Epic Labor Day Dusy Ershim Run
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Epic-Addictions Representative
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 598
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From: Fresno, CA
Sorry about that, we did get some pics up on our Facebook page.
I'm glad we did the trail and our group had minimal carnage. We went in on Saturday morning about 9:00 am from voyager rock campground. We wheeled through to about 7:00 pm, the first day was pretty tame with the exception of Thompson hill. Thompson is about a 2 hour mile and will test your rig and patience. Unfortunately it is not a crawling challenge, more of a traction issue with lots of loose dirt and shifting diff killers.
We camped at a nice spot past summit lake. Thompson lake is a good way off trail and summit is bordered by a nice meadow. While we did find people camping there doing so in a meadow is irresponsible and not permitted so we pushed on to an appropriate spot.
Sunday brought us to Ershim lake where we found lots of company and other groups. It is a nice lake with great camping opportunities. One group there had a 2 door jk with a broken front shaft and a 4 door JK with a rockjock that had sheared off the axle side track bar bracket. We welded the bracket up on the trail and moved on.
Ershim lake to kaiser pass was the best part of the trail with some hard core crawling opportunities. The CJ in our group had some leaf spring issues that cost us about 1.5 hours and we made it off the trail about 7:30 pm on the second day.
When airing up the 4 door with the busted rockjock came limping off the trail. Apparently they only had enough fuel to get 1 jeep out and he was going to pickup 30 gallons to take back for the rest of the group. The bracket we welded didn't survive enough to be safe on the road though so a tow truck was called in. The jeep arrived at the Epic Shop around 2:00 am and we fixed up the track bar bracket gave then a spare shaft for the 2 door with a broken Dana 30 and sent him on his way about 4:00 am. It made for a long day but we where glad to help.
All in all the trail is certainly a test. You must absolutely top off your fuel tanks in shaver lake. I came out with just under a quarter of a tank left from full but we made good time running the trail in 2 days. I would suggest anybody running this carry at least a few gallons, if you don't need it somebody will for sure. This trail can also break stuff, without question. Lots of people on trail willing to help out though.
For well biltong jeeps looking for a challenge I would suggest kaiser pass into ershim lake and back out. I would suggest the entire trail only if you are looking for an Epic long range deal as the wheeling between ershim and courtright is not exceptionally fulfilling.
I'm glad we did the trail and our group had minimal carnage. We went in on Saturday morning about 9:00 am from voyager rock campground. We wheeled through to about 7:00 pm, the first day was pretty tame with the exception of Thompson hill. Thompson is about a 2 hour mile and will test your rig and patience. Unfortunately it is not a crawling challenge, more of a traction issue with lots of loose dirt and shifting diff killers.
We camped at a nice spot past summit lake. Thompson lake is a good way off trail and summit is bordered by a nice meadow. While we did find people camping there doing so in a meadow is irresponsible and not permitted so we pushed on to an appropriate spot.
Sunday brought us to Ershim lake where we found lots of company and other groups. It is a nice lake with great camping opportunities. One group there had a 2 door jk with a broken front shaft and a 4 door JK with a rockjock that had sheared off the axle side track bar bracket. We welded the bracket up on the trail and moved on.
Ershim lake to kaiser pass was the best part of the trail with some hard core crawling opportunities. The CJ in our group had some leaf spring issues that cost us about 1.5 hours and we made it off the trail about 7:30 pm on the second day.
When airing up the 4 door with the busted rockjock came limping off the trail. Apparently they only had enough fuel to get 1 jeep out and he was going to pickup 30 gallons to take back for the rest of the group. The bracket we welded didn't survive enough to be safe on the road though so a tow truck was called in. The jeep arrived at the Epic Shop around 2:00 am and we fixed up the track bar bracket gave then a spare shaft for the 2 door with a broken Dana 30 and sent him on his way about 4:00 am. It made for a long day but we where glad to help.
All in all the trail is certainly a test. You must absolutely top off your fuel tanks in shaver lake. I came out with just under a quarter of a tank left from full but we made good time running the trail in 2 days. I would suggest anybody running this carry at least a few gallons, if you don't need it somebody will for sure. This trail can also break stuff, without question. Lots of people on trail willing to help out though.
For well biltong jeeps looking for a challenge I would suggest kaiser pass into ershim lake and back out. I would suggest the entire trail only if you are looking for an Epic long range deal as the wheeling between ershim and courtright is not exceptionally fulfilling.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Great pics Jeremy, thanks for posting them. It sounds like you had an EXHAUSTING 
but exciting 
weekend... I'd still be sleepy if I were along! I guess the good part about that is it will be the weekend again before you know it. Glad everybody made it out without incident!
PJohn- Do you ever miss a run?! You've used your jeep more before the plates arrived than some people use it the entire time they own it!
but exciting weekend... I'd still be sleepy if I were along! I guess the good part about that is it will be the weekend again before you know it. Glad everybody made it out without incident!PJohn- Do you ever miss a run?! You've used your jeep more before the plates arrived than some people use it the entire time they own it!