Camp WAMP was great! The campers and adults were happy (and dirty) - what a great experience for them.

Stock 4x4s can make it on the road from Plumas Eureka State Park/Johnsville. For Sat. nite there's a nice, free camp spot called Ross Campsites 4 miles from the end of the Museum parking lot if anyone doesn't want to go in via Gold Lake & Gold Valley.

BlueJ

So just to be sure the sign-up looks like this...

----------------
1. CharlieX (rolling w/ NV crew)
2. Huey (meeting at Pleasant Hill)
3. XPLORx4 (meeting ay Pleasant Hill)
4. JayMBA (meeting in Jackson)
5. BlueJ ?still not sure (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
6. 4xNewb (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
7. Xtopher (meeting at Pleasant Hill)

Note: if there are ??? next to your name please confirm if you are still going on the trip and your meeting spot.

Thanks!

1. CharlieX (rolling w/ NV crew)
2. Huey (meeting at Pleasant Hill)
3. XPLORx4 and brother-in-law Eddie (meeting at Pleasant Hill)
4. JayMBA (meeting in TRUCKEE)
5. BlueJ ?still not sure (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
6. 4xNewb (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
7. Xtopher (meeting at Pleasant Hill)

1. CharlieX (rolling w/ NV crew)
2. Huey (meeting at Pleasant Hill)
3. XPLORx4 and brother-in-law Eddie (meeting at Pleasant Hill)
4. JayMBA (meeting in TRUCKEE)
5. BlueJ ?still not sure (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
6. 4xNewb (meeting @ Pleasant Hill)
7. Xtopher (meeting at Pleasant Hill)

Thanks Dean for updating my meeting place. See you all on Saturday at Safeway in Truckee.

This is a kick-ass turn out...In case I don't mention it, thanks. You all have restored my faith in human kind and I'm getting kind of misty Seriously though, Thanks!

Here's a few of my photos of Camp Wamp -- thank you Huey.

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=54832

See you at Pleasant Hill sat am.
Jean

Huey & group,

How about including going to the top of the Sierra Buttes? I guarantee that the view is spectacular! I've hiked it several times, would appreciate getting most of the way there by the jeep trail. Brian/BCM79 has some great photos here:
http://www.pbase.com/bcm79/sierra_buttes_gold_lake&page=1

Jean

I really like that idea! We should be done fairly early on Sunday and that could easily be a side trip before we head home. I'll bring it up with the group tomorrow.

Great job guys and gals!! Things were a little hectic for a bit, but it all worked out. It was great to meet everyone from the Xterra CROWD that showed up--and the enthusiasm really impressed the club out of Reno. You all did yourselves proud and gave a bunch of kids a great time.

I guess it's time to schedule some more friendly (though next time it should be friendly for the vehicles...all vehicles...) runs and get things going

A big thanks to the gravity defying Dean for helping me get out of my "skid-plate and drive line test".

I'm sure more will be coming up in the way of a report, but for now I'm kind of beat and am headed off for a bit of rest

Charlie, I didn't see you on my way out...but I wanted to say THANK YOU for extending the invite for this trip. I also wanted to thank Mark for organizing the event, helping me plan, and guiding us through the trails. Finally I want to thank Dean, Jean (and sister), Sean, Cris, and Jay you guys made same kids very happy and i couldn't have picked a better crew to camp and star gaze with.

The trip was loads of fun and hopefully we can make this an annual run. Great trip for a great cause!!!

And now for the trip report...We spent Sat morning driving up (very tired as the start time was way to early...I know it was my fault... ) and arrived Truckee around 11:45. There we spent wayyy too long shopping for food and got on our way to Graeagle.

Arriving at 1ish we quicky aired down and hit the trail. The trail for the most part was easy and we had little issue. It wasn't till we reached a fork in the road that seemed to be a shortcut to camp. We traveled down the easy trail till we reached a VERY steap and ROCKY decent to what looked like camp litteraly a few hundread feet away. Dean went down 1st to feel out the trail. he got about 1/2 way down when he decided that it would be a bit much for the stockers. I got out and hiked my way down to help spot him as he was commited at this point. Before I could reach him he had managed to tear his front tire side wall on a nasty rock that stuck out into the trail. A few inches later he had rolled off his bead. Changing a tire at this point was not an option...so I spotted Dean down to a flat spot, but not before we hit a point where his vehicle was litteraly standing on his front bumper. You could see his entire roof!

Well Dean got his tire fixed with the help of Mark's crew and the rest of our group turned around and proceeded back and around the longer trail to camp (Dean had an easy ride from there to camp). All was well till we were stopped by a stuck 4runner that was being towed out due to a problematic t-case. This held us up for about 30min...and we got on our way with little trouble except for a loose hill climb were I had to strap everyone (except Chris) up. Finally we reached the base of a hill climp that lead to camp. At this point the trail proved too much for the group as I tested it up and we decided to turn around and camp at the base. But before I could make it down, the hill proved it's nastyness and I ended breaking hub bolts (again!) and limping down.

We set up and had a much deserved rest. Spending the night joking around and star gazing. The next morning the Jeep group came down to our camp and we all headed to to Camp WAMP, I limped my way in 2wd low (using my locker to get through rough spots). We made it to camp and got the kids and headed out. After gettig air we spent some quality time in HWY80 trffic...

I only shot 10 pics... I\'m getting lazy...

The area is a long way from the Bay Area, but offers great views and trails ranging from easy to very hard.

Imagine following the Jeeps through the "short-cut" (fun trail though) At least now I know the $ for the skids was money well spent. I got stuck in some nasty spots a couple of times, but other than that it was pretty smooth going. I didn't have a camera as the spouse took it with her on vacation...maybe next time.

Glad you all had a great time. Sounded like a rough trip.

Huey, did the bolts work themselves loose or they just broke?

Dean, hope you can warranty that tire.

....

My warns have been having issues since I switched to 33s (probably not the sole problem, but a contributing factor)...the bolts work themselves loose which causes play in them. From there if I hit a loose spot and gain instant traction (even if it's slight) the torque breaks the bolts!!! And yes I checked to see if the bolts were tight before the run.

I carry a box of bolts with me now but was too lazy to deal with it this time and since the hub wasn't spinning by itself this time, I decided to just do the trail in 2wd.

I'm done with the warns...I'm going to order a set of Nissan manuals and call it a day.

Great trip! Diana and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to all.
Here are my photos.
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=55102

Jean

Note: Di found her fishing pole in the trunk of her car. yaay
-and if you had eaten more donut holes I wouldn't have had to fry them in butter for Monday breakfast-

Hay, you got my best side!!

Charliex, thanks for putting the info out on this run.

I fully enjoyed myself on this trip. I dont think I could ask for a better crew of people to go out with on my first venture.

The getting stuck, camping, laughing, stargazing, and waiting, was all worthwhile.

Glad we all made it there and back OK.

until next time...

Pictures (duh)

RIDE UP:

got spares?

more drive pics


shot of the lake from trail..

Why drunks shouldn't be allowed to ride atv's..

that was the first time he flipped on that rock..
we were 200 feet away the second, and only heard it.. sorry, couldn't see it..