier to see shortly after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that occurred June 28th, 1992...centered at nearby north Landers.
As far as I know, the trail was first made in order to survey the faulting/fissures shortly after the quake.
These fissures had horizontal displacements of 20-some feet with 2-6 feet of vertical. Was an awesome ride!

Thanks man.

It's been too long since we wheeled together. I'll be back out in a couple weeks for some pre-running and the FOJV meeting. Can you make it?

Dave

[Hammer Hog]

Love to, but not sure if my motor will be back in by then...other than that, I'd need a seat.
However I'm planning on making the meeting regardless.

[RockRanger]

Originally Posted by shoyrtt

Bullfrog?

Guess its not in the "hammers trails area" but it is in Johnson Valley OHV area. It is over off of say camprock road and the powelines. Mostly a bunch of individual obsiticals loosly tied together to make a trail. We had a 4 door explorer on 34"s and 1 locker fith us through about 95 of the areas we ran. so not really that tough at all.

[desertjewel]

http://www.victorvalley4wheelers.com/fitd/trail-runs/

[Broke That]

We ran Bullfrog out at the Cougar Butte (?) event.
There is also a new one out there dubbed Arrogant Bastard....
that one has potential.

[_peteyg]

Originally Posted by JeepRecoveryTeam

Pete,
I heard the story while I was out there this week, some of my buds were the guys that helped you out. I gotta question for you though, do you have GPS mileage that confirms that 4 mile statement. Reason being, all the Hammer trails combined measure out to be about 7.5.


If that trail is a real 4 miles...holy shiat .

I'm glad you made it out OK and congratulations on breaking trail.

Dave

Admittedly, the 4 mile estimate is a seat-of-the-pants estimate based off the odometer from when we started vs. when we exited. I can tell you it's the longest trail I've ever been on out there. Maybe a more honest 3 miles, but jeez this trail is long. We would have made significantly better time if Chris hadn't broken so early. We were still only about 1/3 of the way in when he broke. It was too late to turn around, though.

[Hammer Hog]

Is this the new trail east of Aftershock?


Edit:
Just saw the link to the write up on Spooners Canyon. (We'll have to check it out!)
I was wondering if it was a trail recently being worked on east of Aftershock...where it looks like a very long trail. Guess I'll have to keep the details a secret...

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

Originally Posted by Hammer Hog

Is this the new trail east of Aftershock?


Edit:
Just saw the link to the write up on Spooners Canyon. (We'll have to check it out!)
I was wondering if it was a trail recently being worked on east of Aftershock...where it looks like a very long trail. Guess I'll have to keep the details a secret...

You're talking about the VV trail I think. I've heard good things about that one too.

Pete, all good. Sounds like a great trail, I look forward to running it.

Dave

[Hammer Hog]

Ya, that could be the one.
It's on my To Do List...

[Lifted Cracker]

IMO they aren't rated due to the rate the difficulty changes. Admittedly one obstacle can be dug out one weekend and the system would be useless.

I did an outlay on Google Maps. Let me know if there are errors or additions.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...724f7&t=h&z=12

[JeepRecoveryTeam]

Originally Posted by Lifted Cracker

IMO they aren't rated due to the rate the difficulty changes. Admittedly one obstacle can be dug out one weekend and the system would be useless.

I did an outlay on Google Maps. Let me know if there are errors or additions.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...724f7&t=h&z=12

VERY Cool

Who broke 'Sickly' and where does it end up? I know the exact canyon, it's directly across from FOH, I've stared at it several times while hanging out on FOH. Looks like a great canyon.

IDK = Boulderdash

Aside from that, excellent work.

Dave

Edit: The other thing is Bender Alley continues up to the left of that dark colored peak and dumps out on to an access road to Fissure Mountain.

It hasn't been driven all the way yet, But a couple guys got damn close recently. We've been knocking rocks down in that canyon for years trying to make it doable. Sounds like it's time to put down the digging bars and nut up