August 12-14, 2016 Coyote Flats Planning

[4x4mike]

I'm looking to put a small trip together to visit Coyote Flats August 12-14.

Here is a link to last years trip: http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?10831-20150717-18-Coyote-flats

Here is a 5 day write up on Expo. I haven't read through the entire thing but it might have some worth while places to check out. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/30788-Coyote-Flat-CA-(5-days)

I read through some of Troy's past planning write ups for this trip and it looks like they were a Thursday night through Sunday trip. While I don't think I can swing that I'm open to a little flexibility.

The below is stolen from Troy's past planning posts. Again it's open to some flexibility as I have never been to Coyote Flats and hoping one of you guys can make it.

**Edit
Coming:
Michael
Sean
Troy
Roy
Rob
JC
Adam

Maybe:
Toyotech



Difficulty:
3.5ish

2M HAM:
UY simplex primary 146.430 MHZ
70CM HAM:
UY/UE simplex secondary 435.000 MHz
Optional Repeaters for meeting up:
146.940- PL 103.5 Bishop repeater
70 cm repeater coverage doesn't appear to be active in the location of this trip. In the past 444.600 was used but it appears to be down. http://n6ov.com/repeater.html

Requirements for bishop start/finish:
-some form of communications other then cell phone
-working reliable truck this is not a recovery run
-food/water/ice chest if needed
-tools
-spare within 3" of your other tires
-31" tires


Recommended:
-3 ply sidewalls and Load range C or better tires for durability.
-flashlights if you want to explore mines
-fishing licence and gear
-"drank" of choice and matching camp chair



Who's in?

[Seanz0rz]

I'm in except for that Big Pine exit route. Nearly dieing once was enough.

[paddlenbike]

I am interested, but it's going to come down to whether or not I can find someone to watch my child for that many consecutive days.

[4x4mike]

Great. Sean do you have a .gpx of the route you guys like? Or does it need to be edited to remove the Big Pine exit?

[Seanz0rz]

I will look when I get home. I know I have at least something.

That road was ok except for one spot where I nearly flopped down a 500 foot mountain side. I texted my wife I loved her just in case. Since it is likely that I will have the Big White Whale on this trip, I'd like to avoid that.

[troyboy162]

agreed on that big pine exit. It was sorta pretty in areas, but who knows how crappy those bad spots are after this past winter.

You guys could see the whole place in two fairly full days id guess. There isnt that many trails unfortunately, but the views are world class.

[Seanz0rz]

I'll fire up Google earth tonight and drop the tracks I have and see where we've been and what was worth it.

[4x4mike]

Thanks Sean, that will help. Troy had a map in a planning post from years back but it's hard to make it all out especially since I'm not familiar with the area.

Troy, are you able to make the trip?

[Seanz0rz]

Looks like I don't have any recorded tracks. I thought I did. I do have the planning tracks but they need some cleanup. I'll get to them maybe next week.

I put in for Thursday and Friday. Goal I think is to make it up there for Thursday night. Even if you guys aren't there it would be awesome for us to have a day extra up there. We REALLY need a vacation!

[Savage Off-Road]

It's a crazy time at work for me (Shawna), but I'm not saying no. I'll see if we can make it happen.

[4x4mike]

Okay great. If I got there on Thursday it would be really late. I'm not sure if that's better or early on Friday. From my house to Bishop is about 4.5 hours.

Roy, it would be great to see you guys.

[Savage Off-Road]

We are 90% in. Sean's going to beat us on bringing his land yacht. Ours will be in a million pieces by then. Sean - we need to get together soon...let's armor that bad boy up.

The FJ40 might dislocate my spine before I got to Bishop, so it'll probably be the trusty Gen 3.

- Roy

[Seanz0rz]

My spine is already falling apart. Not sure what vehicle we're taking but we'll get together soon.

[rockalot]

Damn wish I could go, been watching since last years trip but Vegas To Reno is the following week

[troyboy162]

I should be able to but its all work dependent now and forever is seems :/

[Seanz0rz]

I fully expect to see you with a jar of cherries.

[troyboy162]

I still have the same jar...tempted to try some black berries or something this go around lol

[Seanz0rz]

Those would be so much better!

[Seanz0rz]

No need to bring firewood on this trip. I suspect wood fires will be banned by then anyway. I'll bring the propane campfire.

Looks like we will be in the 4runner for this trip.

[toyotech]

Interested!!

[RobG]

I would like to go. That weekend is clear right now for me so if you are taking old fat guys that don't post often because they know nothing about 3rd gen error codes count me in.

[Savage Off-Road]

So...if we were going to get a hotel Thursday night we'd get one in Big Pine? Bishop?

[Seanz0rz]

Bishop.

That reminds me that I need to get on those tracks! I'm doing early start at work and working for 2 other people. I'm smoked. Or fried. Something like that.

[troyboy162]

or you could just ask me for the tracks since you know I have all of southern Kalifornia for the most part : P

[Seanz0rz]

I have the ones from last year. Just trying to figure out where was good and where was not.

Did you record track of last year?

[troyboy162]

no tracks, just got all the trails up there.

[Seanz0rz]

Looking through the trails from Troy, there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. I might add some directions to the map via pins but nothing more.

How many do we have onboard?

Lexi and I are a go.
Savage offroad is high confidence
Mike is coming.
another person is a 50%

who else?

[troyboy162]

I'm gonna be a maybe now. I've got to make something and test the hell out of it before I can take that truck on trips

[slimscherer]

I'd love to go, and am a big "maybe". I'd already asked for the time off work, and you know how questionable that can be. It was initially the first weekend of our Glacier trip, but if Erin's ok with me using the first 3 days of our vacation, or I can extend it, and get it off, I'm in. That does not sound optimistic, does it? :)

[paddlenbike]

I am a maybe; working on the daycare situation, which is complicated by the fact that I am doing Whitney the following weekend and will be away yet again.

[troyboy162]

I'm back to a go : ) Truck will be driving to Pismo this weekend as a test run of the new fuel system. Its not even together yet, but...
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/98/f8/a2/98f8a274cf7f64a3fc28cec1a8f60c9b.jpg

[Savage Off-Road]

Savage/Lewis fam is a go.

[Savage Off-Road]

As a side note...we will be doing a Big Bear day run soon to play with my GPS system that is on the way. It will not be hard...will probably include the newly reopened 2N13C up to the fire lookout.

[Seanz0rz]

I'm down for Big Bear. I have some welding to do this weekend. After that it's just packing up stuff.

[4x4mike]

Thanks for all the replys and the trail work Sean and Troy. I've been in Alaska for nearly the past two weeks and haven't had much time or internet to do any planning. Once I get these kids to sleep and my wife gets home I'll fire up the dropbox and BCN and check out the trails.

I haven't done anything to my 4Runner except put gas in it for the past year so I hope it's all together and ready for the trip. As it is I probably shouldn't touch it just to make sure.

I'll update the front page with the following:

Coming-
Me (maybe +dependent)
Sean +1
Troy
Roy +1
Rob

Maybe-
Adam
Ken
Toyotech

[4x4mike]

I forget now. Did you guys have any luck fishing? Is it worth taking a pole?

[troyboy162]

The first year it was awesome at rocky bottom lake. The next time we went that lake was gone. Green lake should be good and Baker is supposed to be good as well.

[cplvc]

I might be able to make this. Is the list closed?
Jc

[4x4mike]

The list isn't closed, we'll just be a big group.

Troy and Sean, are you aware of any restrictions like in the NP's about needing a permit for large groups? What about potential camp spots? Will they fit as many rigs as we might have coming?

[troyboy162]

Its national forest up there. This is all I could google. Short answer is <75 people, no permit needed
http://www.fs.fed.us/specialuses/special_non_com_uses.shtml#sp-noncom-a

camping is all wide open up there. Its more field then forest. I would be hard to think of a spot that couldn't handle 10 trucks

[4x4mike]

Okay thanks.

[4x4mike]

Alright guys, with the trip date approaching I've had a bit more time to start planning (looking into) specifics. Actually all I came up with was more questions but that's what planning is all about.

In past posts here and on Expo it appears that traveling and arriving at camp on Thursday is best in order to capture all this area has to offer. I'm down for Thursday night travel and waking up on trail. What about you guys? If that is the case is Funnel Lake the desired location for Camp 1?

Troy's past event report planned for Thursday night travel, Friday morning hanging out and continuing on the trail around noon. I'm cool with this and it allows those that leave on Friday or from Bishop time to meet up. Paddlenbike and his BIL plan to leave home on Friday and with a planned route of travel can meet us on trail.

How does all this sound?

[Savage Off-Road]

We will be driving up Thursday night and probably camping that night wherever you tell us to be.

[paddlenbike]

I am about 75% sure I can go, but leaving Sac area around 7:00am on Friday is the soonest I can get out of town. (That would put me in Bishop a little after noon.) It sounds like the wheeling is not difficult, so I would be okay with meeting you guys on the trail, if that's a possibility given the distances being traveled.

[4x4mike]

We will be driving up Thursday night and probably camping that night wherever you tell us to be.

I'm not calling this my trip and am open to anything. Like I said, I've never been up there and have been relying on the knowledge of others. If we can pencil out a plan with approximate times we can plan to meet in Bishop and go in together. Otherwise pre-plan, less pencil and more ink, a route of travel to ensure we all end up where we say we will be. I'm fine with camping at Funnel Lake on Thursday night. The GPS route Sean emailed shows two paths to Funnel Lake so having a game plan before the start would be nice considering we have people meeting at different times.

One of Troy's last trips was as follows:

-Thursday night travel to Funnel Lake.

-Friday. Hang out at the lake and roll out at noon.

-Saturday. Visit Baker Lake and hike/explore. Camp at Baker.

-Sunday. Wheel out towards Big Pine.

[Seanz0rz]

I'll get you guys more info tomorrow. Basically the southern route to funnel lake, excellent camping there Thursday night. We will be up there Thursday afternoon. Just a reminder, it is like 2 hours from bishop to funnel lake.

[troyboy162]

I will probably head up thur night so I can take my time getting up in there. The drive from bishop to funnel lake is longer then it looks.
The two routes into Funnel are pretty equal time wise and difficulty. Both are probably the hardest trails up there surprisingly. When I took the northern route is seemed like it was less used then the southern one.

meeting on the trail is defiantly doable. The two high altitude trips(green lake or Schriber mine) go in and out on the same trail so your destine to be bumper to bumper at some point.

Edit: dont worry about too much about set plans up there. If you get to 11k feet and it feels like miller time, then its miller time lol. If you get to green lake and it feels like the afternoon would be better spent swimming(its cold lol) and fishing, then its time for that too. If you go up high, see funnel lake, baker creek, and the view of the glacier, then you've done coyote flats.

[4x4mike]

So I take it Northern and Southern are as shown below? And they meet at the same place/camp? Unlike the not-so-much route. On the google it doesn't look like the NSM route is continuous to the the camp area.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--RHNLD0uhAQ/V5ZsX1HKS0I/AAAAAAABMHA/ezI2MpWHrbgh0X4ll2wo-TOZ1LMD1L4eQCCo/s800/Presentation1.jpg


My meeting time on Thursday is somewhat flexible. As it gets near, if we throw out some times it would be nice to try to meet up to get in.

[troyboy162]

correct on the north south routes and the NSM route. I took the north route last time trying to make up time late at night and it was not a time saver. The NSM route just dead ends at a switchback mine road and overlooks rocky bottom lake.

[slimscherer]

I'm in, but working late on Thursday. I'll either switch it up with someone, or if not, caravan with Ken or something early Friday morning.

[Jaydee914]

As I remember, the north route to Funnel Lake seemed a lot rockier. I'd suggest the southern route in.
Bummed I'm not going to make it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[04 Rocko Taco]

Someday I WILL get my rig out west, and I am going to make you guys take me EVERYWHERE.

[troyboy162]

Back to big maybe... FOA sent shock shafts that are a inch too long. I ordered a 12.5" and got a 13.5". Now I see that there website is messed up and it doesn't really give you the dimensions.
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160802_171255464_zpslencrdeb.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww234/troyboy162/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160802_173800_zpskof5un6i.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

When I buy a lathe you're welcome to bring those over and we could turn them down. I'm sure you'll still be screwing with these things for the next few years.

[troyboy162]

haha thanks! it was only $600 more for ADS shocks when I went long travel. If I had done that upgrade I wouldn't need to rebuild them for another couple years probably. This is the third time i've torn down the front shocks and the second set of front shocks ive had lol.

[paddlenbike]

I will unfortunately have to drop from this trip due to lack of child care options.

[4x4mike]

Back to big maybe...

That sucks man. Are your current shafts no good? Hope you can make it.

[4x4mike]

I will unfortunately have to drop from this trip due to lack of child care options.

Bummer. There will always be more trips.

[troyboy162]

That sucks man. Are your current shafts no good? Hope you can make it.

I've got one toasted shaft and the other is so-so. Working with MCMFab today to get some correct ones. FOA blew me off on the phone since they are custom sized and told me to go through MCM. I might be driving to Vegas this afternoon since I already took the day off in hopes the 12.5" shafts listed on FOA's website were available. 12.5" are custom only even though thats the default length shown on the website lol...what a mess.

[Savage Off-Road]

We are heading out Thursday for sure, camping at Funnel Lake. Does anyone want to meet up for lunch in Big Pine and hit the trail together?

[Seanz0rz]

We might be up there that early. It's a bit too soon to tell for us. I'm sure it depends alot on how much stuff I can get done this weekend.

[Savage Off-Road]

Keep us updated - we are flexible on time.


We might be up there that early. It's a bit too soon to tell for us. I'm sure it depends alot on how much stuff I can get done this weekend.

[cplvc]

I'm planning to arrive in Bishop Thursday night. I'll probably stay in a hotel that night and drive up the trail on Friday morning. Since I'm not familiar with the trail and I'll have my BIL and my nephew with me. Anyone coming in Friday morning?

Sean, it'll take two hours to make it up the trail? If I plan on meeting up Friday say around 10:30am...is funnel lake area my best option or another spot?

[RobG]

I'm still in, really looking forward to it. I have a class Thursday night that I would like to go to so I plan on leaving early Friday Morning but that could change to Thursday morning if work goes anything like today.

I will probably bring 1 friend and maybe a dog or 2 if I can get my air conditioning fixed this week and that is OK. Any idea what the temperature will be like up there?

Be great if someone could send me the tracks so I can get an idea of the area.

Fires allowed or are there restrictions?

[Seanz0rz]

Temperatures in Bishop Thursday thru Sunday: 88-93 Highs, 53-53 Lows. Bishop is approximately 4k feet above sea level, we will be 10k feet above sea level. General rule is -4 degrees / 1k feet. We should expect temps about 24 degrees lower. I'd say High should be around 70-75 and lows in the 30-40 range.

We'll come up with a meetup spot for Friday Morning. The road up is not bad but take it slow. There are also not alot of off shoots, but GPS is highly recommended.

I'm hoping to have my Mobile Ham unit up and running so I will have the transmit power.

No wood fires. I am bringing a propane campfire. You also need one of these: http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/ takes 5 minutes: watch a short video and answer 8 questions, print out the permit and keep it in your vehicle.

[RobG]

Thanks Sean,

Fire permit sure has changed a lot since the last time I got one. Printed and in the truck.

So you are taking the 100 on this trip?

[Seanz0rz]

No. She needs wheel bearings and tires, at least. I am pretty confident (66.67% (yes, two decimal places!)) in it making a Pismo appearance though. Maybe even with some cool stuff...

[cplvc]

Thanks Sean! I have the fire permit. Looking forward to this. I'll be listening on UY simplex primary 146.430MHZ. I plan to bring a couple of GPS devices so I'm hoping I'll find you guys. I'll keep an eye on this thread till Friday morning.

[Seanz0rz]

Sounds good. I am having a difficult time getting the tracks to display on my tablet. I'll have to fight with it some more. If you are using the ones I sent, double check that they work. I have the track to thrusdays night camp but that's it.

[cplvc]

I checked them on Google maps and they came up but I'll check them on the GPS device this weekend and confirm.

[Seanz0rz]

Finally got them to display. I am not sure what I did wrong or different this time, but it works...

[cplvc]

Great...the points and tracks came up fine on my GPS devices as well.

[Seanz0rz]

good! it should look something like this: http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?10894-August-12-14-2016-Coyote-Flats-Planning&p=116354&viewfull=1#post116354

[4x4mike]

You guys are getting an early start. I'll be on the road from my house at 6pm and will beat feet down there. The google says about 4.5 hours to Bishop where I'll grab some gas and hit the trail. I'm already packed so all I have to do is add ice and survive until Thursday.

I'll be monitoring 146.430 and hope to see everyone soon.

[4x4mike]

Be great if someone could send me the tracks so I can get an idea of the area.



Rob, did you get the tracks?

[cplvc]

Yes they look like the picture.

good! it should look something like this: http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?10894-August-12-14-2016-Coyote-Flats-Planning&p=116354&viewfull=1#post116354

[Seanz0rz]

I sent Rob my tracks. If anyone else needs them, let me know and I will send them out.

[RobG]

Thanks to Sean I am good on the tracks.

I am either driving up late Thursday evening and camping/sleeping somewhere near Ridgecrest or leaving Early Thursday morning with the plan to meet up in Bishop with the main group. I should have that figured out by tomorrow evening.

If there is time for fishing I might pick up a license. I'm not very experienced at freshwater fishing, can someone recommend something in the way of bait or lures to bring?

I am thinking of bringing one of my dogs is that OK? They are both very friendly and well socialized.

I don't do much Sierra camping outside of campgrounds, any special precautions that need to be followed for food storage? I assume there are bears in the area.

Thanks

[4x4mike]

I'm bringing a fly and spinning combo. Between the two I'm sure I'll be able to scare off most fish. Lures and bait vary from location to location as well as species (color, size, etc). Since these are most likely planters I'm bringing smaller spinning lures, maybe a bobber and some powerbait. Fly wise small bugs, ants, etc. Since these lakes look pretty small I think I'll stick to top water and see how it goes.

As far as food storage goes I usually throw beef jerky under the rig of the new guy and keep my stuff in the truck. I don't think there are too many trees to hang food but I've never had too much of a problem.

[RobG]

As far as food storage goes I usually throw beef jerky under the rig of the new guy and keep my stuff in the truck. I don't think there are too many trees to hang food but I've never had too much of a problem.

That's pretty funny. Luckily my dogs love beef jerky.

Thanks for the fishing scoop, I think I will invest $50 in something other than a finish license.

[4x4mike]

In the past Troy said the fishing was good and that they were catching them. Our mileage may very but I'm bringing my stuff since I'm licensed up.

[Seanz0rz]

Friday morning meet up spot will be 37°14'37.80"N 118°29'36.26"W. This is the T-intersection before you cross the creek.

https://goo.gl/maps/c331mgzV8uu

[cplvc]

Sounds good Sean. I'll try to be there as early Friday as possible. We're staying in Bishop Thursday night.

Friday morning meet up spot will be 37°14'37.80"N 118°29'36.26"W. This is the T-intersection before you cross the creek.

https://goo.gl/maps/c331mgzV8uu

[4x4mike]

Friday morning meet up spot will be 37°14'37.80"N 118°29'36.26"W. This is the T-intersection before you cross the creek.


Thank you Sean. I plan to be at Funnel Lake Thursday night but is there an estimated time for this meet up Friday morning?

[Seanz0rz]

I'd say 9? If you are there earlier go ahead and come on towards funnel lake.

[RobG]

Sorry if I am a little slow, but I'm a little slow.

Where and about when are you meeting Thursday? Do we just head to funnel lake?

If meeting Friday morning it would be best to come in off west line street and head south on the trail to the meeting point?

I won't know until the end of the day tomorrow if I need to work Thursday or not. My preference is to plan to be up in Bishop by Noon on Thursday, but if I have to work it will be 9AM at the meeting point.

[Seanz0rz]

Funnel Lake is the planned spot for Thursday meetup.

Best place to start is off of Line St. There's a whole bunch of ways to get to the start of the dirt road but that is the most straight forward.

[Savage Off-Road]

Can you send those tracks to me too?

good! it should look something like this: http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?10894-August-12-14-2016-Coyote-Flats-Planning&p=116354&viewfull=1#post116354

[Seanz0rz]

Tracks sent.

Truck is mostly packed. I will get the final bit in the morning.

It's been a long time since I've stuffed that much stuff in the 4runner!

[4x4mike]

Truck is packed and ready to go, just have to work all day. See you all tonight. Safe travels.

[paddlenbike]

Have fun guys. I'm totally bummed I can't make it.

[Seanz0rz]

Just made it to bishop. See y'all soon. And Ken, your absence will be felt deeply. And I didn't even try to make that dirty.

[troyboy162]

https://i.imgflip.com/18sv9h.jpg (https://imgflip.com/i/18sv9h)via Imgflip Meme Generator (https://imgflip.com/memegenerator)

[4x4mike]

Sorry you couldn't make it Troy. For some reason I thought you had your shocks back together.

[4x4mike]

That road was ok except for one spot where I nearly flopped down a 500 foot mountain side.


agreed on that big pine exit. It was sorta pretty in areas, but who knows how crappy those bad spots are after this past winter.



You know how you're not always supposed to believe everything you read online? Yeah, I should have believed the above (and also taken into consideration Sean's words before he left). After dinner around a mug of whiskey we kind of talked/I pitched the Big Pine exit. Yes it was pretty but then it got kind of life altering scary. I'll let the boys post up pictures but I (lead runner) got hung up on the second obstacle (after the three diamond, Most Difficult sign). It didn't look really bad but there was no getting through let alone 4 rigs. I'm thinking it was about two hours before we got pointed towards the Bishop exit.

I'm not sure what it used to look like but it was too narrow for even my 4Runner. That combined with the off camber, sand and canyon we made the easy decision to back off. The decision was easy but getting me off the rock pile took a lot of help and I owe a big one to Roy, Adam and Rob.

Thanks guys for a fun trip. I'll dig through my photos and GPS tonight and post up in the trip report.

[Jaydee914]

Can't wait to see some pics and hear more of the Big Pine story. Bummed I missed this trip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[troyboy162]

You know how you're not always supposed to believe everything you read online? Yeah, I should have believed the above (and also taken into consideration Sean's words before he left). After dinner around a mug of whiskey we kind of talked/I pitched the Big Pine exit. Yes it was pretty but then it got kind of life altering scary. I'll let the boys post up pictures but I (lead runner) got hung up on the second obstacle (after the three diamond, Most Difficult sign). It didn't look really bad but there was no getting through let alone 4 rigs. I'm thinking it was about two hours before we got pointed towards the Bishop exit.

I'm not sure what it used to look like but it was too narrow for even my 4Runner. That combined with the off camber, sand and canyon we made the easy decision to back off. The decision was easy but getting me off the rock pile took a lot of help and I owe a big one to Roy, Adam and Rob.

Thanks guys for a fun trip. I'll dig through my photos and GPS tonight and post up in the trip report.

oh man sounds just like what we went through that day. Those few spots in there are completely unforgiving and hard to recover from.