One Dusy of a Trip Announcement

I'm planning to run the Dusy-Ershim Trail in the Sierra National Forest on September 6-10, 1999. It won't be an organized trail event where you are told everything to do, when to eat, how many times you can try a hill climb before you will get pulled up. There won't be any fee for this trip. There will not be a helicopter on hand to bring parts to the trail side and install them while you wait. This trip is not a place for new wheelers to learn how to drive off-road. If you don't know how to due basic repairs to your truck and don't have experience driving off road than this trip is not for you. This is one of the most difficult rock trails in the US.

Enough negativity already. Chances are if you show up at the appointed time and place (see below) there will probably some other folks with a hankering to hit the trail. So what the heck, let's start wheeling!

For extra credit and a pre-Dusy warmup, how about a trip out to Swamp Lake,. Saturday 9/4 and back out on 9/5 with time to relax and resupply Labor Day before tackling the Dusy?

Directions:

• Take Hwy 168 east out of Fresno, CA. climbing towards the Shaver Lake area.
  • You may want to fill your gas tank before leaving the 4-lane highway, last gas at Cresmans.
  • No gas available at Shaver Lake or Wishon, and a very limited supply at Dinky.
• Take the McKinley Grove Road east from Dinkey Creek for 13 miles, turning left at the intersection onto Courtright Road
• Follow this road north for eight miles to Courtright Reservoir
• Take the road to the right across the dam to the start of the Dusy OHV Route
  • Follow McKinley Grove Road to Courtright Road, turn left to Courtright Reservoir
  • Cross the dam to the east side of the lake and stay on the road to the Dusy-Ershim OHV Route sign
• Look for the group, I might be on CB channel 6

Itinerary:

• 9/6: Gather at Courtright Reservoir Monday afternoon
• 9/7: Begin the trail, climb Chicken Rock and camp at the Dusy Creek crossing
• 9/8: Climb Thompson Hill and camp along the trail
• 9/9: Finish the trail (if all goes well):
  • Might be wise to have a contingency plan to camp on the trail
• 9/10: Return home

Useful things to know about the Dusy-Ershim Trail:

• This trail is one of the most difficult trails in the USA
• More than half of trucks that run this trail come back with at least minor body damage (dents and scratches) as you must drive very close to large rocks and trees many times
• It is only open a few months a year as snow and mud makes it impassible
• It is long, about 33 miles from end to end, bring extra fuel if you are so inclined
• The driving is slow and the trail is at a fairly high elevation, 10,000 feet in some parts
• The trail passes through a narrow corridor between two wilderness areas
  • There are many lakes and other scenic areas within 1/4 to 1/2 mile hike from the trail if you are so inclined
• A larger map of the Sierra National Forest OHV network is available by clicking on the smaller map, below:

Recommended Equipment:

• A 4WD capable vehicle (Toyota recommended :-)
• 31" (or greater) off-road tires
• A rear locker or limited slip is recommended
• Rocker panel protection (or lift of 6")
• Source of compressed air
• Bug spray (lot's of bugs out here)
• CB Radio
• Food & water for 3-5 days
• TP and a small shovel to cover things up
• Roll bar or full cage or factory hard top
• Functional parking brake or line-lock
• Tow strap or rope. (recommend rated at 2 times the vehicle weight).
• First aid kit (what do you want when you are hurt?)
• Jack capable of lifting the vehicle and a tool capable of removing lug nuts (don't forget your wheel locks)
• Spare tire equal to or within 3 inches of existing tires on the vehicle. (no temporary spares).
• Fire extinguisher with gauge indicating good/full, appropriately stored (not a missile hazard)
• Seat belts for driver and passengers
• Radio antennas should not exceed 4'6" (54"), measured from mount on body or bumper.
• Adequate attachment points front and rear, i.e., tow hooks, receiver, etc.
• Proper battery hold downs

Spare parts I might plan to take:

• Keys
• Distributor cap/rotor/plugs
• Ujoint set
• Everything needed for an oil change
• Front hub
• Fan belts
• Lots of tools
• Axles, etc.

Picture of Driver/Vehicle	Driver Information	Vehicle Information
	Driver: Mike Ward Trips: 0 Passenger: From: Fresno, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '82 Toyota Pickup Tires: 35x12.5 M/T Lift: 5" Diffs: Detroit/TrueTrac Gears: 4.88
	Driver: Terry Johnson Trips: 0 Passenger: From: Pleasanton, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '89 Xtra Cab Pickup Tires: 33x12.5 BFG M/T Lift: Diffs: Detroit/EZ Locker Gears: 4.56, Marlin Tcase
	Driver: Leo Divinagracia Trips: 0 Passenger: From: Fremont, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '90 4Runner Tires: 32x11.5 Yokahama Lift: Diffs: ARB/TrueTrac Gears: 4.88/Automatic
	Driver: Tom Boyd Trips: 0 Passenger(s): TBD From: San Mateo, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '85 FJ60 - Das Beast Tires: 35x12.5 BFG A/T Lift: 6" SOA Diffs: Detroit/Detroit Gears: 4.88
?	Driver: Dudley Sanders Trips: Numerous Passenger: ? From: Lemoore, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '76 CJ7 Tires: 33x9.50 BFGs Lift: 2.5" Diffs: Detroit/PowerLock Gears: 4.11
[Your Picture Here]	Driver: Trips: Passenger: From: , CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: Tires: Lift: Diffs: Gears:
	Driver: Roger Brown Trips: 0 Passenger: Seat available From : Santa Clara, CA [Email] - [Web Page]	Truck: '85 4Crawler Tires: 33x15.5 Swampers Lift: ~4" Diffs: Detroit/TrueTrac Gears: 5.29, Marlin Tcase

Other Dusy-Ershim trip reports:

• Randy Peterson's Dusy Trail write-up on ORC
• Rick Russell's Dusy/Ershim Trail video is a must-see