HH has mainly trails. There are a number of tracks rated for different size motorcycles and a dedicated ATV track. I see a number of younger riders getting their first taste of dirt there. I started on a CT-70 minibike there many moons ago! After a good rain, the close down the lower filed are, which ammounts to about a third of the area - including the steep hill. When they do that, the ATV track is open to MC's so it get torn up pretty fast. The rest is scenic trails that have a little bit of everything. Rancho road, which is one of the main ways to get to the upper parts of the hills, is a blast after a rain as it's loaded with clay-sticky mud. The users of HH are primarily MC's and it's kinda funny watching them get humbled in the mud. Of course the blow right past me at the upper end, but that's okay - everybody has fun. One thing I noticed about clear creek is that there were a number of puddles and mud holes - HH doesn't really have that.
-4ist

 

Sounds like Christmas of last year[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

Bull#$%^!!! LOL!

 

MCs are NOT supposed to be on the ATV track at all. Not that anything has ever stopped them.

And you're right, Rancho really humbles the MCs. One time we had a pretty good run in with them, kinda. Usually it goes like this: they stop and get ready to make the treck up Rancho right by Lodge MX where's it's flat and wide. The usually make that first left hand turn. Then they hit the first water bar. THUD! Usually crash on the other side of it, or in the mud hole on the back side of the water bar. If they see a quad coming they then try to take off in front of the quad.

One time this was so bad that a few members of my group were making u-turns at the end of the nasty section (where that trail drops off the side of the hill to the south) and went back for more. Generally with the goal of splashing down riders on the first water bar. I've about run over several on this section. Once there was about a 4 bike pile-up. Nobody could get unstuck it was so slippery.

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Hey guys im still alive and didn't drown. I told my wife next time i will bring my scuba gear with me. They had the beach closed til 12 : 10 pm on saturday. You talk about a mess. the beach had big 5 to 6 foot ledges where the waves washed them out. Going in the water was still high and most all of the vehicals were having to drive about 50 feet from the fence line. The river was about 2 and a half feet deep when we went in but on the way out i would swear it was 4 feet deep. I have a full size f150 and i was worried. They need to put a stop to all those vultures sitting on the rim of the river making everyone pass threw the deepest part. They do it on purpose so you will get stuck. when no cars would be coming they would take there 4 wheel drives into the river crossing and keep doing circles realy making it even more dificult to get out. 15 to 20 foot waves the ranger told us. They have not had anything like this since el ninno where the waves actualy breaking onto the streat by the entrances. while we were waiting saturday morning for them to open it up we had time to get some photos of the waves touching the bottom of the ramps. One good thing came out of it. The beach was not crowded did not have to worry about someone running you over. Even the town did not have very many people in it. There was no line at brads , usualy its all the down the street. Anyway heading back again this saturday , then glamis the following saturday which i think is the 15. And then there is suposedly a big group going down there the 21 . maybe i will see some of you down there.

 

Being a nubie, I don't want to PO the MC folks - I ride a TW 200 on the trails too; but not in the MUD!!! I guess I'm a wus or lazy.. I just plain have more fun in the mud on the Bruin than on a MC. When Rancho floods at HH, I do just what you said; I do a quick turn and go up and down a few times! I'll ride slowly in 2WD and almost get stuck. When the MC folks are thinking "Ha! Stuck just like us!", I hit the 4WD button and toss a wave of terra-not-so-ferma towards them (but not /deliberately/ on them). On occaision, I have tossed them a line and given them a tow up to the top, particularly if it's a Dad with a few young kids.
When they close the lower field, they also close 2 of the larger MC tracks. I noticed that the 'ATV's Only' sign was taken down at the ATV track. Could be that the ATV track is suposed to be for everybody to share when the lower field is closed. Or could it be that some of the MC folks stole the sign!! Hmm...
-4ist

 

Glad to hear that you made it. Post up those pics!

I think the group over in the Spin Zone is heading to Glamis one of those weekends.

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Someone must have stolen the sign. The MCs on the track increase the maintenance on the ATV track as the grooves they cut are bad for the quads. Can cause serious safetly issues if someone comes around the corner and catches one. That can result in bring the helo out with a trip to Stanford.

They will also close the ATV track down as well. I think it just happens to dry out quicker. There are some areas of the Lower Ranch that really shaded and don't drain so it takes a long time for the adobe to dry out. If you are there and it's just been opened, look for the CAT tracks out there. They don't even run 4x4 quads out there to check it out. Some nasty gumbo out there. But hey, it's a kick in the pants to ride in it! Just a PITA to wash off. I leave there and my bike looks like it's been camoed with the different colors of mud out there.

I don't actively set out to tweak the MC guys. I usually let them pass when I can. It's just in the mud and that section a few of them seem to try and play games. They see a group of quads and so take off to try and beat them. It's like "hey guys, if it's dry, go for it. But when it's wet, don't." An MC has 4-6" of tire width on the ground. A quad has 20" (2x10"). That's 4-5x the area.

It makes Rancho one rough b!tch when it dries out until they've graded it. But they don't even do that much anymore. That trail is probably 20" below where it used to be. And that's over like 2 years.

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Looks like the creek at Pismo claimed another truck/toyhauler. Someone tried to cross the creek with a 29-30ft toyhauler and didn't make it. The tow truck had to enter the dunes from the "restricted side" of the beach rather than the main entrance due to the inability to cross the creek. Eventually, both truck and trailer were pulled from the creek which looked like a raging river! Unfortunately, there are still campers stranded on the beach and it seems that the Banana Boy trucks are able to access the beach through Guadalupe and the "restricted" sand, however, they are not letting the stranded campers leave the beach via that route??? What the heck?? Apparently, they have also increased their rates (someone mentioned charging double) for their services for those who are stranded! Very disappointing Banana Boys!

Also, apparently someone was killed from Tulare Co. while driving on 101 through Paso hauling a dune buggy when a tree limb fell on his truck sending truck/trailer over the embankment....

All in all not a good weekend for Pismo goers....

Pismo Creek Pictures

 

That link didn't work.. let's try the old fashioned way....

http://oceanodunes.org/beta/index.ph...view_photo.php