Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 03:20:05 EST
Reply-To: SyncroHead@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Davis <SyncroHead@AOL.COM>
Subject: Syncro Safari '99 - Place & Date
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Hello Syncronauts!
It's time (actually much later than I'd hoped) to get serious about choosing a
location and a date for the 1999 Syncro Safari. We have three contenders for
the distinction of becomming the venue of the 1999 Syncro Safari: Saline/Death
Valley, California, Yellowstone area in Wyoming & Montana, and around
Quesnel, Brittish Columbia.
Each of the locations is interesting and although the route we choose wouldn't
be suitable for a 2WD vehicle, they won't be "hard core" either. We don't
expect to damage our vehicles. We don't expect to need winches. About the
only thing that your Syncro should have that VW didn't install are "all-
terrain" tires.
These locations also allow the potential to include 2WD Vanagons in the event
also. Not on the 4x4 trails, but 2WD Vanagonians could camp with the Syncro
Safari group, see 2WD accessable sites (many available) and socialize with
oter Vanagon owners.
We have discussed the pros and cons of these venues in the past, but here is a
thumnail description of each potential event.
Saline/Death Valley, California
Timing: Spring, like late March / Early April
Pros: Near many California Syncronauts, Scenic desert landscapes,
Many great sites in Death Valley & surrounding areas
Well documented 4x4 routes require less coordination than
other nominated venues
Cons: Moab was a mostly desert area & it would be nice to have a change.
Many mile of roads in this area are washboard
A long way for Canadian Syncronauts to travel
Yellowstone Area, Wyoming/Montana
Timing: Summer, like late June / Mid/Late July (likely want to avoid 7-4-99)
Pros: Close to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks
(the 4 wheeling wouldn't be in the parks)
Wildlife viewing including wild horses in the Pryor Mountain
Wild Horse Range. Forested area is a change from Moab.
Syncronauts Tom & JeanAnn Kirk have volunteered to coordinate
& check potential routes & campsites.
Cons: A long way for me (being a bit selfish) to travel.
Not much in the way of printed guides available for 4x4
routes in the area.
Quesnel area, British Columbia
Timing: Summer, like late June / Mid/Late July (likely want to avoid 7-4-99)
Pros: Set in Canadian Rockies - nice scenery
Wildlife viewing, near Moose Heights :)
Forested area is a change from Moab
Syncronaut David Marshall has volunteered to coordinate
& check potential routes & campsites.
Cons: A REALLY long way for many to travel (474 miles north of Seattle)
Not much in the way of printed guides available for 4x4
routes in the area.
I don't want to pretend to be completely impartial here. If I were to pick a
site today, I'd go for the Montana/Wyoming proposal. However, I don't want to
"throw" a Syncro Safari for just a couple Syncronauts though. I'd like
everyone who is seriuosly considering attending this event to rate their
liklihood of attending EACH of these potential trips. Please respond with
return email.
Please use the following scale:
0=Would not plan to attend (0-5% chance)
1=Might attend (6-25% chance)
2=Would like to attend (26-74% chance)
3=Would probably attend (75-94% chance)
4=Would definitely attend (95-100% chance)
Saline/Death Valleys, CA 0 1 2 3 4
Yellowstone Area, MT/WY 0 1 2 3 4
Quesnel Area, BC 0 1 2 3 4
This is more or less a poll, not a direct vote. First, I'll give
consideration to where I want to have the event. Next, consideration to
attendees of the Syncro Safari, Moab '98 event, and then everyone else.
If you've recieved this message through the vanagon mailing list, & are
interested in the Syncro Safari event, I suggest you visit the Syncro Safari
web site and consider subscribing to the SyncroSafari mailing list. Visit:
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/syncrohead/SyncroSafari.html">
http://members.aol.com/syncrohead/SyncroSafari.html</A>
Regards,
Jim Davis
