Next run! Dusy or Swamp Lk/Brewer Lk
Some have asked about running either Dusy or Swamp Lk in Aug so here it is.
Drive time from the Bay Area is about 6hrs to the trailhead for either of these.
Both trails can be run with full size rigs BUT expect a lot of body damage!!! These trails are extremely tight with hairpin turns between big rocks and trees that like to eat sheet metal. Everyone here who has run these trails has some sort of battle scars
Dusy
The trail "can" be run in 2 days for those who like body (human) damage and like to beat their rig to shit. I've done it in 3 days and it took this old back over a week to recover
The scenery is amazing so we like to take our time. Stop at the big trees (McKinley Grove) if you haven't done so in the past...pretty cool.
If we run
Dusy figure 4 to 6 days to/from home.
The trail is 30 miles long so take extra gas
Swamp Lk: figure 3-4 days to/from home, extra gas for Tacos not necessary but suggested, just in case.
Socal rigs will have to add some time to this estimate but basically...Fresno, turn right then another 4hrs to camp.
nearest gas for a Dusy run is in Shaver Lk, 32mi from Kaiser pass at the end of the trail and the same 32mi to the south trailhead at Voyager.
For Swamp, about 21miles from Shaver to trailhead
http://www.californiajeeper.com/dusy_ershim/trail.htm
http://www.4wdcfresno.net/2015/index.php/main-menu/trail-openclosed-status/dusy-ershim
The usual run starts at Voyager campground (pavement, air-down) at the south end of the trail (yes, Dick...just for you...) and we wheel into Voyager Rock campground (3 miles). We can either camp there or drive the additional 2 miles to the far end of Courtright, which I prefer, and camp first night. This allows for a better jump start for Thompson Hill the next day. If we have a lot of rigs that can't get there until late in the day/evening then Voyager Rock (foot of Chicken Rock) campground may be a better bet and then get an early start up Chicken rock and on to Thompson hill the next morning.
2nd day: To Thompson Lk (8 miles) either by the lake (short walk down the hill) or above it at the main campground at the top of the hill or... press on to East Lk another 6 miles. This makes a shorter run to Ershim the next day. (10 mi from Thompson, 5 from East) A lot will depend on how long it takes to get up Thompson hill and how many breaks occur.
It can be an all day adventure or it can take only an hr or 2 but usually something in between. Most chose Thompson Lk to rest up or make repairs from the ordeal of the Hill
3rd day: to Ershim Lk with Lunch/swim/fish at East Lk, about a 5min walk.
4th day: To Mallard Lk, 4-5 mi from Ershim (fishing)
5th day: Drive out to Kaiser Pass (pavement), about 5mi.
If a 6-day trip add camping at East Lk on the 3rd night.
Another option is to wheel all the way out from Ershim on the 4th day (9-10 miles to pavement) stopping for lunch at Mallard. This, however, makes for along day to get home. The last couple of miles to Whitebark vista are pretty rough.
A lot will depend on breakdowns
This trail is IFS "friendly" with a well built rig (Early Tacoma/Runner on a minimum of 33s. Crawler is suggested but plenty have run this IFS w/o a crawler.
'05+ Taco/'03+ Runner will need a lot more of a build and 35s/37s). I don't know of any of these rigs who have run Dusy. The Socal gang had a group of 05+ Tacomas and FJCs run Swamp...a 19hr straight (on the trail) epic nightmare...check their writeup for details...
Frankly, I wouldn't try it with anything less than 37s, 2 lockers and lots of armor.
Re-gearing for larger tires a MUST! Lockers, F/R. You will beat up your truck, however, so be prepared!! Take extra CVS (2 min for early Tacos) and tie rod ends.
Body damage highly likely
Winch suggested but you can get a tug if needed from the rig in front of you.
Mandatory things to have:
Toe points f/r
At lest a rear locker, not limited slip
Sliders
aftermarket skids
Hi-lift
spare tire
suggested to have:
front locker
CB radio
Aftermarket bumpers, f/r especially for the rear with quarter panel wrap-around protection
(you
will most likely lose a taillight w/o it).
Swamp Lk trail
This is a lot like Dusy only shorter...about 14 miles
http://4x4trailmaps.com/4x4Trails.php?Trail_ID=45
http://www.4wdcfresno.net/2015/index.php/main-menu/trail-openclosed-status/swamp-trail
This trail can be run in one day but why?
I've always done a 2-night/3day including drive time trip or added Brewer Lk as a short run (3 mi) on the way out from Swamp off of 9S10
Day 1: drive to South trailhead stopping at Shaver for last gas, ice, etc.
I usually air down when I get off pavement well before the actual trail head to make a smoother ride on the dirt FS roads once off the main track.
Start trail and wheel to top of the ridge campsite...awesome views!!
There are two lakes about a 30min walk with great fishing.
Day 2: wheel to Grouse Lk and camp or on to Swamp Lk. There is more room at Grouse but I've camped at both. fishing at both lakes
Day 3: wheel out to trail end, air up at pavement. Optional short trip: either stay aired down or add at least some for the few miles of pavement to the Brewer Lk turn off (dirt). Wheel to Brewer Lk (3.5 miles), easy trail until the last 100yds of rock garden. There is little room for camping at Brewer so I usually just make a spur trip out of it and have some lunch.
Head back out to 9S10, paved road to Tamarack Ridge and hwy 168 and home. gas at Shaver if needed but better to wait until at least Prather to keep cost down. Prices are about $1/gal different between Prather and Shaver.
Full size rigs "can" run these trails, and have but you WILL get some body damage. I know of rigs of 85" rubber to rubber who have made it with some creative maneuvers between trees so it is possible for wider rigs. Check out the 'full size on Dusy' threads on Pirate for a better idea...there are several that go back years. Long wheel base is the real killer on these trails as there are so many tight turns between trees, trees/boulders, boulders/boulders, etc. 124" is not a problem with our narrow early Tacomas...135+ and a wider rig...will be dicey. If you have run Rubicon with no problems in your full size rig this will be a completely different experience.
You will bend sheet metal, guaranteed.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/usa-northern-california/1091537-full-size-dodge-dusy.html
one comment, LOL
"Start out with a F250 at the begining of the trail, and you will have a Ford Ranger at the end of the trail!"
