PRIOR EVENT
Hungry Valley
SVRA (Gorman)
3/25/2023 @8:45am
UPDATED - WE ARE NOW MEETING AT NORTH ENTRANCE!!!
We are getting back to our roots for a return to the location of the first-ever SCORCH meetup. We're hitting the Hungry Valley SVRA off-roading park for a group ride with something for everyone. We've carved out a day run that will take us all over the 19,000 acre wheeling playground located in the Tejon Pass north of Los Angeles along the Interstate 5 corridor.
The park includes a robust practice area that we'll hit right off the bat, so you can warm up or expand your driving skills at the top of the ride. The day will include navigating miles of scenic single paths to points of interest as well as romping through open areas with multiple options. Besides a couple of steep switchbacks, everything difficult has a workaround, but there are still plenty of chances to tackle optional challenges.
We’ll take a long lunch break together somewhere scenic, depending on where we are when lunchtime hits and how big our group is. The park has plenty of space for groups and also has vault toilets in many locations. This event will definitely be family friendly due to its shorter duration and the ability to either avoid or embrace challenges.
We are managing our RSVPs on Meetup. Come on out! Read on for more info.
HOW HARD IS THIS RIDE?
It's as hard as you want it to be, up to a point. The plan is to cover about 50-55 miles. For the most part we will be on prescribed dirt routes that are easy to traverse, but will be frequently driving by optional challenges such as steep hills, rocks, or narrow side paths. The day includes a visit to the Off Road Practice Area, which has a range of rock and mud challenges you can engage in or just watch.
We will briefly take a"black diamond" trail, but do not freak out. We will be off the trail before we hit the obstacle that makes it a black diamond. Plus, the rating system at Hungry Valley is a little wonky. It seems as if stock Kia Sorento was used as a baseline. The biggest issue you will face is that there are a few steep hills you may not be able to go around. Not twisty steep as in "oh shit I am going to roll," it's more like "I really wish I didn't have bald tires and zero torque on this steep incline."
While the ride does have the option to push yourself, this is in no way a constant to-the-max event. You can check out a map of the park right here.
We are NOT going to do that crazy "gatekeeper" spot on Pronghorn Trail. We checked it out on a scout before the storms and it was already too chewed up to get down. Speaking of storms, there have been several since our scout and at least one trail we had in mind is closed. Conditions will have changed by the time we get there, so there may be a few surprises.
WHEN AND WHERE
UPDATED - WE ARE NOW MEETING AT NORTH ENTRANCE
We are meeting at 8:45am with a plan to the plan is to have you back on the road by 4pm at the latest but hopefully earlier than that. To pull that off, we need you all aired-down and ready for a driver’s meeting at 9am sharp so we can be rolling by 9:15am.
We are meeting at the North Entrance to the park. Just type "Hungry Valley SVRA North" into Google/Waze to get there. Here is a map to the exact spot. Look for the red SCORCH Jeep Wrangler. There are gas stations right of the freeway before you enter the park.
BE PREPARED
Here are some recommended items to bring along. We get a little kickback from Bezos if you buy any with our links. You can also visit our store for more gear suggestions.
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Lunch
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VHF Radio ( good one / better one )
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A Camp Chair for Chilling ( like this one )
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A jacket (might be cold and windy)
$5 PARK ENTRANCE FEE
There is a $5 fee to enter Hungry Valley SVRA, though if you have an Adventure Pass or other state park pass, you can use that. National Park passes, like the America the Beautiful Pass, will not work at this state run park. SCORCH will cover your park fee if you don't have it. Just let Trail Boss Jonathan Z know during the air-down before entering the park that you need to be covered.
SCORCH is not officially hosting a campsite but you can use the event chat on Meetup to coordinate with other SCORCHers who might be interested in finding and forming a camp.
THE DISCLAIMER
The organizers of SCORCH meetups are not responsible for any damage done to your person or vehicle at the events, getting to the events, or after the events. We are a group of adults meeting up for an activity that takes a high degree of personal responsibility. All participants must do so at their own risk.
If you act like an asshat, douche, idiot, jerk, or in any way behave or operate your vehicle in a manner that is a risk or annoyance to others or does not respect the rules of the land we are on, you will be asked to leave the ride and be possibly ejected from SCORCH.