On weekend Oct 27-28 we were exploring the El Paso mountains in SoCal. This is the southern edge of Sierra. The mountains are dry and low, with relatively shallow canyons. This is a very large area, with many OHV trails around. There is no water in dry season. The plants are small and rare. Technically, this is a part of Mojave large desert area. This is a good place to escape the office culture and the fires in South California.

The trails are mostly easy, but there are some little challenges. The most interesting challenge is The Narrows, where the canyon narrows to almost car width, with very uneven surface. An average stock vehicle would damage the rocker panels or the side steps, and the long-wheel-base vehicles can suffer some body panels damage if the driver is not careful. But for a modest lifted SUV there is nothing difficult in the Narrows.

The pictures are below:

Airing down the tires before the trail:



Rare view: two Axioms together on a trail !




A local affordable housing project:



Alex (the doggy) inspects the vehicles. The Jeep Liberty did not pass the inspection, and they had to turn around.




The group before the Narrows:



Lena is checking the Narrows:




The main obstacle:




Brad is applying his driving skills to the Narrows:



Brad's done:



Vlad squeezing his Trooper into the canyon. The guy behind the Trooper is Jason: we met him on the trail, he has a nice trail-beaten Land Cruiser in 100 or 120 body. He gave me a good book about the local historical places and trails.



Tippy Trooper:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image11.jpg[/img]

Native folks of Goler Gulch:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image12.jpg[/img]

El Paso mountains:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image13.jpg[/img]

Oxana & Alex: lost in space:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image14.jpg[/img]

The campsite:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image15.jpg[/img]

Lena is trying to shoot something eatable for the dinner:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image16.jpg[/img]

Vlad is a Ukrainian, this explains a lot:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image17.jpg[/img]

The canyon and the camp:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image18.jpg[/img]

Canyon:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image19.jpg[/img]

Canyon in the early morning, the moon is still visible:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image20.jpg[/img]

Morning:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image21.jpg[/img]

Camp in the morning:

[img]http://www.geocities.com/olegmoskalenko/GolerGulch2007/Image22.jpg[/img]

Great pictures! Do you think a stock 2nd Gen Rodeo could make this trail with no problems?

the rock panels on the 2 gen Rodeo are hanging too low (I had one, I know this vehicle very well). With a VERY good driver, it may be possible, but this will require a good experienced spotter too. I'd suggest getting at least 2" lift and the rock sliders before going there. In my Axiom, I was just driving straight, using my rock sliders to get over the canyon rocks. Good articulation and a locker are very helpful there, when you are not choosing the best line.

I am NOT a very good driver, and I know that in a stock 2 gen Rodeo I'd damage the body panels. But somebody else may be able to do this.

Here is the digital/color version of the story:

Goler Gulch

Thanks for the info! I just recently got into this sport and I've been trying to find some "entry" level trails around San Diego to try out but no luck yet. Your photos make it look like so much fun. One question I have is from the first couple pics, the path looks like just mild dirt road. Do you switch to 2wd when the road is mild or do you leave it in 4wd the whole time?

When the road is an easy fast dirt road, I am switching to 4 TOD (this is unlocked 4WD). In your Rodeo, you do not have 4WD unlocked, your central differential is always locked both in 4Hi and in 4Low (part-time 4WD). I'd use 4Hi in your case when you are on a fast easy dirt road.

Fantastic photos Oleg. Thanks for sharing. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Alwatys great pics from you Oleg. Two Axioms on the same trail is a rare sight to behold.

I wish my name was Vlad. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> You just dont mess with a guy named Vlad especially packing a 30-30 and a sidearm. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for sharing your pics. However, I have to say: Please reduce the size of your pictures so that people don't have to scroll side-to-side to read posts or view pictures, as well as so threads will load much faster and you still get the same message across.

They should be no more than 640 x 480 pixels and less than 100K each. (That's not actually a written rule - just a good rule of thumb). Please re-save the pictures to a smaller size before you post them in a thread.

Thanks!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

that was actually .357 revolver caliber (both the carbine and the revolver). Having both the rifle and the handgun in the same caliber is really convenient <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />