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View Full Version : Holcomb Creek, Big Bear 10-21-2012


Seanz0rz
10-21-2012, 05:15 PM
Troy and I ran up to BB today to try out the recently (1.5 years ago) reopened Holcomb Creek Trail.

Starting at 3n16, 3n93 heads easterly starting with a rock garden. This has gotten much more difficult than when I ran it back in '07. The Gatekeeper is unreasonably difficult, and not a good representation of what the rest of the trail offers. Troy made it through OK, but I got hung up on my underbelly. After jacking up the truck and stacking rocks, I used Troy's truck as an anchor and winched myself forward to avoid breaking drive-train components.

On my slider:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/IMG_4095.jpg

Rock garden:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/IMG_4096.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/IMG_4098.jpg

After that, it was pretty smooth sailing from there. A bit of trail, then another rock garden. Some were only a few feet long, others were a few hundred yards long. I didn't get many more pictures from there, except for Troy showing off his mad skillz:
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/IMG_4107.jpg
http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/IMG_4108.jpg


During the course of the trail, I used every single piece of armor. Dented the rear bumper, smashed the front skid plate, scraped paint on the front bumper, and so much slider carnage! also managed to tag the gas tank skid, t-case skid, all the cross members, and my rear diff. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! This is the first hard-core trail I have done in a long time, it was nice to get back on some rocks!

That being said, this trail is nothing like I remember it. Much of it has changed, and maybe i had rose tinted glasses from 5 years ago. Regardless, the trail is a lot of fun, and was very clean. MJR has done a great job on refurbishing the trail and adding rock gardens and obstacles. Maybe just add some more passing spots so we don't have to back up 1/4 of a mile to let some Jeeps by!

Whole album: http://s955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/hamiltonfabrication/Holcomb%20Creek%202012/

Thanks again Troy for letting me use your Hi-lift, your bumper as an anchor, and your rock stacking skills! Good times!
troyboy162
10-21-2012, 05:31 PM
Great time! Thanks for inviting me Sean! That was my first time on that trail. The artificial rock gardens have no doubt changed the feel of a easy trail to one that requires attention. Looking on the sides of the trail you can see the hundreds of man hours it took to get this trail open again by MJR. I will have to thank those guys when I see them next. You can see an example of their work here:
http://www.myjeeprocks.com/aat/2010/05/10/work-day-recap/

The Seanzors on rock attack like a veteran!:

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/holcomecreek023.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/holcomecreek015.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/holcomecreek009.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/holcomecreek003.jpg
Marc P
10-21-2012, 05:32 PM
No invite?? Next time let me know...I really miss that trail, and would love to try it in my less tippy 3rd gen
Seanz0rz
10-21-2012, 05:34 PM
next time for sure marc. it was kindof a last minute thing. I'll plan a run for the spring!
4x4mike
10-21-2012, 10:16 PM
That looks like fun. It's always nice to hear armour is getting used. That and that the trails are clean and taken care of.

I know Troy is running 35's but did he every do the flat belly mods? Sean was you getting caught on your belly a lack of 35's thing or your line? I've got belly skids that protect to the rear cross member and onto the gas tank skid. They are pretty high up so they don't get hit much but just wondered on your case.
DHC6twinotter
10-21-2012, 11:15 PM
Looks like you guys had fun! I'm bummed that I missed it. It would have been great to see you again Troy.
troyboy162
10-22-2012, 05:08 AM
I dragged frame over the obstical and needed to turn on the front locker. My tanks is moved and I cut off the tank crossmember. The belly isn't flat but I have skid plates to the end of the transfer case and nothing beyond that that can catch other then the link mounts.
troyboy162
10-22-2012, 06:00 AM
Looks like you guys had fun! I'm bummed that I missed it. It would have been great to see you again Troy.


Yeah I thought you were coming, but I knownhow it is
4x4mike
10-22-2012, 08:37 AM
I dragged frame over the obstical and needed to turn on the front locker. My tanks is moved and I cut off the tank crossmember. The belly isn't flat but I have skid plates to the end of the transfer case and nothing beyond that that can catch other then the link mounts.


Wait, "turned on the front locker" and "moved tank". Sounds like you've had some work done. I know you had been talking about moving the tank up then the f150 tank but I didn't know you went ahead with it. What front locker are you running? Factory CV's? This must be why you were posting up about the Lotus CV's.
troyboy162
10-22-2012, 09:03 AM
Its a arb with OEM CV's. I think it saves more cv's then it breaks. I have broken more with it but its due to where I go now. Kinda like how mud terrain tires lead to body damage :)
Seanz0rz
10-22-2012, 09:18 AM
I don't think there was a better line to make it through. I did't get good pictures of where i was stuck, but basically a huge bolder with not much on either side. some rocks were stacked, but they move around quite a bit. At that point I was on my gas tank, cross members, rear diff, and the tcase was touching the rock. If I had gone forward without stacking rocks, I would have tagged my tcase pretty hard and probably crushed the gas tank. As it was, I moved the gas tank skid over far enough to contact the diff. Maybe the other line would have been better, but I can't imagine that being the case.
troyboy162
10-22-2012, 10:56 AM
yeah theres no real good line over it and it just turns into a ground clearence test. Sean kicked butt all day out there! Mind you the obstical was made by short wheel base jeeps. They are better then us at break-over stuff by a lot!
Crinale
10-22-2012, 11:04 AM
Damn that looks like fun.. I have some work to do :P I don't know if I'll be ready for that kind of trail by spring though :( Still need lockers, gears, non-stock skids, and of course, bigger than 31s... maybe by next fall.