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Great weather arrived Saturday morning by the time we left for the trail at 9:30 AM ish. We headed for ‘the road’ to run it from the south. Evan trailered his CJ to the trail head. He inadvertently forgot to leave the jeep in gear and set the brake. So as soon as the last strap was released the jeep rolled off the trailer, proceeded across the road backwards, with Evan chasing it, and slammed into the back of YJ. Luckily Joe and Andy dove out of the way. After separating the two jeeps to assess the damage we found there was nothing major. The jeeps met exactly bumper to bumper just breaking off a corner of Evan’s bumper and taking just a little silver off of YJ’s bumper. After Bob saw everything was OK he affixed a bone head sticker to Evans dash.
Shortly into the ride is the first obstacle. A rock cliff that used to be climbed by using tree roots to the left side. That can no longer be done due to the rock growing larger. Howler just muscled up, Evan took the rock wall side straightening some sheet metal, and the rest of us pulled.
A little further up the trail Andy’s ARB stopped working, ending forward progress for the YJ. Evan trouble-shot it and found the power to the fuse box had come loose. Reconnect and off to the next obstacle. This one was also a ledge that must be climbed at an angle making for some big air and great pictures.
Some time that morning a motor mount broke in Evan’s CJ so he chained the engine to the frame at lunch. This trail is a great trail with good obstacles and many off camber spots. By about 4 pm we were at the water hole where we turned around to run the trail backwards. Not 10 minutes up the trail the chain failed and the fan tore up the radiator. We turned again, went through the water, and out at the north point, stopping every now and then to let the crippled cj cool off. Bob took Evan back to get the trailer while the rest of us dreamed of dinner. Evan and Glen returned home afterwards.
Sunday morning at breakfast we meet a local guy, Justin, and his girl friend, Danielle. After some trail talk we invited them to wheel with us for the day. The morning brought us to Notch Rooad. Justin led the way through some very tight trails that opened up to some very scenic trails. Some off camber spots made for some more fun. Bob showed us the spot where Bill Lang rolled.
The afternoon made for some real fun. Justin took us out on a local trail they call Frenchey's Pass. This trail had ravines, ruts, hill climbs so slippery you couldn’t walk it without sliding, sharp turns, tight spots, and a final mud pit. Every truck slid into a tree and every truck had to winch in two spots except Bob, he only had to winch once. The trail ended with lots of new pin stripes, two bent rear license plates, one busted reverse light, one busted front flare, and grins from ear to ear.
The trip ended at the Golden Eagle for dinner with our new friends. We exchanged numbers and good-byes. Mondays ride was canceled due to exhaustion.
