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If you read the last write up from Riffel Canyon, you know it was a new trail under development. This time you are reading about the completion of the trail. The Men in Black had roughly 900 feet to go. The trail had been worked from both ends toward the middle. Today we decided to take the most efficient approach. Working from the end of the trail to the last completed section coming in.
Ben gives some perspective to the wall of rock we started out at.
His rigs' slip yoke wasn't slipping. He bent one of the u-bolts holding the u-joint to the pinion flange. After making repairs, we forged ahead.
Still on the approach to Riffel, Mike is seen coming up Crowbar, with Bear following.
Once driven, Mike followed.
Then it was Brian's turn.
We broke through. I turned around and we headed back to camp.
When you run Riffel Canyon, you'll drop out in the middle of Crowbar. You can go right for the last part of Crowbar, or go left and the run ends at Ballerina Rock.
Then Brian drops out.
This trail is a winch only trail. The way we leave the trail, down Ballerina Rock, you really want to be winched down. Brian has a rear winch, so he brought himself out last. There are also at least two sections of trail going in from the gatekeeper, one little stair step and one face rock at the Bear Cave, you will need a winch to complete the trail. If you can't wait to try this new trail for yourself, have at it. The GPS co-ordinates to the trial-head for Riffel Canyon are.... N 34 - 28 - 18.2 W 116 - 42 - 12.8 It's in Johnson Valley in the Fry Mountains. We camped in the Fry lake bed, which is northwest of the Hammer trails. Exit Green Rock Mine Road off of 247, 13 miles out of Lucerne. The lake bed is 3 miles in. Looking at the mountain, the canyon to the right is Riffel Canyon. I think everybody who enjoys the outdoors, four wheeling, and particularly extreme rock crawling, will find something they like about the Riffel Canyon trail. The experience of being part of a memorial trail build has given me a broader perspective of our sport. Through it, I have experienced many firsts. It was my first time winching. It was the first trail build I've been a part of. It was the first time I've had the chance to blaze a trail. Driving a section of trial that no one ever drove before. I met a group of dedicated and passionate four-wheelers who welcomed me as one of their own. For the entire experience and their friendship, I am eternally grateful. Sunday morning, instead of packing up and heading home, Brian, Mike, and I decided to run the trail start to finish. This had never been done before. It seemed fitting to cap off the weekend. Click on the link below to see a few pics of that run. The trail is open now. There will be a party to celebrate the Grand Opening, however, in Brian's words, this is the
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Saturday morning we had four rigs and six volunteers. We headed out
early to make the most of our day. We hope to break through today.
It was fairly chilly that morning.
Some of you may recognize it as Ballerina rock. Here's Brian
winching up the gatekeeper to Crowbar.
That's right, Ballerina rock is the exit of Riffel Canyon.
First carnage award goes to Bear.
This was the first time I'd seen Ballerina. I really wanted to
try driving it, but it's very slippery rock and I didn't want to
waste time....
so I stretched out the cable on my new winch....
and pulled myself right over. First time winching!
It's a squeeze, but Mike's got skills!
You can just make out Brian's Jeep in front, I think this shot shows
us on Riffel. From the direction we entered, Riffel Canyon is off to
the right and up the hill. 
I'm not sure where this is. I just like the shot.
When we got to the point on Riffel where no one had driven further,
we took lunch and then got to work.
Steve caught me making a PB&J. The roof makes a nice table.
Brian is captured taking a breather.
Mike stops eating to pose. 
Then it was to the business at hand. Steve and Benjamin put their
backs into it.
There's lots of raw material to utilize. 
We
worked a couple sections of trail. Making access for rigs, driving a
few feet, stopping to survey and then decided what the next course
of action should be.
At one point, we had to use the bars to break off a section of the
earth's crust that was in the way. We used the pieces to ease the
transition to the next section.
We're almost there. What a view. 
I thought I could see a line, so Brian told me to go for it.
Part of the section, we engineered for travel, part of it was pure
exploration. 
Once we made it this far, we were real close to making the
connection. There was still one more section of labor,
engineering and line sighting. With that done, I drove it to the
Bear Cave. 
Here's Bear dropping out.
Mike's coming down.
