AlaskaToy
24 Feb 06, 05:21 pm
Here is an old write-up I did on a trail off Quarry. Thought it was long gone. Good old Google; gotta loved the cached pages...
I turned on the FRS at about 1015, after I'd decided not to go. After hearing a few squawks, I couldn't resist, "Honey, mind if I try to catch up to those guys?" I grabbed my radio and cell and hip waders (WAY good call on the waders), and headed out, calling on the radio. I got in contact and ask where I could catch up at. I got directions and Donnie and Gary volunteered to meet me at the trailhead in Donnie's ride. I found them easily and while I aired down with Donnies auto deflators, Donnie showed me some stuck pics of Wally in the first hole on the trail.
I pointed out exactly what Wally did wrong, and we headed in. I took the first hole straight on and promptly replayed Wally's first stuck of the day in a blue Toy instead of a red Cherokee. I'm such a pro . I winched myself out which set the tone for the rest of the day. Wally and Dave walked up the trail and caught a ride with me to where Wally was mired down in a pretty soft spot. I winched him out then Dave right after. We unhooked the sammi from the cable and watched Dave drive on until he was summarily stopped by an invisible mud demon; the sammi went from go to stop in zero flat. A quick tug and he was finally free. Last through, showing some technical skills, Gary slogged, squirmed, feathered, and flogged his way through unassisted. We agreed, we hate him.
We took the right fork this time, Wally in the lead. He eased the Jeep into an icy water hole and promptly ran out of traction. Donnie spooled out cable as the cold swamp water came though the driver side door and rear hatch. It took some doing to find Wally's submerged tow point - the water was COLD. The XJ came out slow but easy. Then somehow, Wally got talked into trying again. I had nothing to do with it!
there is a considerable amount still missing here regarding wally's 2nd attemp and subsequent field repairs which ultimately lead to an early demise of his 4.0 a couple weeks later.
Then getting back out was the goal. Some goal. We should have set our sights lower. I was in the front, then Dave, then Gary, then Donnie then Wally. I got stuck backing up to get Gary who was mired in the thrashed trail. Dave went around me and rolled out about 100' feet of cable off my winch. I hooked up to Gary, planning to pull us both free. All was going as planned till my new 9500 went click. In both directions. Click was all I could get.
Boy was I pissed. I guess to Warn, "go prepared" means bring a Ramsey. Dam it. Donnie, Wally and Gary carefully picked a new "unestablished" line around the stuck, winchless Toy. Wally and I looked for any obvious problems on the winch and found nothing. Donnie winched me out and I tossed my now detached cable in the bed. Donnie spouted some smack about a "real" Jeep to Wally, and the challenge was on. He went back to try the stretch none but the sammi piloted by Dave had conquered on the way out. The "real" Rubicon demonstrated its inability to make it even as far as I did before he had to winch himself the rest of the way thru. At least his winch still works. So, on we rolled, to head out. There was some mention of how I was gonna get my long wheel-base Toy thru the bypass at the First obstacle that had already claimed the only two rigs that tried it on the way in. Wally assured everyone I could be guided thru the bypass with a spotter. When we got to the hole, Wally and Dave took the bypass with Gary behind them. I watched as Dave made a 3 point turn to get thru the bypass-in the samurai! Well, that didn't seem like too much fun to me. While Gary picked his way thru, Donnie came to my window to see what I was planning since I wasn't pointed at the bypass. I told him my plan was to try the hole again, but I'd take the highest line I could. I had to use a little mojo to keep from sliding left into the hole. I chose 2.28 low and 2nd gear for the run. The line was good, but even more slippery than I'd hoped. The speed was as close to perfect as I could have hoped. I went thru smoothly, keeping the front pointed where it needed to be, but the rear slid left pretty quick at the bottom, eliciting a short swishing sound as the left rear tire unseated itself from the wheel. But I was thru. Aside from the busted bead and telltale lateral ruts in the hole, I thought it worked pretty sweet. I got lightly scolded for not allowing enough notice for anyone to get it on video, but I strapped the axle to the frame while Dave jacked up the rear end. I cleaned the bead as best I could by hand and hit it with some air from my little tank. The tire seated easily. We packed up and rolled out. Donnie reported an off center steering wheel on the way home, but that was about it.
I turned on the FRS at about 1015, after I'd decided not to go. After hearing a few squawks, I couldn't resist, "Honey, mind if I try to catch up to those guys?" I grabbed my radio and cell and hip waders (WAY good call on the waders), and headed out, calling on the radio. I got in contact and ask where I could catch up at. I got directions and Donnie and Gary volunteered to meet me at the trailhead in Donnie's ride. I found them easily and while I aired down with Donnies auto deflators, Donnie showed me some stuck pics of Wally in the first hole on the trail.
I pointed out exactly what Wally did wrong, and we headed in. I took the first hole straight on and promptly replayed Wally's first stuck of the day in a blue Toy instead of a red Cherokee. I'm such a pro . I winched myself out which set the tone for the rest of the day. Wally and Dave walked up the trail and caught a ride with me to where Wally was mired down in a pretty soft spot. I winched him out then Dave right after. We unhooked the sammi from the cable and watched Dave drive on until he was summarily stopped by an invisible mud demon; the sammi went from go to stop in zero flat. A quick tug and he was finally free. Last through, showing some technical skills, Gary slogged, squirmed, feathered, and flogged his way through unassisted. We agreed, we hate him.
We took the right fork this time, Wally in the lead. He eased the Jeep into an icy water hole and promptly ran out of traction. Donnie spooled out cable as the cold swamp water came though the driver side door and rear hatch. It took some doing to find Wally's submerged tow point - the water was COLD. The XJ came out slow but easy. Then somehow, Wally got talked into trying again. I had nothing to do with it!
there is a considerable amount still missing here regarding wally's 2nd attemp and subsequent field repairs which ultimately lead to an early demise of his 4.0 a couple weeks later.
Then getting back out was the goal. Some goal. We should have set our sights lower. I was in the front, then Dave, then Gary, then Donnie then Wally. I got stuck backing up to get Gary who was mired in the thrashed trail. Dave went around me and rolled out about 100' feet of cable off my winch. I hooked up to Gary, planning to pull us both free. All was going as planned till my new 9500 went click. In both directions. Click was all I could get.
Boy was I pissed. I guess to Warn, "go prepared" means bring a Ramsey. Dam it. Donnie, Wally and Gary carefully picked a new "unestablished" line around the stuck, winchless Toy. Wally and I looked for any obvious problems on the winch and found nothing. Donnie winched me out and I tossed my now detached cable in the bed. Donnie spouted some smack about a "real" Jeep to Wally, and the challenge was on. He went back to try the stretch none but the sammi piloted by Dave had conquered on the way out. The "real" Rubicon demonstrated its inability to make it even as far as I did before he had to winch himself the rest of the way thru. At least his winch still works. So, on we rolled, to head out. There was some mention of how I was gonna get my long wheel-base Toy thru the bypass at the First obstacle that had already claimed the only two rigs that tried it on the way in. Wally assured everyone I could be guided thru the bypass with a spotter. When we got to the hole, Wally and Dave took the bypass with Gary behind them. I watched as Dave made a 3 point turn to get thru the bypass-in the samurai! Well, that didn't seem like too much fun to me. While Gary picked his way thru, Donnie came to my window to see what I was planning since I wasn't pointed at the bypass. I told him my plan was to try the hole again, but I'd take the highest line I could. I had to use a little mojo to keep from sliding left into the hole. I chose 2.28 low and 2nd gear for the run. The line was good, but even more slippery than I'd hoped. The speed was as close to perfect as I could have hoped. I went thru smoothly, keeping the front pointed where it needed to be, but the rear slid left pretty quick at the bottom, eliciting a short swishing sound as the left rear tire unseated itself from the wheel. But I was thru. Aside from the busted bead and telltale lateral ruts in the hole, I thought it worked pretty sweet. I got lightly scolded for not allowing enough notice for anyone to get it on video, but I strapped the axle to the frame while Dave jacked up the rear end. I cleaned the bead as best I could by hand and hit it with some air from my little tank. The tire seated easily. We packed up and rolled out. Donnie reported an off center steering wheel on the way home, but that was about it.