Over 100,000 people, vehicles driving everywhere, and some crazy place called Chocolate Thunder. That’s all the information I had before heading out to Johnson Valley, California for the 18th annual King of the Hammers.
Hey there! If we haven’t met yet, my name is Cam. I’m new to the Bronco Nation team and excited to meet more of the Bronco Nation community! Being from Michigan, the opportunity to get out west is music to my ears, especially in the winter months. However, this isn’t just a regular trip.
First Day at Johnson Valley
Johnson Valley is smack-dab in the middle of the desert, which means you will get a shower of dust, and any weather prediction is bound to change. Believe it or not, snow was in the forecast for one of the days I was there! Layering my daily outfit was key and prepared me best for the chilly mornings, hot days, and cold nights. While walking around, I noticed the experienced attendees all wearing gator masks and ski goggles. That’s typically not my look, but little did I know, they were protecting themselves from the dust. Speaking of protection, make sure you do the classic “look both ways before you cross.” There aren’t any streetlights on a dry lake bed to stop crossing vehicles!
For those of you who don’t already know, Hammertown is a mini-city that exists for one month out of the year. Kinda crazy if you ask me. I recommend taking a day to stroll around to check out all the vendors with cool offerings and try out some of the different food options. I’m a huge sticker fan, so I took full advantage of stuffing all the freebies in my bag. The event covers a massive distance so be sure to bring comfortable, durable shoes and plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Welcome to Bronco Nation Basecamp
While driving through the grounds of KOH, I quickly realized this wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen before. There are more vehicles, campers, and tents than you can count, and a huge Ferris wheel is available to those who want to claim they’ve been on a carnival ride in the desert.
This year the Bronco Nation Basecamp was set up in a perfect location. Not too close to the craziness, but not so far from the action either. On one side of basecamp there were RVs, and on the other side were rows of spots for those who planned on camping (you are braver than I am). Our desert neighborhood came to life with members adopting Bronco Boulevard as their temporary address for the week.
As basecamp started filling up, you could hear the excitement about the events that were planned out. I had some time to go around and check out our members' camping set-ups while chatting about their plans in the days to come. The more conversations I had, the more I came to realize that people traveled far and wide to witness this unique off-road event. Being new to the Bronco Nation team and the off-roading world in general, I was impressed at how close-knit and friendly this community truly is.
Outdoor Fun
When you decide to attend a basecamp, make sure trail rides are on your must-do list. Our trail guides from Bronco Off-Roadeo this year, Melissa, Blake, and Evan, took the lead and navigated the group through all sorts of off-roading terrain such as sand dunes and rock crawl areas. Bronco Knoll, Rattlesnake Canyon, and Fry Mountain were just a few of the locations they hit. Each of these guides has extensive knowledge of what your vehicle is capable of and will even get out of their vehicle to spot you if needed! Whenever we reached our destination, the pictures could never do the view justice.
Bronco Sport owners got their chance for some desert fun by heading to Bronco Sport Summit as well as ripping around in the sand dunes. One member had mentioned it was his first time airing down tires in his Bronco Sport, but after watching how he pushed his vehicle's limits by racing through high-speed areas and easily navigating rock crawls, you would have thought he was an experienced off-roader. It really goes to show how all Bronco Nation members can get involved – no matter their experience level or Bronco model.
If I learned anything from my trip, it’s that if I can do it anybody can. King of the Hammers is an experience that everyone needs to have at least once. I had an absolute blast this year getting to meet the Bronco Nation. If you didn’t get to make it out this year, I hope to see you at one of our next events.
Until next time!
P.S. I think I might still have sand in my ears...
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