So I recently went up the Brown's Mill 4WD Trail to the Borderline 4WD Trail near Lake Isabella. I know that turning right would have taken us up to Evan's Flat. My Jeep is a 2-dr. Rubicon, bascially stock. My first thought, was that the hill was really, really steep. I walked it to check it out. It was so steep I could barely walk up it. Usually I'm the daring one, and my husband is the more cautious one, but he suggested I drive up it.

My Rubicon is only 7 months old, and it's my first Jeep with lockers. I'm thinking that the Rubicon should have no problem making it up that hill, with the lockers engaged. I mean, there were tire tracks, so obviously lots of people have gone up and down it. But the hill was so steep, that I was a little nervous about having to back down if I couldn't make it. If I could have watched other Jeepers go up it, I might have been more likely to try it, but we were alone. In the end, I decided not to risk it, plus I wasn't sure about the next hill too (the steep, sandy one right before Evan's Flat).

So for those of you familiar with this hill, should my stock Rubicon go right up it? If I had to back down, would I be able to without sliding? And what about the next hill--the one right before Evan's Flat? Am I just being a chicken?

And my other question would be, if I'd taken the turn to the left, I know it would come back out on Sawmill Road. How difficult is that trail compared to Brown's Mill? Is there a lot of brush? Brown's Mill was really brushy.

 

Thanks for checking in to the CenCal Area. I'm not familiar with that trail to be honest. But maybe someone can chime in. Curt, have you done this trail?

 

I did the whole Borderline from Wofford Heights this morning as my Jeeps break in run. My Rubi is an '011 unlimited stock except for a leveling kit and winch. Was really nice had a slight drizzle, not enough to make it muddy but enough to keep the dust down. I was aired down to 25 lbs. and creeped up the whole trail right up until the end. Theres a hill at pretty much the summit/end of the trail that is this sandy/fluffy dirt with foootball sized rocks mixed in for good measure. Anyways I tried creeping up it twice and just couldnt stay moving/on top of it so ended up hitting it a little harder than I like to. I probably should have aired down a tad more too.

Its funny cause at the top of the hill we stopped for a break, after a few minutes a couple of hikers came walking up the trail, I looked at them like they were crazy for walking up that steep ass hill and they asked us if we drove down to that point and we said "No we came up the hill" and they said "man your nuts". To each their own I guess.

I think you would be ok if you pick your lines and have the right tire pressures and what not.

 

Sounds good. Thanks for posting this. It give me more confidence. I've been taking my new Rubicon on some trails to see what it can do. I think it's really only limited by the driver (me!). I think I'll have to give this trail another go, but I"m thinking I may wait until next spring/summer, when it's not so sandy.

I know the last hill your talking about. A few years ago, three of us on our dual sport motorcycles rode from Evan's Flat down the trail. We stopped at the top of that hill, because we knew it would be quite difficult to get back up if we went down, because the sand was deep. We had our lunch there, and while we were eating a dad on a quad, and his young son (about 10 years old) on a KX80 came up the hill. The dad made it, and just kept going on to Evans Flat, literally leaving his son in the dust. His son on the little two-stroke, didn't make it all the way. His bike didn't have enough power, plus it was not running well at elevation. It ended up taking the three of us, plus the kid, and the throttle revved up to get his bike the rest of the way up the hill.

 

Yep I know the trail and the climb right at the end before it ties in to Freeway Ridge trail 3/4 of the way up Piston Hill.

At the top of the hill is Freeway Ridge that goes from 178 to Evans Camp. Going right does take you to Evans. Going left takes you down to 178 and Black Gulch.

Border Line was my wifes first experience wheeling back in 07. She beat the hell out of me with my own hat as the Buck Brush is adding pin striping to our month old JKU.

As far as airing down goes, if you have more than 15psi. You have not aired down yet, especially if you are on sand or snow.

 

I can relate to the pinstriping. Brown's Mill 4WD trail was really brushy and narrow. Luckily I had thought to take pruning shears, and ax, and a small handsaw. My poor husband got a real workout, because he spent half the time cutting brush out of my way. It paid off though, because I made it out pretty much unscathed. My JK's black. I had a black Jeep years ago, but I'm starting to realize that the white and silver ones I had were a little more practical. Oh well, the black looks the nicest when it's cleaned up, so I guess I can't complain. At least I enjoy detailing it.