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Winter Snow Run (Location to be determined)

Location

Date: 
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Type:
Club Run
Rating (min):
2+
Rating (max):
3+

Body

This is our annual hunt for the snow. The location will be determined by the location of available snow.

Event Reports

McIver's Cabin Winter Snow Run

Submitted by Michael Whittington on Sun, 01/21/2018 - 09:10
Run: 
Winter Snow Run (Location to be determined)
McIver’s Cabin Snow Run January 20, 2018 Report prepared by M. Whittington Participants: Tim Ragan Bob Boltner Bob Marshall Jerome Blunck Mike Whittington Prospective Members: Fred Peterson Bob Besch Wesley Sterr (rode with Bob Boltner) Skip Perkins Kenny Lombino Did I say this was a snow run? Well…almost a snow run. We did have a very heavy (and beautiful) frost on all the trees and bushes when we got up into the national forest. This stayed with us through the day…it was cold up there!!! The day started with everybody meeting at the P&R at 6:00. A brief meeting was held to get everyone on the same page and we headed for Mojave to top off the tanks and regroup. After airing down at the trailhead off Hwy 14, we began the trek into the forest on our way to McIver’s. We had one sketchy spot on the switchbacks that was washed out. We all made it through okay until Bob M. I was at the front of the pack and didn’t see, but I heard over the radio he had blown a radiator hose. Turned out, one of the fittings leading into his heater core broke (how does that happen?) and he spewed antifreeze. Tim R. jumped in, disconnected the broken fitting and hose from the radiator side and ran the return line from the heater core to the connection he removed. Add water and go. All good. Did I say that Bob M. was driving his Tahoe? Yes, he took his Tahoe to McIver’s!!!!! As I mentioned earlier, when we got to the top of the switchbacks and through the rest of the trail to the cabin we were treated to the most beautiful scenery you could imagine for this time of the year (except maybe a bit of snow on the ground). A heavy blanket of frost covered everything above ground level. We’ll post a few photos. At the cabin, not much has changed over the years. McIver’s cabin is showing its age of course but you would too if you had been built during installation of the original LADWP aqueduct project around 1910 then moved by a miner (McIver I would assume) in the 1930’s to its present location. While at the cabin, we ate our lunches and enjoyed each other’s company. Thankfully the cabin is in a sheltered area and the wind wasn’t a big concern so it kept teeth chattering to a minimum (Remember… it was cold up there)! After lunch, we loaded up for the trip back down the hill. Other than a bit of damage to the passenger side rear door on Bob’s Tahoe when he chose to get friendly with a tree rather than get a bit of mud on his rig, we all made it back to the highway without incident. We aired up; said our goodbyes and all headed for home. Great day had by all!

OTR Annual Snow Run - McGiver's Cabin - Saturday January 23, 2021

Submitted by Michael Whittington on Mon, 01/25/2021 - 12:45
Run: 
Winter Snow Run (Location to be determined)
Participants: Mike & Laura W. Chad & Joanna O. along with two of Chad’s friends; Ross and Matt Kenny L. Rich and Corkey W. Bob Bo. and Yoyo Bob Be. Fred P. and Mitch Lyndol and Mary J. and son Dwayne W. with Daughter and Grandson When I posted up the run a week before the event, I checked the weather report for Mojave and had to look at it twice…snow next Saturday. What, really, no way. As the week progressed, some of us continued to watch and post weather updates, including during the extreme winds and higher than normal temperatures in our area of southern California. The reports still looked promising for snow. We had eleven vehicles on the run with lots of fun had by all. As I hope you have already seen with all the photos posted on Face Book we had snow!!!! Even better…we broke trail through 1-4” of snow depending on location to McGiver’s cabin located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. There were no vehicle tracks in front of us all the way to the cabin, only critter tracks. The trail to the cabin was beautiful with fresh snow on the ground, frost and snow in the trees and light snow flurries throughout the day. You couldn’t have asked for a better. It was chilly (hoodies and medium jackets), but the wind was nonexistent to light. While at McGivers eating lunch, more vehicles (side by sides, Jeeps and motorcycles) started coming in and parking. They all wanted to play in the snow too. Getting back out was a little more difficult than getting into the cabin. There was still plenty of snow but due to all the vehicle traffic, it turned slick in spots especially the steep uphills. Everyone made it without too much difficulty except Dwayne. He had a bit of trouble climbing the long hill, started slipping and sliding and ended up on his side. No big deal and nothing really hurt; back on his wheels in no time and we continued on and then back down the mountain. After airing up we all said our goodbyes and headed for home. Thanks to all for making it such a great day. Mike W.