Not to be confused with the kind of wheeling that's typically associated with the word "slickrock", the Slickrock Jeep Trail is located up in the Stanislaus National Forest and is situated between Lake Alpine and the Utica Reservoir. There is one geological feature, a massive granite slab that is noted on forestry maps and you do get to drive on and it is because of it that the trail gets its name. It'd been a while since Cindy and I had run this trail, mostly because it's become so popular and tends to be crowded but this past Saturday, we decided to head up and have some fun on it with a few of our good friends. Here are a few pics from our trip, I hope you enjoy.
Meeting up with everyone at one of our favorite restaurants in Carson City, the Red Hut.
Airing down at the Chickaree Picnic Area along the shores of Lake Alpine. I should note that it was a good thing we got there early because people were coming in droves and packing it in.
At the trail head and ready to have some fun!
Although we had just started the trail, we decided to make a quick stop to enjoy the views and the pretty water flowing down Silver Creek.
The first obstacle on the trail is an optional one and it's what we like to call the tubs. Here's a couple of shots of Cindy having some fun.
KICKROX getting in close to this tree.
Alex is a friend of Trail Bud's and this was her first time out on the rocks.
Trail Bud showing of his 40's.
It was nice to see Wendy, MTG's better half behind the wheel.
Moving on down the trail.
What Cindy and I have always liked about Slickrock is that it was a nice moderate trail that a stock Jeep could run and was good for people new to off roading.
Of course, a set of 35's or bigger would have made it a lot easier to run.
Time for a little stretch.
Taking on the same line, KICKROX got a little light in the rear.
Coming around the top of the big granite slab that gives this trail its name.
This is the "Slickrock".
Water crossing just before The Ladder.
So, I'm probably going to catch a lot of flak for this but I'm going to go off on a little rant anyway. As I had mentioned earlier, the thing Cindy and I used to love about the Slickrock Trail is that it was a good "moderate" trail that could be run in a stock Jeep and/or with someone who was new behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the trail has become really popular over the last few years and the trail is really starting to show it. The final obstacle on the trail is a tough rocky climb known as "The Ladder" and for well over 10 years, it had remained relatively unchanged. I mean sure, the elements, time and use have always changed it a bit but not to the significant degree it sees today. Earlier in the day, there were a couple of buggies that passed us up running big tires and big motor and were built more for something you'd expect to see out in Johnson Valley. Nice guy and nice rigs but in my humble opinion, way overbuilt for such an easy trail. Later in the day, we could hear BIG horsepower at play across the canyon and for long stretches at a time and could only guess as to who was working it. As we neared The Ladder, we came across some on coming traffic, a small group of Toyota's and the leader informed us that there was a big rock in the middle of the obstacle making it nearly impassible. He said that he ended up taking out the side of his rig trying to get by. And, when we finally got there, this is what we found.
Talking to this group of Toyota guys, the big rock next to the passenger side rear tire wasn't there the day before when they came down the obstacle. Today, it was giving everyone hell. The driver was eventually able to get off of it but only after taking out the passenger side of his rig. Of course, while he was fighting his way up, the 2 buggies that passed us up earlier were parked at the bottom and with the drivers sitting in lawn chairs drinking a beer. Apparently, the only reason for them being here was to play hard, watch others in lesser rigs fight through the new terrain they created and tell them what they're doing wrong.
Now, before everyone comes on here to hate on me, let me please be the first to say that I am NOT trying to be a hater. The Bruiser that one of the guys had was really nice and I'd love to have it, a Jimmyz or something like it. Likewise, I am not suggesting that guys like this shouldn't be on the trail as it is on public land and that would include them. What I am saying is that is a trail like this ISN'T the Hammers or even the old Little Sluice where guys used to go out just to play really hard while trying not to spill their beer. What I am saying is that it's a bit disappointing that more and more trails are becoming virtually inaccessible to anyone unless they are running bigass tires because guys with them feel the need to tear them up trying to find the most badass lines. And, so that it isn't missed, I get how much fun it is to challenge yourself and as most of you know, we have 2 Jeeps made to do just that. I just wish more of these badasses would just stick to the badass trails and tread a little lighter on the few easier ones still remaining. On this trip, we had 2 newbies along for the ride and even a couple of years ago, they could of had a great learning experience getting up a somewhat tough obstacle. Unfortunately, thanks to a few badasses who feel the need to find the most badass line on an otherwise easy trail and tear it up in the process, that wasn't possible.
As luck would have it, there is a different line that you can go up and that's ultimately what we did. I should note that for well over a decade, this alternate route didn't exist but thanks to all the badasses clearing a few trees, it now exists. To get up it, you have to climb a tricky slick face of granite and for the last few years, this was the optional "difficult" line but of course, today, it would be the bypass. The entire time I was trying to spot Cindy up, the buggy guy drinking his beer was yelling at her and me about what we're doing wrong and what we need to do. In the end, Cindy got up on her own power and I "thanked" the guy for his "help".
Here are a few shots of KICKROX making his go at it.
After several valiant attempts, we realized that he just didn't have the break-over angles and so we decided to pull line.
I wasn't able to get any pics but Cindy ended up having to winch/drive Alex's Jeep up.
Being way over Wendy's head, MTG got in behind the wheel and gave it hell all the way to the top.
Running 40's, Trail Bud was able to bump his way up to the top as well.
With everyone safely up The Ladder, we made our final crossing over Duck Creek and to the end of the trail.
After driving along the Utica Reservoir and what felt like a refugee camp, we made our way back to Highway 4 and aired up.
A BIG THANKS needs to go out to Trail Bud, KICKROX, MTG and family and Alex and Matt for joining us on this run. It was a fun day for sure especially being that we were able to spend it with good friends and the scenery was as gorgeous as ever but I think in the future, we'll save a trail like this for a weekday run.
Meeting up with everyone at one of our favorite restaurants in Carson City, the Red Hut.
Airing down at the Chickaree Picnic Area along the shores of Lake Alpine. I should note that it was a good thing we got there early because people were coming in droves and packing it in.
At the trail head and ready to have some fun!
Although we had just started the trail, we decided to make a quick stop to enjoy the views and the pretty water flowing down Silver Creek.
The first obstacle on the trail is an optional one and it's what we like to call the tubs. Here's a couple of shots of Cindy having some fun.
KICKROX getting in close to this tree.
Alex is a friend of Trail Bud's and this was her first time out on the rocks.
Trail Bud showing of his 40's.
It was nice to see Wendy, MTG's better half behind the wheel.
Moving on down the trail.
What Cindy and I have always liked about Slickrock is that it was a nice moderate trail that a stock Jeep could run and was good for people new to off roading.
Of course, a set of 35's or bigger would have made it a lot easier to run.
Time for a little stretch.
Taking on the same line, KICKROX got a little light in the rear.
Coming around the top of the big granite slab that gives this trail its name.
This is the "Slickrock".
Water crossing just before The Ladder.
So, I'm probably going to catch a lot of flak for this but I'm going to go off on a little rant anyway. As I had mentioned earlier, the thing Cindy and I used to love about the Slickrock Trail is that it was a good "moderate" trail that could be run in a stock Jeep and/or with someone who was new behind the wheel. Unfortunately, the trail has become really popular over the last few years and the trail is really starting to show it. The final obstacle on the trail is a tough rocky climb known as "The Ladder" and for well over 10 years, it had remained relatively unchanged. I mean sure, the elements, time and use have always changed it a bit but not to the significant degree it sees today. Earlier in the day, there were a couple of buggies that passed us up running big tires and big motor and were built more for something you'd expect to see out in Johnson Valley. Nice guy and nice rigs but in my humble opinion, way overbuilt for such an easy trail. Later in the day, we could hear BIG horsepower at play across the canyon and for long stretches at a time and could only guess as to who was working it. As we neared The Ladder, we came across some on coming traffic, a small group of Toyota's and the leader informed us that there was a big rock in the middle of the obstacle making it nearly impassible. He said that he ended up taking out the side of his rig trying to get by. And, when we finally got there, this is what we found.
Talking to this group of Toyota guys, the big rock next to the passenger side rear tire wasn't there the day before when they came down the obstacle. Today, it was giving everyone hell. The driver was eventually able to get off of it but only after taking out the passenger side of his rig. Of course, while he was fighting his way up, the 2 buggies that passed us up earlier were parked at the bottom and with the drivers sitting in lawn chairs drinking a beer. Apparently, the only reason for them being here was to play hard, watch others in lesser rigs fight through the new terrain they created and tell them what they're doing wrong.
Now, before everyone comes on here to hate on me, let me please be the first to say that I am NOT trying to be a hater. The Bruiser that one of the guys had was really nice and I'd love to have it, a Jimmyz or something like it. Likewise, I am not suggesting that guys like this shouldn't be on the trail as it is on public land and that would include them. What I am saying is that is a trail like this ISN'T the Hammers or even the old Little Sluice where guys used to go out just to play really hard while trying not to spill their beer. What I am saying is that it's a bit disappointing that more and more trails are becoming virtually inaccessible to anyone unless they are running bigass tires because guys with them feel the need to tear them up trying to find the most badass lines. And, so that it isn't missed, I get how much fun it is to challenge yourself and as most of you know, we have 2 Jeeps made to do just that. I just wish more of these badasses would just stick to the badass trails and tread a little lighter on the few easier ones still remaining. On this trip, we had 2 newbies along for the ride and even a couple of years ago, they could of had a great learning experience getting up a somewhat tough obstacle. Unfortunately, thanks to a few badasses who feel the need to find the most badass line on an otherwise easy trail and tear it up in the process, that wasn't possible.
As luck would have it, there is a different line that you can go up and that's ultimately what we did. I should note that for well over a decade, this alternate route didn't exist but thanks to all the badasses clearing a few trees, it now exists. To get up it, you have to climb a tricky slick face of granite and for the last few years, this was the optional "difficult" line but of course, today, it would be the bypass. The entire time I was trying to spot Cindy up, the buggy guy drinking his beer was yelling at her and me about what we're doing wrong and what we need to do. In the end, Cindy got up on her own power and I "thanked" the guy for his "help".
Here are a few shots of KICKROX making his go at it.
After several valiant attempts, we realized that he just didn't have the break-over angles and so we decided to pull line.
I wasn't able to get any pics but Cindy ended up having to winch/drive Alex's Jeep up.
Being way over Wendy's head, MTG got in behind the wheel and gave it hell all the way to the top.
Running 40's, Trail Bud was able to bump his way up to the top as well.
With everyone safely up The Ladder, we made our final crossing over Duck Creek and to the end of the trail.
After driving along the Utica Reservoir and what felt like a refugee camp, we made our way back to Highway 4 and aired up.
A BIG THANKS needs to go out to Trail Bud, KICKROX, MTG and family and Alex and Matt for joining us on this run. It was a fun day for sure especially being that we were able to spend it with good friends and the scenery was as gorgeous as ever but I think in the future, we'll save a trail like this for a weekday run.
