Video is UP !!
https://vimeo.com/63956618
or youtube
http://youtu.be/zjcaTBkjZWU
Definately wanted to avoid looking like this guy.....not to mention the small heart attack he must of had. It was scary but I managed to get thru there okay. I did almost crap my pants....that was the one time not having a spotter freaked me out.
http://youtu.be/HvWdkEXKNJo
**********
On my way back from Las Vegas for NAB convention after having already Just done the Mojave Road........ I decided to accept the adventure and challenge that would be to try a famous Odessa cyn>Bismark cyn loop in the cowboy mining ghost town of Calico.
Boy was I in for a surprise!
I was by myself. the trail is about 6 miles long....how hard can it be right? It took me 6 hours!!!
(stopping to eat, drink, take pictures and setup cameras for filming)
The pictures just do not do justice to how hard and extreme the trail was....almost **** myself a few times. Definitely not doing that again by myself!
I say extreme, but I realize it's not that hard for some folks out there.....mind you I was alone, this is literally the third trail I have done in my FJ or in any 4x4 !!
My trail list so far.
-Rowher Flats (solo)
-Mojave Road (solo)
-Odessa&Bismark cyn, Calico. (solo)
I felt a false sense of security for the following reasons.
-All the videos on youtube made it look doable.
-My guide book was VERY misleading..."a couple of ledges" doesnt translate when you see it in real life and your on your own.
-I had a spare tie-rod and tools.
-Did I mention the videos on youtube are misleading....never trust what you see. If there is one thing I've learned is that Images can NOT convey the difficulty of a trail......maybe if they were 3D !!
On the other hand I felt confident I could do it because...
-I have spent years riding a motorcycle off road. (Help me read terrain)
-I have just upgraded my FJ with a bunch of stuff and this is why I bought the car.
-I have spent years competing in bicycle observed trials. This in particular is the most helpful. Anyone that is familiar with the sport of Trials riding will understand.
You have to pick a line thru rocks and obstacles and you can't put your foot down.... just do a search on youtube and you will be amazed. Kind alike "rock crawlin on 2 wheels" but harder.
It helps me look at an obstacle .....visualize where my tires have to go and how my placement affects the next section...
here is me many years ago during a competition....gives you an idea on what we had to do....
This one was at the Mommoth NORBA national event.....big drop.
Anyways....I think it helps me....cause I can look at an obstacle a picture a line thru it...I know that if my left tire is here my right tire will be on that rock etc.... I like to think the fact I did these trails alone might prove my point. It's the same think just with a 4 wheels and a motor!
Well.....anyways......off I went.
The entrance to the famous ghost town of Calico.
Starts easy enough....
Stopped by the famous arch for a photo op!
Entrance to the Odessa Canyon trail....walls start closing in on you.
and things start getting rocky.
All the red dirt and rock makes you feel like your on mars.....help to be by yourself on a weekday.
The canyon is deep.....and now truely one way....would be hard to even try to turn the car around. very tight.
One more of the many ledges ..you just can't get a grasp on how tall this is from the photo....for me as a beginner anyway.
....made it up.
The colors on the rocks are amazing
https://vimeo.com/63956618
or youtube
http://youtu.be/zjcaTBkjZWU
Definately wanted to avoid looking like this guy.....not to mention the small heart attack he must of had. It was scary but I managed to get thru there okay. I did almost crap my pants....that was the one time not having a spotter freaked me out.
http://youtu.be/HvWdkEXKNJo
**********
On my way back from Las Vegas for NAB convention after having already Just done the Mojave Road........ I decided to accept the adventure and challenge that would be to try a famous Odessa cyn>Bismark cyn loop in the cowboy mining ghost town of Calico.
Boy was I in for a surprise!
I was by myself. the trail is about 6 miles long....how hard can it be right? It took me 6 hours!!!
(stopping to eat, drink, take pictures and setup cameras for filming)
The pictures just do not do justice to how hard and extreme the trail was....almost **** myself a few times. Definitely not doing that again by myself!
I say extreme, but I realize it's not that hard for some folks out there.....mind you I was alone, this is literally the third trail I have done in my FJ or in any 4x4 !!
My trail list so far.
-Rowher Flats (solo)
-Mojave Road (solo)
-Odessa&Bismark cyn, Calico. (solo)
I felt a false sense of security for the following reasons.
-All the videos on youtube made it look doable.
-My guide book was VERY misleading..."a couple of ledges" doesnt translate when you see it in real life and your on your own.
-I had a spare tie-rod and tools.
-Did I mention the videos on youtube are misleading....never trust what you see. If there is one thing I've learned is that Images can NOT convey the difficulty of a trail......maybe if they were 3D !!
On the other hand I felt confident I could do it because...
-I have spent years riding a motorcycle off road. (Help me read terrain)
-I have just upgraded my FJ with a bunch of stuff and this is why I bought the car.
-I have spent years competing in bicycle observed trials. This in particular is the most helpful. Anyone that is familiar with the sport of Trials riding will understand.
You have to pick a line thru rocks and obstacles and you can't put your foot down.... just do a search on youtube and you will be amazed. Kind alike "rock crawlin on 2 wheels" but harder.
It helps me look at an obstacle .....visualize where my tires have to go and how my placement affects the next section...
here is me many years ago during a competition....gives you an idea on what we had to do....
This one was at the Mommoth NORBA national event.....big drop.
Anyways....I think it helps me....cause I can look at an obstacle a picture a line thru it...I know that if my left tire is here my right tire will be on that rock etc.... I like to think the fact I did these trails alone might prove my point. It's the same think just with a 4 wheels and a motor!
Well.....anyways......off I went.
The entrance to the famous ghost town of Calico.
Starts easy enough....
Stopped by the famous arch for a photo op!
Entrance to the Odessa Canyon trail....walls start closing in on you.
and things start getting rocky.
All the red dirt and rock makes you feel like your on mars.....help to be by yourself on a weekday.
The canyon is deep.....and now truely one way....would be hard to even try to turn the car around. very tight.
One more of the many ledges ..you just can't get a grasp on how tall this is from the photo....for me as a beginner anyway.
....made it up.
The colors on the rocks are amazing
