The Dirt Devils Digest
March 2014
A monthly publication of the Dirt Devils
http://www.dirtdevils.org/
Enjoy reading the great run reports.
President’s Message
See you on the trail.
Ray thanks for arranging an HDR pre run. In case you
Jesse May
didn’t know HDR is just around the corner and I am
chairman. I will need all the help I can get, I will be
asking.
Table of contents
Remember, keep our run coordinator Rick Walters current
Run reports
2
with your run plans. Rick’s email address is in the club
Run calendar
3
officers section of this newsletter.
Guests
6
Check the calendar and the website for upcoming runs
Club info
7
including adopt a trail.
Awards
7
Remember, Roger will be leading an adopta trail run on
March 29th
Cowbells
9
Josh Bleijenberg will be leading The Mattina Wash/
Rattlesnake run on April
Pete Johnson will be leading us through Anza Borrego on
April 12th & 13th.
Remember, buy your CAL$WD Jeep raffle tickets. This is
a very important fund raiser for us.
Big Bear Racing is making quite a name for itself follow
them of their face book page.
Mike Wallace purposed and the club voted its approval to
make up Dirt Devil Business Cards, that can be handed
out to potential new members.
I would like to start a new service tech section. If you
have a recommendation or advice pass it on to the Ron
Webber news letter editor.
March 8th Calico Run near The Bismarck Mine
Dirt Devils Digest
March 2014
7.
Ron and Joann Burdett
8.
Randy Hardt
9.
Danny & Linda Ward
Run reports
10. Castulo Olivas and Chandra Aldag
CAL4WD convention and car show
11. Paul Coursey
12. Rick Ward
Attended by Jesse and Cheryl May and Keith and Sandy
Graham
The Odessa Duran loop is somewhat difficult, but if you
at least have a rear locker then it is doable and just plain
The Jeep winner was from Idaho. Tickets are available for
fun. None of us had any major problems just needed
the new Jeep raffle. Jesse and Keith will have tickets at
spotting help at some obstacles.
the next meeting. Profit from the last Jeep raffle was
$23,000.
Comment period for Ocotillo Wells that is due by March
10. Please go on the Cal-4-Wheel website and put
comments in. There are 11 sections and each section
needs to be commented. Ocotillo Wells also has a
website. Keith will forward additional information to Ron
so he can send it out to the club. Lawsuit is still in
progress.
The organization needs more members to bring in more
revenue. The events also need to get more revenue. If
every Cal-4-Wheel member brings in one members.
The state government had raided the green sticker fund
but the money came back.
Johnson Valley, a lot of money went out for that, but a lot
of land was saved for the off-road community.
Our first stop was the playground at the entrance to
One of the awards that were passed out was for the club
Odessa Canyon, an area of rolling sand hills similar to
that brought in the most new members and the Dirt Devils
what you might find in truck haven.
won that award. Keith to send Ron a picture. The club lost
a lot of plaques and trophies over the years, we need a
historian.
The South District meeting is open to all members. There
is a lot of information that is brought up at these meetings
that are very difficult to bring back all of it to the club.
More participation would be greatly appreciated.
The Adventure Trailer was 100% donated, so proceeds
from the trailer raffle will go towards the CAL4WD
events.
Tierra Del Sol
Attended by Josh Bleijenberg, Kevin Hall, Don Young,
Eddie Cesena and Jesse May. TDS was another successful
event, Kevin broke out his Bar B Que and practiced trade.
Calico Odessa Duran Loop
We lined up out front of the Calico ghost town and
Then we moved on to the gate keeper and the very narrow
headed out about 9am
sloped area. We stopped for Lunched at the Bismark
In attendance:
Mine. Bismark has lots ofold mines, caves and ruins to
1.
Ron Webber and Tom Caltabiano (guest)
explore. Danny Delp took one group exploring and they
2.
Pete Johnson
all walked right by a 6’ rattle snake in the bushes. No
3.
Keister (guest)and Dernarois (guest)
bites, he left us alone. (Danny went back to see what the
4.
Danny Delp, Kim, Rachel and Nicole Krausert
rattling sound was.)
5.
Tim Debolt and Charlie Heritges
6.
Randy and Donna Huddleston
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March 2014
Pete exploring in style with his new camp trailer,
Our next stop was the top of Wall Street Canyon over
look, quite impressive. The overlook is over a hundred
feet above the canyon floor. It is straight down if you
could be there when it rained it would be great to watch.
The Wells map shows this area extreme. There are a
couple steep ledges that going down were somewhat
difficult our concern was getting back up. As it worked
out we didn’t have to go back up.
After leaving Wall Street Over Look the alternative way
Joel has decided that hair is over rated. The pony tail is
out took us by the stone cabin. The next stop was helping
gone. Take note of his new Dirt Devil cap. It was a
Ron change a flat tire (apparently BFG’s don’t like
special order.
rocks). We were like a race team, the tire was off the
back, the lug bolts were off, the tire was back on the Jeep,
Run calendar
the Jeep was lowered off the jack and thrown in the back
and we were off, all in 7 minutes or less.
Adopt a Trail meeting place
The trail then took us by Bismark again and down Duran
8:30am at Rock Road House
Canyon (or is it Bismark canyon I’m not sure), we passed
32150 Hilltop Blvd Running Springs, CA 92382
Danny Delp’s favorite Jeep camp spot. He walked the
small slope and prayed to the Jeep gods. After Danny’s
next to the 76 gas station
hangout Dave took over the lead and we headed straight
down the Duran Gate Keeper. Once Dave got past the
Run template
point of no return, I could hear Danny saying do not
Research and/or Pre-run the trail route.
follow, Duran gate keeper is very difficult. Well Dave
Create and Post a Run Announcement
was past the point of no return. Apparently, Dave is a
When emailing the run announcement: Please, use the
professional driver, he made it down with only a bent roll
words “Run Announcement” in the Subject line of the
cage and tweaked body or frame not sure which. No big
message, forward to the webmaster and newsletter editor.
deal.
Date/Time and Place for the Run
We had good friends, good weather, no drama and no
Description of Run
wind.
Difficulty Rating scale 1 to 5
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Run Type: Base Camp, Day Run
12 - 20 Easter Jeep Safari
Directions to Meeting Place.
26 - Adopt-a-Trail
EXACT Departure Time from Meeting Place
Required Equipment. Open dif ? Lockers?
Is Special Equipment Required?
May
Is RSVP Required?
2 - 4 Corral Canyon
Are Permits Required? (Forest Adventure Pass etc.)
Danny Ward/ Pete Johnson
CB Channel start with channel 4, if to much traffic then
switch to 5 and so on.
9 - 11 Molina Ghost Run (Cal-4-Wheel)
HAMM channel 146.440
Camping Location/ Directions/ Details/ Facilities/ Fees.
17 - Adopt-a-Trail
Access for motor homes? Very little ground clearance?
17 - HDR pre run improve gate keeper.
Deep soft sand?
Expected Weather Conditions.
23 - 26 Hi Desert Roundup (Cal-4-Wheel)
Contact Information (Run Leader
Signup: http://www.cal4wheel.com/events/hi-desert-
Phone Number & email address)
round-up
Please, cover all the needed information in the Run
31 - June 4th Grand Cyn North Rim
Announcement rather than say “contact me for details”.
Run Leader: Rick Walter rick03tj@gmail.com
Start of the Run:
1st night at St George
Hold brief driver’s gathering before start of run. Include
2nd night at Kelly Point
special instructions.
3rd night somewhere between Twin Point and
Assign vehicle order if there are vehicles with open diffs.
Grand gulch mine
Have vehicle with locked diff in front & behind. (If
4th night St George
possible disperse vehicles with HAM radios near the
300 miles loop from St George and back to St George
front, middle and rear of the line.
http://www.nps.gov/hfc/carto/PDF/PARAmap1.pdf
Encourage drivers to learn the name of the person in front
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/ohv/gc_
and behind his/her vehicle.
overlook.html
Assign “Sweep Vehicle” (Tail Gunner Vehicle)
435-688-3200
Give 5 Minute Warning before start
http://offroadpassport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=
Begin Run ON TIME or notify everyone of new time.
1521
Announce Departure over CB channel 4
pictures are 3 years old
Stop at all turns to confirm vehicle behind sees turn
http://www.offroaddance.de/Trails/GrandCanyon/No
Stop occasionally to close up ranks
rth/KellyPoint/KellyPoint_e.html
Announce Lunch Stop and Length of Stop
After returning home forward to the webmaster and
newsletter editor to be copied and pasted a Run Report
June
and a few photos. In the subject line write “Run Report”
14 - 15 Forest Fest
21 - Adopt-a-Trail
March
29 Adopt-a-Trail
28 - John Bull/ Holcomb Josh Bleijenberg
July
April
4th - Gold Mtn Night run see the Big Bear
5th CAL4WD South District Meeting
So.Dist. Meeting April 5,2014 will be hosted by
Lake fireworks Rick Walter
Hemet Jeep Club.
26 - Adopt-a-Trail
LaFogata Mexican Restaurant 2940 W. Florida Ave.
Lunch available. Coffee and donuts.
24 - 27 Jeepers Jamboree 62nd annual
Contact Mike Hardy for info. 951 929-JeeP.
Georgetown to Lake Tahoe via the Rubicon Trail
Regards, Mike Hardy Hemet Jeep Club
www.jeepersjamboree.com
August
6 - Mattina Wash/ Rattlesnake Josh
Bleijenberg
1 - 3 Jeep Jamboree 36th annual
Rick Walter rick03tj@gmail.com plans to attend
12 - 13 Anza Borrego Pete Johnson
Georgetown to Lake Tahoe via the Rubicon Trail
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www.jeepersjamboree.com
(Primary Club Campground) Red Feather
Campground, 60 sites, Tent and RV, Flush Toilets,
7 - 10 Sierra Trek (Cal-4-Wheel)
Piped Water.
Fodyce Creek trail one of the top trails in California
Runnng Deer Campground, 40 sites, Tent and RV,
Flush Toilets, Piped Water.
15th & 16th
Wyandotte Campground, 120 sites, Tent and RV,
Flush Toilets, Piped Water.
Little Grass Valley Reservoir Run
Run Leader: Mike Wallace
La Porte businesses:
Plumas National Forrest, La Porte, CA
La Porte is a very Small Town and remote, with
Elev 4980 ft
only five full time businesses.
Northern California
General Store, Town grocer and fuel station.
518 miles away, above Sacramento and east of Oroville
Union Hotel, Cater to Group renters only.
Avg Temp in August is 85 degrees
La Porte Cabin Rental.
Riley’s Bar, Town watering hole and eatery
Recommended:
Rabbit Creek Deli
33 inch Tires
High Ground Clearance
Supplies and Provisions:
1- Locker 2- preferred (See Snake Lake Trail)
1. La Porte General Store (Managed by my Brother)La
Rockers, possible body damage
Porte is very Remote and the store supplies itself thru
weekly runs to Marysville so it’s not the cheapest
Run plan:
option)
My brother lives in the area and I have visited him
2. On your way up the mountain stop in Yuba
many times and love it. I want to share the experience
City/Marysville 60 Miles from La Porte - Costco
with my friends.
and chain supermarkets.
Friday August, 15th, 2014 at 8:30am and leave by
Fuel:
9:00am in front of the La Porte general store and
La Porte General Store
proceed through back country via the Howland Flat
Quincy
trail (rated Easy) to the Poker Flat Trail head. Lots of
Brownstown
youtube video of Poker Flats and Snake Lake Trail.
History of the area and what to expect on the trail:
The guide book lists the Poker Flat Trail as Moderate
During the late California Gold Rush in the 1870s and
with steep and narrow areas of inclines and descents.
1880s the town of La Porte had a population of
We will stop for lunch and Proceed to the Snake
approximately 10,000 people now only 26 permanent
Lake Area and challenge our skills on the Snake Lake
residence remain, and had its own bank (Bank of La
Trail. I’ve been told that this trail is Black Diamond
Porte). Potable water was provided free through
Rated Difficult. Obstacles are described as very
redwood mains (some of which are still in service) by
rocky and extremely steep. These trails will take all
wealthy local citizens. Civic leaders strongly opposed
day, we will then take the Hard Ball “Improved
hydraulic mining in the area, citing potential damage
paved road” back to La Porte and enjoy a nice quiet
to watershed land as legal means to stop most
evening under the stars licking our wounds.
hydraulic mining. Also of note is that La Porte is well
known as the birthplace of downhill ski-racing
Saturday August, 16th, 2014 at 8:30am and leave by
9:00am in front of the La Porte general store and
The run that we are planning is both technical and
proceed to the Trail head. Saturday run not planned
beautiful, a true forest trail with mountain streams
yet
and awesome views. A 2002 study by the Forest
Service identified 127,000 acres (51,000 ha) of the
Lodging options:
forest as old growth. The old-growth mixed conifer
La Porte Cabin Rental, Make reservations early.
forests of: Coast Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine, White
These are small local cabins with all the amenities.
Fir, Jeffrey Pine, and Red Fir forest. Logging is still
www.laportecabins.com (530) 675-0850, please
active in the area.
mention the Dirt Devils or Mike Wallace when
making your reservations.
23 - Adopt-a-Trail
Camp Grounds around Little Grass Valley
Reservoir (reservations can be made at
www.recreation.gov ) RV Dump available
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March 2014
September
13 - 14 Sherman Pass
Danny Ward/ Pete Johnson
27 - Adopt-a-Trail
October
4 - 5 Off-Road Expo
17 - 19 Operation Desert Fun (Cal-4-Wheel)
18 - Last Chance Canyon Rick Walter
25 - Adopt-a-Trail
Ron & Patty Kautz can be seen in the Red ’06 Jeep with a
few modifications. This is there first meeting.
November
7 - 9 PVD (Cal-4-Wheel)
27 - 30 Niland- North Glamis
(Thanksgiving)
Ron Webber
December
13th Cleghorn Joel Card
Guests
Spencer Schmidt is the proud owner of a modified ’92 YJ
Chris Goodman visted us about 9 months ago when we
were at Keno’s Chris can be seen in a ’90 modified Jeep.
Jim Mahar is the proud owner of a ’97 TJ has few mods
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March 2014
including lockers. He was planning to go out to Clark
Awards
Mountain near Primm NV. Perhaps he can provide us
with a run report.
Chris Slaughter can be seen in a ’94 Cherokee and a
CAL 4 Wheel Drive, new member award
¾ ton GMC 35’s and a 6” lift.
Accessories
Club info
Available at the regular meetings, see Emi Webber.
Dirt Devil Stickers: $15.00.
First aid kit tracking
Short sleeve shirts: $15.00
FA #1 (red, blue backpack)
Long sleeve shirts: $18.00
Sweatshirts: $30.00
Mike Ortega Adopt a trail
Hats: $20.00
FA #2 (Orange canvas bag)
Adopt a Trail
Roger Mauer Feb 2014
The Dirt Devils Adopt A Trail is Dishpan Springs Trail
(3N34)
FA #3 (Orange canvas bag)
Dishpan Springs Trail can be found in the San Bernardino
Ron Webber march 2014 Calico
National Forest near Lake Arrowhead. The Dishpan
Springs Trail is one of the toughest and most popular
trails in the SBNF.
The Western entrance:
2N26Y is N34° 16.198 W117° 08.258.
The T6 Bridge: N34° 16.106 W117° 07.745.
The Eastern entrance: 3N16 is N34° 15.663 W117°
05.116.
Newsletter advertising
$25 for ¼ page ad, for 3 issues
$50 for a ½ page ad, for 3 issues
$100 for a full page ad, for 3 issues.
A full page ad also gets a Web Link.
Club officers
President: Jesse May: jemay.xj@gmail.com
Vice President: Ray Kleinhuizen
kkfusedglass@roadrunner.com
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March 2014
Secretary: Cheryl May: jemay.xj@gmail.com
Treasurer: Emi Webber: emiwebber@hotmail.com
Web Master: Mike Ortega:
mike@topwebsiteplacement.com
Newsletter: Ron Webber: webbermail@cox.net
Hospitality: Emi Webber: emiwebber@hotmail.com
Safety Committee: Randy Huddleston:
hudd1@pacbell.net
Run Coordinator: Rick Walter rick03tj@gmail.com
Meeting Place
First Tuesday of each month,
6:30pm for Dinner & 7:30pm for the meeting at
just east of Imperial Hwy and north of the 91 Fwy.
Marie Callenders. 5711 East La Palma Ave., Anaheim,
CA 92807, 714-779-0600
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March 2014
Old blue
Old Green
Mike Maneth memorial cow bell
Dan Delp 3. Can you say Calico.
Cowbells
The cow bell rules are: If you get
Cow bells 1, 2 and 3 Dan, hang them with pride.
stuck and are unable to move under
Cowbell 3 Randy Huddleston October
your own power and need the help of a
Gold Mtn, Pioneer Town run.
winch or you get strapped from one of
Cowbell 1 John Strege August 2012 adopt a trail
your fellow jeepers then you have
Cowbell 2 John Strege August 2012 adopt a trail
earned the privilege of hanging a cow
bell from your front bumper. You must
Cowbell 3 John Strege July 2012 earned while
leave the cow bell on the front of your
playing in the 4x4 area in Hungary Valley
rig until another Dirt Devil gets stuck
then, you can proudly hand it over.
Rick Walter Cleghorn January 2014 High Centered and
yanked with help from Josh Bleijenberg
Mike Wallace Cleghorn January 2014 water pump went
out Ray Kleinhuizen to give
Ray Kleinhuizen Coyote Flat July 2013
Mike Ortega Big Bear Holcomb Creek high centered and
yes that is the winch controller in his hand.
June 2013
Pete Johnson: Corral Canyon May 2013
Ray Kleinhuizen Moab UT broke shock and track bar
mount and rear differential supports. April 2013
Don Young Moab UT broke a ring and pinion on his new
dana 60 but he did limp out April 2013
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