Corral Hollow Adventure

Corral Hollow Day Run:
http://californiajeeper.com/corralhollow/trail.htm


We decided to take my family on a day run in the Moose this past weekend. We got up early on Saturday morning and headed out. We had two stops to make before we hit the trail. First was a fuel stop for the family. We got our coffee and donuts and the moose needed to eat too. After filling up the moose with gas it was time to head out.

The Moose:




We hit the turn off to Corral Hollow and took a wrong turn that cork screwed throughout a series of dusty back country trails for 2 hours. Then I decided it was time to turn around. I knew an easier rout from the Bear Valley side. We headed up and found the trail head and we were off.

The first part of the trail was a lot rougher than it has been in years past. There were lots of ruts some of which were very deep. It proved a good time to test out the articulation in the Moose. I was still in 2 wheel drive and the rear end was traveling well keeping the tires on the ground. This part of the trail proved to be more challenging due to the long wheel base and negotiating the trees. After forging our way through the trees we came across a fallen tree road block. We had two choices, one to turn around and go back the way we came, which meant to a very disappointing end to a day. The other was to attempt to make it through a narrow gap between two trees and continue our adventure. Not being a family that quits (or not being too smart) we decided to put it in 4 low and try our luck at shoe horning the moose between the pines.

Fallen Tree Blocking the trail:





Raylene jumped out and guided me through the trees. It was tight only three to four inches on either side one lean would have meant sure body damage, but my lovely wife was able to stay calm and guide me slowly through the obstacle.

We continued our adventure and the trees eventually faded to the wild poppy field. For those of you who have never been on Corral Hollow its best to go after the snow has melted and wile the ground is still green. If you close your eyes and imagine mountains covered in green long leafs with wild poppy flowers. Think to yourself what Dorothy walked through on her way to the wild poppy fields. This has got to be one of the most beautiful spots to see in the Sierra. Rolling hills covered in green and yellow flowers. Our trail curved up a mountain through this beauty. The trail ahead was loose dirt and full of small rocks. I now knew it was time to engage 4 low.

The Meadow with the poppys:




It was hard to concentrate on the trail with the surrounding beauty. But focus on the trail was a must since I am new to the Moose and still finding out how it handles off road. We ventured up the trail to the next beautiful spot. Once you’re through the poppy fields you come over a brief ridge onto a great spot for lunch. This spot overlooks bear valley, with its wild bare mountains on each side with a beautiful canyon below. Legend has it that a hunter once trapped one of the largest California Grizzly bears in the canyon and had to hike it out. I don’t know the facts about that, but I do know that this is a wonderful spot to stop and have lunch.

Lunch Spot:





After our quick lunch stop we continued our outdoor adventure. We followed the ridge for a while and then it was time to put the canyon behind us. Back into the trees we went. We were back in 2 wheel drive territory and back to dodging trees again. We came across the only other person on the trail. He was a nice guy in a very set up Toyota Tacoma. I stopped and warned him about the narrow part that we had past earlier. He informed me that he was the person who opened that part of the trail earlier in the day, and that we were probably the first two rigs on this trail this year. To me that added even more excitement to the day.

After meandering through trees we came across the Aspen forest. The ground was green with grass the Aspens had been hit hard by the winter snows. Many had fallen, but the ones that remained were still majestic and very stunning. I love the way the leafs twinkle in the wind. They are a joy to look at. We decided to stop here and take some pictures of their beauty. It was soon time to venture on; next up on the trail was another area of poppy fields closely followed by the cabin.

After passing another beautiful poppy field we came across the forest service cabin. This cabin was placed here for people to stay. You can stay or stop by and sign the log book, we signed our names, but there were other staying the cabin so we decided to stay outside for a while and relax. Soon it was getting late and we ventured on. The rest of the trail is a beautiful ride through the forest.

Venturing on the Cabin:



More Pics of the Cabin:



One More of the Cabin:




If you have not been to Corral Hollow I highly recommend it. This trail is not hard; any high clearance vehicle can make it through. So if you’re looking for hard core wheeling go someplace else. What this trail offers is one of kind beauty and a place that is magnificent in sure beauty. So if you in need to go on beautiful scenic trail ride I highly recommend this trail.

My Family:



Paul

Fathers Day Fun

I spent my father’s day was about spending time with my favorite people. My family and I took the Moose on a long drive all over the Sierras. We went to a couple of little towns and just driving joking listening to tunes. It was a great day!!! We put over 400 miles on the cruiser, it performed flawlessly. It’s funny though I have owned two classic broncos, one a built wheeling rig, the other a show pony. Both were nice, but I thing in the 10 years I got one thumbs up and one nice rig. This weekend alone I got 4 nice rigs, a guy offered to buy it and my wife noticed that people stared at it as we drove by. There was one guy in a Jeep Cherokee that turned his head as he watched the Moose drive by. I have to say I love
that!!!!!!!!

There was a time when we were driving down Highway 4 on our way home; both boys and my wife were asleep. I could see Brad sleeping, Paul II was asleep with his head hung over, my wife was asleep with her mouth wide open. Strange as it may seem it was a proud day in my life. My family exhausted from spending time together as a unit not bickering, not working but just being with each other. Best of all I think they enjoyed it tooo.

My Wife and Paul II



My boys are getting big fast and I cherish the times like this. I hope that someday they look back and smile upon these times. As I get older I have come to recognize that Father’s day was not about 4 wheeling, or doing something that I am mainly into, it is about spending precious time together before its too late and we all lead separate lives.

Brad:







Its times like these that are imprinted into my mind.


PP

The Moose is Loose. (Boards Crossing)

The family and I went on our first trip in the Moose 1982 FJ-60. We went with my club www.gettinoff4x4.com to boards crossing trail on highway 4. This being the first trip for the Moose I was a bit nervous and very curious to see how the Moose would do.

I used the quick deflators on the rims, after using them I have mixed feelings. They fit over the valve stem and against the rim. You simply turn them and they air down really fast. What I don’t like about them is that they are always on the rim and will probably get some trail damage. I also got a chance to use my air gauge that plugs on the valve stem and has a valve you can fill through the gauge. I really liked that it allowed me to monitor the pressure as I deflated the air from the tire. After airing down to 12 pounds I was ready to roll.

Boards is a pretty easy trail, just the kind of trail you want to go on to test a rig. On the wheel scale where the Rubicon is a 10 I would rate this a 3-4. There is two 4 obstacles but for the most part the trail is a 3. We started up the trail in 4 low, and moving with a group of 10 rigs. The rigs were Mostly Jeeps, but there were four Toys including the Moose. My first impressions are how much torque the 6cyl has. Even with stock gears and 33’s it still lugged down and had enough grunt to climb the hills. Maybe it was the six or it could have been I am so used to driving a auto that I forgot what it was like to move without putting my foot into the skinny pedal. I am pretty confidant it was the inline 6.

After climbing a bit we came to the first mild obstacle. It’s a easy rock climb that leans to the left (river side of the trail.) I took it slow but we had one major boom. I smacked my diff on a rock. It seems that the front diff is on the opposite side of my jeep. “Note to myself think other side when driving the Moose.” I noticed that I did smack the rear spare tire a lot during this obstacle and others to find. With some steering and maneuvering I managed to make it through the first obstacle with no problems. The rest of the trail was pretty uneventful until we got to the creek crossing.

The creek crossing is on of the 4 obstacles on this trail, its mild at low flows but can get deep when the flows get heavy. This weekend the flow was heavy. You first have to go down a pretty short steep hill that leans you to a boulder on the left. This normally would not be a challenge, but I have no rocker or sliders on the rig it could have been. After going down the hill avoiding the rock you enter the creek. Fist its not bad, but in middle there is a big hole. The Toyota Tacoma in front of me was running 33 inch tires and the hole swallowed his tire and rim. The stream went over his hood a bit but he was locked and climbed right out. This being my first time in the moose I was a bit worried, I did not want to stall out on the stream, nor did I want to hammer the skinny pedal and break something. I decided on a smooth constant approach and when I hit the hole I knew that momentum would be my friend, being open front and rear I knew that I had to approach it this way to be successful. Off we went, the creek got deeper, we hit the hole and like the Tacoma before me I sank the hole ate my 33 for lunch. I kept constant pressure on the skinny and pop it jumped out. The rear did the same, but this time the front had enough traction to pull me out of the hole. Right after the creek crossing there is a short climb to the large camp ground.





The large camp ground is surrounded by pines with the river running right in front of you. It’s got enough room for about 30 rigs. We all parked to have some lunch and enjoy conversation and chat. I was surprised many of the club members came over to the Moose to say how cool it was. This was a first for me. I usually drive the Jeep and it seems like everybody else’s rig. Even when I drove the EB (early Bronco) it did not get this much reaction. So far I was extremely happy with the Moose. It not only wheeled well it had enough room for the family, and all my wheeling gear. My Wife was happy, my boys were comfortable and we were not sardines in a can like riding in the Jeep.

After shooting the wind we climbed in and headed out. Heading out was much the same, the hole in the middle of the creek swallowed my wheel again and launched me to a rock face, I was able to crank the wheel while keeping my momentum and made it out with out a problem. The rest of the trail was pretty uneventful.

I am so happy to have the Moose in my stable of wheeling rigs. I finally have a rig that I can take the family in and still have the capability to wheel.