@stringtwelve @SLO Robert
@dmurph1996 @ryanpce @dmurph1996 @wesel123 @administrator
I'm late on replying to a lot of great posts, sorry all. Log-in was down for a while, busy with little ones, and work has been crazy. Thank you all for all the great advice. Its all slowly but surely starting to come together now. With every trip the confidence is building and with confidence I realize I am planning much more trips. Loving it. I had a recent trip in Mammoth with the family about 2 weeks ago, took the jeep for the first time, left the family boring SUV at home. In preparation for the trip up to June Lake, I downloaded at the last minute North American Hema Maps on my iphone 6. I didn’t see any dirt trails on my version (maybe user error) but it was the best app I have ever used for marking waypoints, it allowed me to take pictures for the waypoints, track stats, record my route, and also make notes so you can easily remember the spots. I also had the book Sierra Nevada Byways: 51 of the Sierra Nevada's Best Backcountry Drives book with me. Followed some tips to a hidden dirt trail near the lifts in Mammoth planning to take the scenic route to Devils PostPile. At the entrance of the trail, I could see the dirt trail had 50% snow coverage on it still. I probably shouldn’t have attempted it, plus I had the wife and kids and sure enough after few hundred feet into the trail, all steep downhill, I made the decision to make a U-turn as the trail starting disappearing and my direction became more of a guess. And sure enough, I got stuck trying to go back up. Steep uphill + gravity + snow was impossible to get back up. Felt that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was nervous not going to lie. Mainly because when you’re responsible for your family, it’s quite a different kind of pressure than just worrying about yourself. But I kept my composure, I did have a few things on my side. A 2013 Jeep Rubicon fully outfitted for any task, a warn winch (I never used a winch before), and a lot of fake recovery know how of knowledge logged in my brain from countless hours on YouTube for a situation like this. After all failed attempts of going through the A-Z of alternative measures (air down, 4L, 4H, using more speed, trying to take a different line, etc.) I resorted to my last ditch attempt of using the winch + tree saver strap all while thoughts of having to call a forest ranger or AAA was at the back of my mind. I didn't even know the winch would work since I have never tested it before. For all I knew the battery wasn't connected right. Did I mentioned a thunder storm was on its way right about that time too. But to my pleasant surprise, the winch worked. The Warn was a beast, effortless. I got us out, kids gave me the thumbs up while sipping their juice boxes, and didn’t lose any fingers doing it. All while the wife was reading the section to me in the book about not attempting this trail if its closed or has snow. :) Later on once warm and back safe back in the cabin with a hot cup of coffee. Reflecting on the scenario I believe I could of also got out using MaxTrax. So I will be purchasing some soon. All in all a great crash course learning experience that I do not regret. I still have a lot to learn, a lot of what if scenario questions that I have no answers to. All very overwhelming but I also know if I don't just get out there and just do it, it will never happen. I have to say, being able to fish, camp, site see, share the experience with my family, and ride some trails was by far the best Mammoth trip I have had to date. Being deep into the woods far from the hwy and busy population. Seeing views at 6,000 feet 99% of everyone else there would never get to see, the feeling of beautiful solitude and freedom really made for a different kind of overall experience that's hard to explain. It was the cherry on top of the trip for me to wrap up an awesome week! Next on my purchase list is a rooftop tent, fridge, and drawer system. This is an expensive hobby, are all overlanders rich? :)
