Rowher Flats on 6/4??

[90xj4x4]

Im going to head up to Rowher Flat on Saturday the 4th to go wheelin, is anyone interested in tagging along??

-Brent

 

[cracker]

I might go if anyone wants to potentially tow me around if I get stuck (I only have two wheel low right now but I am locked).


Are you thinking the Overlook trail or the Rohwer trail? Is the backside open yet?

-Cracker

 

[casm]

I might go if anyone wants to potentially tow me around if I get stuck (I only have two wheel low right now but I am locked).

Sure, as long as I can get in and out of where your lockers that I don't have got you

Are you thinking the Overlook trail or the Rohwer trail? Is the backside open yet?

I learned the hard way last year that stock vehicles are totally unsuited for the lower bits of Rowher. Bypassing the really rough stuff wouldn't be a problem, though. Definitely interested; is this a day run? Any ideas on starting times?

 

[Appleseed]

I think I'm in. Not locked tho-

 

[90xj4x4]

I've run the Rowher trail many times when my XJ was completely stock w/ street tires. I Dis-connected the front sway bar and aired down my tires and it was no problem. Ive got the factory trac-loc in the rear which helps alot,but you just have to pick the easier lines. Its still fun in built rigs.

I dont mind dragging you around either cracker as long as you've got front tow points.

I usually run rowher from bouquet cyn up. I have never tried the Overlook trail (is that the same as the lookout trail?) but am up for anything. I have to tow my rig out there on a trailer because it isnt street legal due to the accident, so parking the tow rig may be a problem on the Lake side of Rowher. If it isnt illegal to do that then maybe we could run up Rowher to the OHV area and then Lookout (or Overlook?) back down? Let me know what you guys think.

Maybe we could meet at the dennys off of Sand Canyon off the 14 at say 8:30am? then wea can head out at 9am so all of the stragglers will be able to join us. Let me know if you guys are all cool with that.

-Brent

 

[livewire]

I might be able to go sat. where is everyone meeting?

 

[casm]

I've run the Rowher trail many times when my XJ was completely stock w/ street tires. I Dis-connected the front sway bar and aired down my tires and it was no problem. Ive got the factory trac-loc in the rear which helps alot,but you just have to pick the easier lines. Its still fun in built rigs.

I'm in the same boat mechanically right down to the LSD, but the issue seemed to be less with picking lines per se as being able to maintain control downhill with limited articulation. At the lime (March '04), the lower half of the trail had ruts that would high-center a stock XJ without any trouble (found that out the hard way trying to get down to Bouquet), and without anything in the way of a bypass without driving off-trail through scrub brush.

It's also possible that I took an offshoot that wasn't on Rowher proper and got into something out of my depth; my sense of direction really sucks. But, looking at this trail report, I seem to remember that it was a point downhill from 6N07 where I got hung up: in line with the direction of travel, the trail was cut into the hillside to a depth of four to five feet in places and the ruts were seriously deep.

I have never tried the Overlook trail (is that the same as the lookout trail?) but am up for anything.

Probably - I've only ever heard of Lookout up there, so could be some name confusion. FWIW, there's a map here that might help a bit.

Maybe we could meet at the dennys off of Sand Canyon off the 14 at say 8:30am? then wea can head out at 9am so all of the stragglers will be able to join us. Let me know if you guys are all cool with that.

Sounds good to me. Are we on?

 

[Appleseed]

Cool. Unless something comes up at work, I'm in.

 

[90xj4x4]

Im planning on it. Lets go with the Dennys spot at 8:30 on Sat.

I heard from someone that the trail might be closed on the backside. Does anyone know anything about it? It would be good to know for sure before we go.

Does everyone have a CB? I have one in my tow rig and my Jeep so I will be available on CH. 5.

Lookin foward to wheelin!!

-Brent

 

[cracker]

The backside has been closed since the last BIG rain. I used to go there twice a week until they closed the backside and really haven't been there since we discovered the closure. I was hoping someone knew if it had been re-opened. The backside is where all the fun stuff is.Cracker

 

[90xj4x4]

That sucks. Is there a way to find out for sure when it will re-open? We could always start in the park and go down the backside if it is only closed at the bouquet entrance? I am assuming theat it is only the Rowher trail. We could do the lookout trail I guess. Ive never run that one so someone else may want to lead it.
-Brent

 

[casm]

That sucks. Is there a way to find out for sure when it will re-open?

Best bet is to call the Saugus Ranger District and ask. 661 296 9710.

We could always start in the park and go down the backside if it is only closed at the bouquet entrance?

OK, think about this for a second... We'll assume for right now that the trail really is closed - and you want to run it anyway? a) that's going to piss off the rangers (who are usually crawling all over the place at weekends); b) just because you can use gravity to help you go down it doesn't mean that you necessarily *should*. If it's not open, it's not open, and there's other stuff to run.

8.30am at Denny's sounds good, though.

 

[90xj4x4]

Ill give them a call tomorrow and check. If the trail is really closed then they should have both ends closed off. They may just not want people to run up off of Bouquet.

The last thing I want to do is Piss off the rangers and give 4-wheelers an even worse image than we already have.

We can still plan on doing the Lookout trail. Ive never run it personally, but unless someone else would like to, I can lead the trail.

 

[casm]

Ill give them a call tomorrow and check. If the trail is really closed then they should have both ends closed off. They may just not want people to run up off of Bouquet.

*Nod* understood. I should've given the background on why I fixated on that... Last weekend out at Calico, I got seriously chewed out by a ranger (managed to avoid the ticket, though) after passing a 'No Motorised Vehicles' sign going into a mostly-empty campground. The sign faced onto the campground, so I couldn't read it from my direction of travel - and there were no signs that I passed telling me not to go out that way. Really annoying; just wanted to avoid having the same thing happen. Sorry if I came off sounding like an ass about it; having re-read what I wrote I realise I was kinda abrupt.

The last thing I want to do is Piss off the rangers and give 4-wheelers an even worse image than we already have.

Just remember that at Rowher they almost *want* you to piss them off - writing tickets seems to be one of their favourite pastimes up there.

We can still plan on doing the Lookout trail. Ive never run it personally, but unless someone else would like to, I can lead the trail.

Sounds good. I think I've run it, but lacking a decent map of Rowher here I'm kinda screwed to give a definite answer on that. If you wanna lead, though, that's fine by me... Always good for the guy in the stock vehicle to be able to see how difficult it's getting for the modified ones

 

[90xj4x4]

Ok I just called the Ranger station and the lady said that it has been open for the last week or so. I guess they get updates on the openings and closures on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. the info that she had was good until today. they should be getting an update tomarrow so I will call back then. I will keep you all updated.

Casm- No worries. Its hard to tell emotion on a computer screen.

Is anyone trailering their rig up there? I am because my whole front clip is bent up from an accident so I took it off (no grille bumper fender or lights). So therefore I need to park my tow rig and trailer somewhere ( in the park?) where we will start and end. (sorry to be a pain)

 

[90xj4x4]

Called the ranger station again today, got the green flag!!

So who all is coming?
Casm?
Cracker?
Appleseed?
Livewire?

Im trying to get a couple more guys that I know locally to go. One has an XJ and One has a TJ (yeah I know)

 

[casm]

So who all is coming?
Casm?

Still planning on it... 8.30 at the Denny's, right?

 

[90xj4x4]

Thats right! I will be in the dark red truck with the red trailer with a white XJ on it (pretty hard to miss). who else??

-Brent

 

[cracker]

Oof. I am still debating. You'll have to drag me everywhere since I only have 2wd low for now. (I am working on my HP44 front and had to sell everything in my front axle to make $ for the build up). My rear ARB should help but...we'll see.

-Cracker

 

[90xj4x4]

Its your call. Its a fairly moderate trail but if our locked and have a heavy foot you should be alright with a little yank every now and then. The trail would be too boring If we didnt have to yank anyone around!!

-Brent