3rd annual Matono Wash run.
Met at the Porter Ranch Park&Ride off 118, left at 0610, 5 jeeps: Ric&Lisa, Mike&Laura, Rick F., John C.,John C. (Suzuki)and son.; Damien and Keith picked us up at Sand Cyn on the 14. Nice cloud covering in Victorville, looking like storms above Big Bear. Aired down around 9:30 at Rattlesnake Cyn trailhead. Damian having problems w/ his 4WD engaging, but decides to come at least thru Rattlesnake. About 1/2 way Damian's 4WD kicks in, (maybe it was the earthquake we never felt). About 3/4 way up thru Rattlesnake we can hear the thunder! Arrive at the trail head for Matino Wash about 11:15. As soon as we started up the trail it started POURING rain! Got to the first obstacle: another group w/ 6 jeeps ahead of us....was a good time to put the windows back on...lol. But by the time we were all thru it, the rain had stopped. Did a couple more obstacles, decided to let the group in front of us get ahead, so we stopped for lunch. No casualties yet, except for Laura's hand, good thing John Cary had plenty of ice. (this doesn't qualify Mike for the breakdown award,but he got "awarded" all domestic chores for awhile). After lunch, Ric handed out frozen (mostly) Fruit Bars. It rained a little on and off for some of remainder of the trail, making some of the obstacles a little slippery. We were still hearing thunder. Ric F. thought he had busted an axle on one, but he had inadvertently turned off his air locker compressor, so he was able to continue. Mike had a couple of issues w/ his tire plugs. Continued playing on rocks to end of Matino Wash, then blazed yet another new trail thru the Joshua Forest back to Rattlesnake Cyn. Arrived back at trail head, aired up/loaded vehicles. John C and son headed for home, and rest of us left in search of a place for Dinner. Mike picked a great place, it was closed (he really just wanted pizza). Damien and Keith decided snacks were enough for them, so they headed home. John C found another mexican restaurant, opened but no one there, but it turned out to have pretty good food. Thanks everyone for a fun day!
Thank you Lisa for the great trip report!