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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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03/14/2020
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Rating:
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We visited this trail when it had just rained/snowed the prior days. It was pretty much a cake walk except for the 2nd water fall. The ground was muddy and snow was melting and running down the rocks making it very slick. We managed to get our whole group through (3 tacomas, 1 4runner). The switchback that has the deep ruts was interesting because an f350 was high centered but we helped them get through no problem.
The wet weather made the trailer harder which in turn made it much more fun!
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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12/27/2019
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Rating:
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Lots of snow up here. Had a great time making tracks in the fresh powder!
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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12/22/2019
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Rating:
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My brother and I ran this trail backwards on our way out of the Big Bear area and it was a lot of fun. We certainly had to take our time coming down the couple waterfall/ledges and could see it being even more difficult going up them. Overall it was a challenging trail that keeps you on your toes and delivers some great views too.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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11/03/2019
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Rating:
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First rock crawling trail I’ve done. JKUR 3” w 33s. Had a skid system and it’s important to have one because I put some gnar gnar scrapes on it. Recommend putting some lca skids as I folded my rear drivers because I was too lazy to put the skids on before this trip. I used lockers, but probably because I need more trail time. Definitely would recommend for those starting into wheeling in the rocks. Note that the first challenging area there are a couple ways up, they seem to change in difficulty as people probably move the rocks around. For example, the far left side maybe easy one day, but hard the next as someone took the rocks from that side to place underneath their rig to go up the “harder” route. Pick a line that suits you.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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10/01/2019
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Rating:
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As usual photos and videos do not do the trail justice. My group consisted of myself and another experienced driver and 2 beginners, one in a stock JK. For myself and the other experienced driver the trail was very engaging and entertaining. For the 2 beginners along with us this trail may have been almost impassable for them if not for the usaul spotting. Of all the obstacle the second waterfall posed the biggest issues. Attempting to get a stock jeep up the obstacle proved a task. Upon first inspection it appeared as the right line would be more manageable for the stock jeep but after may tries we eventual attached a winch to keep the group moving. But then after guiding several other rigs over the what appeared "harder" line on the left, looking back at the situation with the stock jeep. The "harder" line if done properly would have been the better choice over the deceptive "easy" line on the right.
Overall a great trail.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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09/13/2019
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Rating:
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Against the advice of others and my thrill seeking nature I took my 2011 Tundra DC up to tackle Gold Mountain. I had visited the trail before in my wife's stock 4runner and turned around at the gatekeeper not wanting to have to explain why her rocker panels had new custom bodywork but it looked do-able so I researched like crazy to see if anyone had squeezed a full size through but kept getting mixed reports or just "no, don't do it".
Long story short, you can definitely get a big boy truck through the trail but your rig better be ready for battle. I've got a 2" lift with 35's, White Knuckle sliders and full skids and wouldn't have made it or even attempted to run it stock. First off, for a long truck the sliders are a must and not only prevent body damage but when you get used to pivoting off of them you can use them as a tool instead of just protection. Some parts are tight! I got a few more pinstripes from the narrow trails but I also ran it with a camper shell and awning attached so I needed to take a few sections a bit wider to keep from getting my awning from getting ripped off.
So the verdict is YES you can take a full size through but make sure you've got at least a lift and some sliders because the potential for body damage is real. Oh yeah, ran with open diffs but lockers would have been appreciated, maybe next year...
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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08/31/2019
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Rating:
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This was my first time on a trail with this difficulty, luckily I met up with a group just getting ready to go and they let me follow along. Going with a stock rig made thing more challenging especially on the waterfalls, I would recommend a bit more clearance before attempting, I plan to go again after I do some upgrades. All in all great trail, beautiful views I had a blast
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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07/20/2019
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Rating:
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Great trail, but if you're going on the weekend get there EARLY or get there LATE. It gets insanely crowded. The majority of the trail is pretty moderate, but the two waterfalls are serious business. Unfortunately our lead routed us around the tailings pile, so I can't comment on that. You really should have, at minimum, a small lift and at least one locker for this trail. Otherwise you'll be in for a long day.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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07/13/2019
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Rating:
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Had a ball with the group I was with! My favorite part is the Rock Garden....just sounds so cool and you feel like you are in another universe... (Okay, well at least I do!) Waterfall 1 was more difficult that I remembered (went up stock my first time) and Waterfall 2 was neat! Love that part! Lots of neat places to look at...didnt seem like there were too many places to stop and not be in someones way. It was VERY crowded the day we went, but it was also later in the morning!
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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07/06/2019
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Rating:
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Had a blast today on this trail. Had more issues just past the rock garden then on the water falls.. made it regardless.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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06/10/2019
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Rating:
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Ran the trail with the new JLU, overall we made it with only a little dragging. But the holes have gotten a little deeper which I increased the rating to a 5, meaning a small lift will be required for some ground clearance.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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02/10/2019
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Rating:
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Nice and easy trail for 4wd. Open diffs are ok with a spotter. I did 98% of it in 2 wheel. Lots of traffic on this trail. Fun way to get to John bull if you're headed that way.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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10/08/2018
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Rating:
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Based strictly on the criteria in the ratings descriptions, I think the trail rating should be closer to 6-8 (plenty of spots with minimum 18” ledges, Do NOT attempt stock. Existing rating would be accurate without the waterfalls).
Center line on first waterfall iscurrently the easiest and was no prob with 25psi, but going back down with my 35’s at 12psi caused a lot of dragging.
The 2nd waterfall (uphill) gives no easier way around and is pretty dug out at the bottom. After trying a couple of times, the shadows were getting long, so we turned around. Definately have to give ourselves more time next try. :-))
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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09/22/2018
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Rating:
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Had a great time doing this for the first time. 2018 Ram Power Wagon with White Knuckle rock sliders. Power wagon climbed everything without breaking a sweat. I did come down on the sliders multiple times, they worked like a champ.
Great trail, beautiful scenery. Fun and challenging. Best with buddies.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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07/28/2018
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Rating:
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This is a great trail for newbies who have, at minimum, a 2" lift and rear lockers, and are accompanied by someone experienced on the trail. Newbs will learn about rock crawling and have a lot of fun at the same time. The first obstacle, along the easiest line, has a couple 24-36" shelves, and the second obstacle has lower shelves but is steeper and rockier.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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07/02/2018
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Rating:
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Ran the trail with a larger group... A lot of fun. Surprisingly the trail was torn up a lot from just two weeks before that.
#FalkenTires
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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06/23/2018
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Rating:
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I've never done this trail before and was really excited to cross it off my bucket list. Some of my friends said that it was chewed up, but they hadn't done it in a few years. I sustained a little bit of damage to my left rear quarter panel but other than that, I had no issues. There was a Jeep driver though that broke his rear axle on the 2nd obstacle.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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06/11/2018
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Rating:
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Dropping the rating a little. The main waterfall is easier now.
The middle line is the easiest, while the left is the intermediate line and the right line isn't much harder.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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02/19/2018
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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01/27/2018
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Conditions were amazing, trail was mostly dry with very little traffic
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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01/07/2018
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Rating:
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Gold Mountain is definitely one of my favorite trails. I have done this trail 4 times now. One thing that is unique about Gold Mountain is how much it can change in a short period of time. One trip, the far left line on the first waterfall is the "easy" line, the next trip it might be the hardest, depending on how dug out it is. One thing I like about Gold Mountain is that even though there are really only two main obstacles, plus the rock garden (a must), the majority of the trail will still keep you on your toes, having to pay attention...compared to other trails that might be rated more difficult but really only have 2 spots that are hard with the rest of the trail being easy. This is a great trail when newbies are ready for the "next step up" as it is challenging, but not overly difficult. I completely agree with the current rating of 4-6 out of 10.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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10/16/2017
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We took a trip up to the 1st obstacle or #2 Waterfall to check it out. After reading the report here in T.O. and the assessed difficulty rating of 5-7, I had no intention of running the trail but as a new wheeler I wanted to calibrate myself to the rating system. the trail is marked at the bottom as Black Diamond and arriving in a stock Sahara at the Waterfall my first impressions was "No Way". My riding partner Dennis Clark, an experienced rider and a T.O. official crew member with a built JKU inspected closely on foot the potential paths through the Waterfall. "Not ever" was the verdict for the stock jeep. My feelings were that the 1.25 mile road to the first obstacle was challenging enough as I did scrap and dent the skid platting on the way there. So with that my calibration suggests at my level of experience I would not want to tackle a trail more then about 4 difficulty.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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10/16/2017
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I was house sitting my son's cabin in Big Bear this weekend and invited Robin and his wife up to check out the #1 obstacle on Gold Mountain. Robin is a new wheeler with a new Sahara. My thought was to park him and maybe continue up to the summit before turning around. I ran this trail in 2015 so I was amazed at how tough the trail itself has become in just two years. Arriving at the obstacle and giving it a careful walkover I decided to pass on traveling further without an experienced spotter to guide me through. This is tough!
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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09/14/2017
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Rating:
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Top 5 Hard Trails in Big Bear
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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08/02/2017
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Another great trip up Gold Mnt. Can't wait till the next time.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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05/30/2017
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Full trail video running it backwards
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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03/19/2017
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A little snow on the side of the trail, but mostly dry. We ran the trail, just before John Bull, with my JK and my brothers International Scout.
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Author:
| Official Crew |
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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05/01/2016
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Ran Gold Mountain Backwards. Made for a good day. Trial wasn't to bad. A little torn up from the rains. The slick rock waterfall was very slippery. Besides that, we ran the trail in 45 minutes, so it was pretty navigable.
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Author:
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Status:
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Open
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Offroaded on:
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12/27/2015
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We had a great day out on the trail yesterday, weather was cold as expected and the trail conditions are currently wet, muddy, and about 1-2" of snow in some areas. Most of the melting snow on the trail itself had turned into ice, making going down hill quite interesting to say the least. The hard obstacles had no snow but the rocks were wet and muddy causing a lot of tire spin! Still passable IMO by a relatively stock 4WD vehicle. We had a Wrangler Unlimited with us that only had a 2" lift and slightly bigger than stock tires, by choosing the right lines he was able to get across the entire trail never needing to be pulled, not even stacking rocks. The bigger built rigs still had fun by choosing more difficult lines up the same obstacles. Visibility was amazing due to recent high winds that cleared out the smog in the distance and we were able to get some great views on our way up the switch backs.
