Northern California Rover Club

Northern California Rover Club - Club Calendar

Mud Run - February 21-22, Mendocino National Forest, CA

With the demise of access to the back road from Willits to Ft. Bragg NCRC has used in the past for our annual Mud Run we've been trying to locate a similarly challenging route.

This years Mud Run will travel from Cedar Camp in the Mendocino National Forest to Ukiah, through Mendoncino National Forest. Given the muddy nature of the western side of the forest and the potential for swollen streams this should prove sufficiently challenging.

MEETING POINT:

Cedar Camp in Mendocino National Forest at 10:00am on Saturday the 21 of February; this is when we’ll be leaving. Cedar camp is at UTM: 4346000N; 526000E. The Goat Mtn. Road is apparently closed due to a slide so the best access is probably through Stonyford and up the M5 Alternate: The Nail Track (the large flat area) at Fout Springs (east of the “Youth Facility”). Only meet here if Cedar Camp is inaccessible due to washouts or snow or whatever. Final Possibility: Stonyford Ranger Station parking lot (we will only be meeting here if it’s not possible to get up to either of the above spots. In which case we’ll more than likely just be talking about where the best beer and / or scotch is to be found.)

REQUIREMENTS:

You should have recovery gear in the form of a winch and straps/tackle, an agricultural jack (“Hi-Lift”), and assorted straps and be familiar with their safe use. If you don’t have self recovery equipment such as a winch you MUST have adequate recovery points on your vehicle. If there aren’t sufficient winches in the group we may scrub the trip. Likewise you should have good mud terrain tires. All terrains will rapidly become useless and even dangerous on off camber hilly roads sometimes present in the western part of the forest. Bring enough food and supplies for 3 days. We’ve never been out for 3 days on a mud run but you never know. Be prepared to camp in the rain and mud at the side of the “road”.

Things like chainsaws, saws and psp/mats might be useful. You must pass a basic vehicle safety exam which will focus on brakes, steering and fundamentals. (I know a little about what I’m looking at so make sure it works and is in sound condition :)). You will be required to sign the standard club waiver. If things get ugly or unsafe conditions or people are encountered I will ask them not to participate or cancel the event as appropriate; hopefully that doesn’t happen (it hasn’t yet).

THE ROUTE:

We’ll decide on the actual route when everyone is assembled and conditions and capabilities are judged. The goal is to get to Clear Lake (Ukiah area) by the back roads through the forest. Everyone will follow the same route in convoy.

Generally there’s not much in the way of rough terrain requiring high articulation in Mendocino National forest. The challenges are basically traction or water fording under some conditions. You should be comfortable driving steep trails under loose traction conditions and handling slippery road conditions (mud, snow, loose material) and fording deep streams. Pinstriping is a possibility but most routes we’re likely to take are fairly wide forest roads. Body damage is unlikely but obviously uncontrolled sliding with it’s attendant possibilities cannot be ruled out.

Trail:

When: Meet at 10:00am Saturday, February 21st
Where: Cedar Camp, Mendocino National Forest
Contact: Jeremy Bartlett

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