Big Bear ONE Day Run

May 21, 2011 Big Bear Trip Report.

Imagine my surprise when I pulled up to the Park N Ride at 0-dark-30 and did not see a single car or Jeep in the parking lot. Now, while 0-dark-30 may seem early to me, it was really about 10 minutes to 7 in the morning on Saturday, the greatly awaited day of our get-away to Big Bear Lake to do some wheelin’. Usually you see 10 or 15 Jeeps ready to head for the hills, not this time.

I seemed to remember that as I drove up I noticed a beautiful looking and well set-up JK sitting along the curb outside the lot on Porter Ranch so I walked up to say hello. It was Damian’s friend Darwin who would be coming along but without Damian. Riding with me in my resurrected XJ was Will my friend who almost made it to the base of Miller Jeep Trail for a run with us but his Jeep clonked out and has not been on the road since (I think Will held a grudge against his trusty Jeep and has since stuffed a FORD 302 and XYZ running gear into it – we should see it at a meeting soon). Some lesson to the poor old Jeep motor!

I almost couldn’t believe my eyes but the two and only Jeeps (sans any club members) headed up to Big Bear none-the-less. Knowing that the fantastic 330 highway up to Big Bear was closed, we turned off at Waterman and headed up the 18 thru about 225 little communities to Big Bear Lake 38/North Shore turnoff. I just don’t remember that road being so long but Ric Freymond was right – plan on about 3 HOURS!

Once in Fawnskin we met up with two other Jeeps, a cool looking CJ5 V8 of Eric’s who is a friend of Tory’s and Marty who is a friend of Jeremy’s along with his friend John and daughter Heather. Marty was driving his nicely prepared ’91 Cherokee Sport, man that thing looked good in white.

So, let’s take a quick count here….. 4 Jeeps total. One club member (me) and three (four counting Will riding with me) guests. Now, how many club members went with me on this run?

Hey, I love having guests along – really! Especially when at least ONE of them knows the area better than I do. Since Darwin knew everything about our proposed run to John Bull, I asked him to lead with me in the rear so off to the dump we went.

John Bull seems to be a little tougher than I remember but everyone made it thru fine and only Eric complained of any type of breakage – a possible broken front hub.

It was an absolutely beautiful day and the dirt was dirty, the rocks were slippery and the sky was blue. Everyone had a great time and although we encountered many other vehicles on the trail, we managed to have lunch and get back to Fawnskin but mid-afternoon.

I want to thank everyone who decided to come out, I had a ball – I really needed to get out of town! Thanks also to Damian for getting my Jeep repaired just in the nick of time.

Eric