Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-27-2011, 05:47 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 45
Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Sportsmobile sales guy Nick and I decided to introduce our girlfriends to some boon dock camping SMB style over the 4th of July weekend 2011. We took a EB-50 4x4 up into the Sierras to see what type of trouble we could get into. Thanks to Dave Boyer for the great tips on some Sierra Mountain dirt roads! We took his suggestion on a road and drove down it to find a spot to camp. Note: The GF anxiety was pretty high as she is a master planner and we had no plans for a final destination

We ended up taking a dirt road just past the Dinkey Creek campgrounds near Shaver Lake, CA. After turning on the main road towards Wishon and Courtright we took the dirt road up from Camp Fresno. We stayed on this road for about 45 minutes until it stopped. There it turned into a smaller Jeep type of trail...just big enough for the SMB to tackle. At the end of this trail, we found our camp.


There was a river running down below our campsite


Nick and I convinced the girls to hike down to the river and eat lunch there. It was more of a sketchy slide down than a hike, but it was going to be totally worth it right girls?!


The water was pumping! There was a killer waterfall putting off a nice cool mist


We had lunch on the river bank just below the waterfall




After lunch it was time for the trek back up


"Okay, Okay, you were right...this was a bad idea" Yes, that was me talking to the GF. The hike back up SUCKED! It was more of free climb than anything. If you weren't strategic with your foot placement, you might end up back at the bottom in a matter of seconds. Aubrey was sure to make me aware of this and the danger that we would be in if somebody got hurt. About an hour later we made it to the top panting and cursing. It was definitely beer:30 according to my watch!

Am I glad we made the hike down? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I tell my GF that I was going again? NO! So I obviously wasn't going back down the following morning to try and land some of those Rainbow Trout I saw in the crystal clear water.

We ended up with a beautiful scene as the sun went down during dinner.


The following morning we decided to find a new spot to camp a little closer to a fishing hole.
A deer was there in camp to see us off.


After getting some ice at the Dinkey Creek store, we were advised to check out a place called Ross Crossing below Dinkey Creek. This was about a 45 Minute drive down a dirt logging road. There were some primitive sites down by the water and there was only one other guy there fishing.


The water was running pretty good there as well. It was a perfect little spot to drop a pole in the water.


Aubrey scored her first rainbow trout that afternoon!


There were some cool waterfalls coming into the creek just above the campsite.


All in all we had a blast! The girls loved the trip and are now totally sold on the boon dock camping idea. They also loved the Trasharoo!


As you all know, this just leaves us itching to do it all over again!

-Jonny

Jonny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2011, 07:13 PM   #2
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,177
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Jonny,

Sounds like a lousy job you have there, having to take a company business trip over the 4th of July weekend. You better complain to your boss.


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2011, 10:38 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 989
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Thanks for the trip report and great pictures as well. Just one question. Who's SMB build did you take on the trip before delivering it to them?
__________________
2007 Ford RB Diesel SMB 4x4 Pueblo Gold; Custom configuration (aisle layout); PIAA 580 driving lights; Picked up on Oct 19, 2007.
sdwindansea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2011, 09:24 AM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 45
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Ya...working holiday weekends is tough Herb. The boss here is a real slave driver!

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdwindansea
Thanks for the trip report and great pictures as well. Just one question. Who's SMB build did you take on the trip before delivering it to them?
I think it might be a good idea to do a shake down run with all new SMBs rolling out of here! jk

-Jonny
Jonny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2011, 04:17 PM   #5
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Glad you were able to get in there. I wondered about the snow on the upper roads and was hopeing I didn't send you on a wild goose chase. With this years snow, many trails are really messed up.

BTW, Did you look at the link I sent you? Dinkey is one hell of a kayak run.

Dinkey Creek
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2011, 04:47 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pleasant Hill, CA
Posts: 33
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Jonny, when are we gunna see that giant pumpkin in action??!!

Yeah, snow has been NUTS!! started in on Rubicon late June from Tahoe side and didn't even get to Miller Lake, only 2.5 miles in and we were stopped by snow. Everyone was driving around on 50 and entering other side.

Great report, great pics!!

-Chuck
__________________
2011 E-350RB V10
Front & Rear ARB Lockers
Atlas 2sp 3.8:1
Warn 12K
Extreme Air Mag
goblue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2011, 02:47 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 45
Re: Mini Trip Report - 4th of July weekend in the Sierras

Quote:
Originally Posted by goblue
Jonny, when are we gunna see that giant pumpkin in action??!!
We should have "La Naranja" wrapped up in a few weeks. I'll definitely post some pictures when it is complete.

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
Glad you were able to get in there. I wondered about the snow on the upper roads and was hopeing I didn't send you on a wild goose chase. With this years snow, many trails are really messed up.

BTW, Did you look at the link I sent you? Dinkey is one hell of a kayak run.

Dinkey Creek
Dave, we did run into some snow on one of the roads. We turned back, found a different road and ended up in a great spot. That kayak video is wild!

-Jonny
Jonny is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:29 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.