A hair raising experience (or not)
The pansies met the troopers at about 8:30 am, never thought we would make it on time, at Gretchen's for an early start to this adventure. Thirteen trucks and their crews lined up to enter a different way than last year. Armed with our only color map was our trail leader Evan and copilot/navigator Jake, (both no hair). Shortly into the ride we all had to turn around as another truck was broken down on the trail. Finding another trail we crawled along stopping only to spot or winch someone through a though spot. Jim (still has hair), was the first to break. Tie rod end snapped in half and had to be repaired. Jim ( still has hair) wrenched while his young son Bobby (new hair) watched. Good time to set up the BBq's and have lunch. Dimitri (no hair) and Stephanie (nice hair) manned two grills while Joe (no hair) and Andy (hair) manned another. Bob and Joan (both hair) brought swirled sausage that was a real treat. The tie rod was welded together by Ted, (hair) and Evan (no hair) and reinstalled by Jim (still has hair).
After Dimitri (no hair) and Blain (plenty of hair) played for a while on the rock ledges we headed back to the trail with Gene (way too much hair) in his green Rubi pulling up the rear. Shortly after lunch Amasa (hair) ripped a MTR side wall with his tied up sway bar end. While the tire change was made our leaders (both no hair) attacked two of the three lines of the next obstacle. When we arrived; the brave Ted (hair), and Dimitri (no hair) attempted and made the hardest line climbing rock and tree, and almost tipping over to walk this line. Ben (hair), with full family (all hair) in jeep and Mike (perfect hair) powered their V8 CJ's over the rock ledge route with only a little rocking from the bystanders. Blaine's (hair) locking hub gave up the ghost on the same ledge providing a natural lift for an easier repair. He, with dog wrapped around his neck, finished the obstacle easily.
Jake (no hair), with the only color map, found this really good black trail which some of us spent the rest of the afternoon on while the Bob (hair) repaired Jim's (still has hair) tie rod again. It was twisty, tight, muddy, and very off camber in spots. Evan and Jake spotted all the trucks through most of the obstacles before Gene's (way to much hair) Rubi broke its front drive shaft. A trail repair would have taken way to long so Gene (way to much hair) hobbled out in 2 wheel drive with Mike (perfect hair), along with Andy (hair), pulling and helping along the way. Bobby (new hair) sustained some body damage stuffing his too wide JK through two too narrow rocks. Arriving back at the field the Howler, plagued by power steering problems, driven by Bob and Joan (both hair), ate its brand new aluminum radiator with its own electric fan.
Back at the hotel all showered and washed hair, or not, before some adult beverages and dinner.
Sunday brought clear skies and a small group going out for a half day ride. Jake (no hair) left the night before with our only color map so Andy (hair) with navigator Joe (no hair) lead the way with only a black and white map. Blaine (plenty of hair) only made it a short way before he realized a stub shaft must have broken. He headed out the way he came in. We went in the way the group wanted to go the first day on a blue (we think) trail. A nasty off camber spot took out Mike's (perfect hair) new besttop. Andy (hair) threaded through and up the rocks almost flipping his jeep. He sat a little higher after that. Mark (hair, go figure) squeezed by and climbed the rocks with no problems at all and Gene (way too much hair) with his fat JK played it smart and went around the squeeze and up the rocks.
Andy (hair) and Joe (no hair), with his black and white map, lead the group to a trail which after starting Mark (hair) realized it was the same as Saturdays trail backwards. Backwards did prove to be more difficult in places resulting in winching for some of us. Andy (hair) got so stuck that he had to winch forward while Mike (perfect hair) pulled him sideways from the back. Gene (way too much hair) ended up in the same spot needing to winch forward. I think it was here he damaged a quarter panel up by the window channel.
Back at the field we loaded up, washed some, changed to clean cloths and headed home. This writer (no hair) had a really good time and is looking forward to returning soon.
