2010 OAUSA SummerFest & Field Day
June 25 - 27, 2010
Willow Creek & Dishpan Springs Run Report
This year's SummerFest was a blast and I was more than happy to lead a few trail runs over the weekend. On Saturday, the 26th my wife and I arrived at the Big Bear Discovery Center a little before 9am. A short while later, Braden showed up followed by Willie, Chazz and Jon. That made for three Jeep Wranglers (YJ, TJ & JK), one Toyota 4Runner and a Land Rover Discovery. Soon we were on the road heading west on Hwy 18 to the 173 and onto Willow Creek Road. The first part of the trail travels through some scenery burned over by the Willow Creek Fire in 1999. Recovery is slow and some parts of the landscape are still blackened and bare. After airing down at the OHV Pinnacles Staging Area we followed the rutted trail down to Willow Creek, which we had fun crossing while the girls took pictures.
Our route passed through forest and open meadows along one of the main routes through a popular OHV area in San Bernardino National Forest. The more difficult parts consist of weathered trails with severe holes, ruts, and off-camber sections. We ran into quite a few ATV's, or "sand fleas" as they were called. Some of whom passed by us rather recklessly. Dishpan Springs, the last black-rated section of our run, was extremely rocky and boulder-strewn. Halfway through this trail is a very steep, rocky climb often called the "waterfall". It was here where Jon had some issues getting his 4Runner through the boulders. So rather than risk breaking something he and Chazz turned back to exit the trail. The remaining three Jeeps continued on through some fairly deep ruts to the end of the trail. If time permitted, the plan was for everyone to regroup and run Gold Mountain. By the time we reached paved Green Valley Lake Road it was past 4pm so we decided to head on back to camp in time for the potluck.
Route Overview
Lots of flowers along the way.
Airing down at the staging area.
Coming down 3N34.
Willow Creek crossing.
Willie
Jon
Chazz
One of the hill climbs.
Braden was the first up the waterfall in case anyone had any problems.
He made it look easy.
My turn.
Later that night we enjoyed the campfire at Coon Creek Camp.
Rattlesnake Canyon & Heartbreak Ridge (Pontiac Loop)
On Sunday we met up with Willie H and Ollie in Big Bear for our run down Rattlesnake canyon and Heartbreak Ridge. I was planning to meet up at Coon Creek Camp but since the drive there took a little over an hour from our place we met up half way at one of the gas stations in town. From there it was down Hwy 18 to the 247 to reach the trail head. This remote trails passes through a non-wilderness corridor of the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness Area. The sometimes narrow, sandy, and often wet passage through Rattlesnake Canyon is susceptible to flash flood damage. Much of the route here was easy to moderate with some tight brush along sections of the trail. Although the temperature reach 100 degrees outside while running along the lower elevations, it still felt really nice out in our open air vehicle.
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Information- http://www.rattlesnakecanyontrail.com/"Rattlesnake Canyon, located in San Bernardino County California, runs from Hwy 247, 18.22 miles east of the four-way stop in Lucerne Valley to Burns Canyon Rd (Just east of Forest Service Rd 2N02). At the trail head on the desert floor at Hwy 247 the elevation is 3,102 ft. above sea level. The trail gradually climbs to 5,750 ft. above sea level."
Just before we reached Burns Canyon we turned west on 2N02 to 2N61Y towards Heartbreak Ridge. This difficult part of the route includes narrow canyons, steep shelf roads, large boulders and sharp rocks. This time around, Ollie and I were able to make it through without any carnage. We stopped for lunch at the top, paid our respects at the marine memorial and explored around some of the mines. It was also nice not having to shovel snow to get through the backside of Pontiac Loop! Backtracking out along 2N02 we continued traveling down scenic Burns Canyon and exited the trail to paved Rimrock Road, where we aired up and headed home. Ollie and I stopped in Temecula for food and gas while Willie and Stephen continued on down the 15 to San Diego. This route consisted of some of my favorite trails in the area and I was happy to have some good company along the trail.
Route Overview
The sole remaining cattle rancher in Lucerne Valley operates a 29,000 acre ranch. ALL of Rattlesnake Canyon is within this ranch. The ranchers, Billy & Julie Mitchell, are generally pro-OHV, and have worked with BLM and Wilderness folks to keep the Canyon open.
Mr. Mitchell has recently had to put down two cattle and one horse due to injuries created by OHV users going too fast through the canyon, and on the north end nearer his house.
Please do your part to educate others to slow down. Keep the dust and noise to a absolute minimum, give livestock the right of way, and don't scare them off the trail.
Stopping to see some of the sights.
Heading up a rocky section along 2N61Y.
A strange creature emerges from the darkness...
Lunch site.
Ollie tore open a CV boot doing the same thing a few weeks ago.
We could have easily spent a few more days up there enjoying the outdoors but as always, needed to get home.
