I just got back a few hours ago from being out the past 12 days for my annual fall outing. I had an awesome time and shot 39+ rolls of film, which should contain some awesome stuff. This trip alone made up for my lack of pictures on the film side this year for me. But, that didn't stop me from getting some "cheap" digital snapshots in, from which the following pictures are.

I didn't do any trails to speak of, just the Ouray entrance to Engineer Pass and up to "The Wall" on Poughkeepsie Gulch, which I took twice, and the most recent being yesterday. Well what do you know, I get stuck there in the parking lot at The Wall! My first time being stuck. I spent about an hour putting some rocks in front and behind the tires and giving it a few attempts without success. Finally aired down to 8 from my usual 15. On my last effort I kept going at it turning the front wheels and eventually got out. I was ecstatic!

A few things to mention:

Are you really stuck if you become unstuck without any recovery aid?

I was circling around the parking lot on my way back down and thought those puddles were going to be like every other one that I encountered, which had a solid base, so I don't feel like I was too much of an idiot or trying to be cool going through them. In fact, I did the exact same thing 2 days prior, but obviously (to me) took a different "line" through the puddles. I wasn't spinning my wheels anyway trying to get the truck dirty, just nice and slow like everything else. The existing dirt on the 'Runner was all "natural."

I'm glad I didn't have an A/T or street-based tire. I might still be there! Though actually I really have no idea how much the tread type helped me here as they were filled with mud and I spun pretty slowly getting out as I don't feel revving it up is the best option. However, on second thought and pure speculation, it was a real slimy mud, so I bet the lugs were able to assist in traction a fair amount.

I'm confident a conventional open-dif˟˟˟˟ 4Runner (and quite possibly the rear locked only ones) would've remained stuck and that my successful escape was a credit to the traction control system. Most of the time (like 80-90%) 2 of the wheels were just sitting there, but every now and again all 4 would turn for awhile, which ultimately did the trick. Yeah, no kidding! Funny how that works.

I've always said we really don't have any mud here in Colorado, but that has always meant in comparison to places like the East Coast. We obviously don't have the big bogs or what not, but this one certainly got the best of me on this day.

Husky Liners are awesome (I already knew this)! My shoes and pant legs were covered up 1 foot with mud and much of this area was tracked in every time I kept getting inside to have another go at it.

8 PSI is REALLY SOFT going over rocks!

Here are some pictures:



Ooey Gooey Part 1



Ooey Gooey Part 2



Gotta get a flex shot (nearing full flex)



Using my bumper, though not the first time



At a photo stop last evening shooting the below scene:

 

Darren, great pic's!

yup- Colorado is definately on the list again-

I will be picking up my '98 GMC 7.4L tow rig on Wednesday- so the Toy's going to play in Colorado

later

 

Awesome pictures and I love that Rock Ware rear bumper!

 

Looks awesome Darren.

That is really ballsy or foolish to go in that mud alone. After wheeling with you and Mike this summer, I am quite impressed by the Trac Control in some situations. I think that a rear locker would perhaps make the system work more strongly on the front perhaps making a computer locker of sorts?

I can't wait until the forum comp for the best pics comes up, I have a beer for anyone can break the top 5 of your coolest pics.

 

Awesome pics, can wait to see the final products from the film.

 

Glad you like 'em, guys! Thanks.

Mark, sounds good you will get some play time in up here again. Back for the harder stuff it would appear! A 7.4, huh? That should do the trick!

Adrian, yeah I was alone there and didn't really think it was going to be anywhere near a threat. It probably always happens like that. I wasn't worried though, as there was quite a bit of traffic on the Engineer Pass road which is about 2 miles or so away. This was our first trail for last year's jam, if you recall. I'm confident other built rigs would've come up this trail later in the day. There were 2 coming down as I was going up. As I was airing down my tires further, I mounted my CB antenna preparing to start radioing out for assistance. I had my tent and all my food with me so I wasn't worried at all. Though it would've been cold waking up at 11,000'!

I'm going to resolve the computer TRAC system next year. I've had enough of it, though it is very good for what it is.

They haven't started the picture comp yet, huh? I'm still trying to catch up on things here and haven't seen most of what I've missed lately. I bet you'd have a beer to hand out though for someone other than me. I would have to think so anyway.

 

Darren,
Thanks for the help in putting up pics. I thought I'd throw them on here since EVERYBODY checks out your threads to see good pics.

 

Darren-
Spectacular pics!

I still wish I could have finished our last trip. Oh well...always next year.