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/showthre...8-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/foru...at-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.

[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.

[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.

[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?