Check here for info on run through Deer Valley.

Hey Olebiker,

I should be able to make this trip...Most Definantly!

I'll keep you informed...

I would love to go but my club is doing our annual bbq run near fordyce that weekend. Have fun.

I'm going to say, "Count us in" for now.

I'll most likely be there with the Jalopy and it's now working power steering.

- Matt

I'm in. Do the Bay Area folks wonna meet in Pleasanton at 8:30am? I believe Gary wants to meet at the trail head at 11:30.

Huey,

Sounds good! Where in Pleasanton would you like to hook up?

RX

Pleasonton at 8:30 sounds good.

- Matt

We usually meet at McDonalds.
6800 SANTA RITA RD
PLEASANTON, CA 94588

See you folks at MD's Saturday morning!

RX

So we will know who to expect, could ya'll sign in here . There's radio info as well. This is gonna be fun!

If you're planning to refuel or stop to buy groceriesin Jackson, you're not gonna make it to the trailhead by 11:30 unless the Pleasanton departure time is earlier (8am). That being said, please check this link regarding the "trailhead meeting location". It wasn't clear to me where exactly we're meeting.

ok, let's do 8am

McDonalds
6800 SANTA RITA RD
PLEASANTON, CA 94588

We will do one fuel stop in Jackson to top off, but no grocery stop. Please buy food the evening before.

8 AM in Pleasanton!?!? ...Hmmmm... I just can't see myself getting there on time...or even little late.

So, which way are we starting the trail from? South to North, or North to South?

North to South (Hwy 88 -> Hwy 4)

Change of plan for us... We're not joining this trip... Don't wait for us at the meeting place.

I have to back out in this one too. I have to take care of my sick boy. Have a safe trip guys!

Sorry Everyone...

Couldn't make this trip...
Was sent to New York to get a helicopter a week early. Caught the red-eye and arrived on Sunday July 24th.

Wish I could've made it...I was looking forward to Deer Valley this year.

I hope we can do it again later on this year???

Nice run! Here\'s some pics
Hope everyone made it home OK. Nice to meet Richard and Carole.

Looks fun...

1) Is Dean pushing that beer-drinking-on-the-trail-while-driving guy's vehicle?
2) How cold did it get at night?

The stream crossing was very deep- higher than the floorboards. I didn't go through the stream fast enough, and the water backpressure on my exhaust stalled the engine.

The guy on that buggy offered to pull me to shore in exchange for some mosquito repellent. That sounded good to me!

At night the temps weren't too bad. Low 50's I say.

The mosquitos were out in full force, though! Worse than I've ever experienced. It was nice to shower at home and get all that bug spray off my skin!

Sounds really good for an exchange... How come Huey or Matt or anyone else in the group was not pulling you out, instead? I guess the buggy was in a better position to pull you out?

Exactly. I was still about 10 feet from dry ground, and the buggy, being closer and having an open cockpit, made it easier for the guy to just climb back and hook me up. Nobody in our group wanted to get wet.

Hey Folks!

Thanks for organizing the run. Carol & I had a great time. If only we could arrange for an air-drop of DDT the night before, as we hate mosquitoes!

Here's a link to the photos we took...
NCCX Deer Valley Pics

Unfortunately we only had a small capacity card with us so most of the pics are from the first day.

RX

I'm still scratching mosquito bites!

Here are some pictures:
http://www.blankwhitepage.com/gallery/deervalley_20050723



- Matt

Nice Matt!

You must have spent a bit of time cloning out the license plates!

My personal favorite:

Thanks Dean, that was shot with Gary's 28-135 lens (thanks again for letting me try it out Gary).

As for cloning out the plates, I don't know if it makes any difference to people, but it takes about 5s per shot so no big deal.

- Matt

Nice pics Matt. The 28-135 is a good lens. I almost went for that one but decided on the Sigma 24-70 instead.



...

How do you like the Sigma? I found a really good deal on the Canon 17-40L lens and ordered one last week, but it's on backorder and doesn't ship until Aug 8th. I wanted something that went at least as wide as the stock 18-55, but now am thinking I might want to also get something that will cover the 40-120(ish) range.

- Matt

Matt, the Sigma is a good lens, a little soft at f2.8 but stopping down a little and it's great. Focus is fast too plus 1/4 the cost of the Canon 24-70L

The 17-40L is an awesome lens, wish I have the money. You didn't order it at Dell did you? They have the sale last week.

The 28-135 fit your range but I'm sure once you put on the 17-40L you won't go to this lens anymore . Also check out the Tamron 24-135mm.

I'm thinking of the 70-200 F4 next... need second job

Some pic of the Sigma

Sonny,

Nice pictures! I especially like the second one.

I did get the lens from Dell during their sale last week, it's backordered and supposedly ships on the 8th. The also had the 70-200 f4 on sale for ~$500. I was trying to decided between the two and ultimately concluded that the 17-40 would get a lot more use since with a 1.6x crop factor the 70-200 provides A LOT of zoom and is fairly limiting in terms of field of view.

Now I'm somewhat questioning if I need a top level lens like the 17-40, but I figure I'll try it out and can always return it if I don't see enough of a quality increase over my stock lens to make it financially worthwhile.

Thanks again for the pictures.

- Matt