I've definitely had much more trouble and far more damage when going up the middle of the Spring Creek rock garden compared to the fun time I had on Iron Chest and I had no damage then.

Oooo - here's a pic of an Isuzu Rodeo after completing all of Iron Chest with no rock sliders and no rocker panel damage. Rodeo pic.

Low gears will probably help some on Iron Chest. The only vehicle casualty that I remember on last year's Isuzu run was one burned up clutch that was already hurtin' before starting the trail. I just hope we won't be falling asleep waiting for Steve to get through the boulder field. About 4 of us had 32's or 33's on that trip last year. Another 4 or so had 35's-37's.

I think there's 2 people signed up for Chinaman's who don't have rock sliders, but I'm not certain about that. I know that I've spotted a stock height Jeep Cherokee with 31's through Chinaman's without rock sliders and without rocker panel damage. The hardest parts were the Z turn/squeeze obstacle near the start, and also about halfway through the trail - I think it's shortly after going up the waterfall - there's the rock on the left side that you either put the front left up the rock or go a ways up to the right side of the trail to avoid it. I can't think of what else would seriously threaten rocker panels on Chinaman's other than several optional obstacles. That's why I didn't require sliders on that one - I just said "highly recommended". There's certainly a risk for damage.

About the 7:30 start time - yes, I absolutely agree that's dang early. Holy Cross has the potential to use the whole day, plus it's a long drive, so I'm glad we're meeting at 7:30 Thursday for that one. But the primary motivation for starting early on Friday is to ensure we give everyone time prior to the potluck/BBQ that evening - especially since some people will probably have to go to the store prior to it. I definitely agree with Mike that 7:30 would be really early with a few small kids to worry about as well. We could stage Wheeler later and have 2 staging lines in the upper parking lot sometime after 8:00.

 

One clarification about all times listed for trails. Those are meeting times when people should start to gather in the upper parking lot. I wouldn't expect for a trail to actually pull out of the parking lot until at least 15 minutes after that listed time since there's stuff like meeting each other and waiting for everyone on that trail to arrive.

 

Adrian, I can confirm that: Spring Creek's rock garden is an entirely different type of trail.

Yeah, he was barely 100 yards into the trail before he had to park it!

Yeah, and you were hitting bottom a whole bunch. H O W E V E R, don't anyone interpret this to mean I'm saying people shouldn't try it. (In fact, I'm sure this has increased the adrenalin level of some readers. ) I just determined, from Jeff's passenger's seat, that I'd rather not do that trail and risk big damage to my frame (and whatever else is under there). I ony have factory skid plates at this point, so I'm arguably more vunerable than some people. And, of course, it's possible if I had actaully driven the trail, I'd have a different perspective.

Probably you guys -- especially the crew from Arizona -- will have no trouble, and I'll rightfully earn the reputation of wuss. :cry:

8:00 sounds fine. What do you mean by "2 staging lines"? Just two lines because 12 trucks don't fit into one line??

 

Cool. For the Wheeler Lake group, we'll meet at 8:00, leave around 9:30.

No, we'll probably leave around 8:30. I don't know what's wrong with me today. It must be Friday...

 

Have fun on all the bypasses

:chicken:

 

If you are like me, the jambo is all I can think about while at work, so I'm a little scatter-brained, too.

 

After Martinez and Woopecker, this is just more of the same. No biggie.

 

We still visit the steel Yoder left in Martinez Canyon. Sort of a little Colorado shrine. You guys should get your courage up and add to the Yoder shrine.

Unfortunalty there will be NO Arizona shrines in Colorado.



You Coloradans have no clue, but the HomoBurrito will really be a non-issue. I'll just be a guy in the crowd. The REAL show will be between Marmot and Hunt. That why I'm comin and I want a front row seat !!!

 

Hey, Steve and I have done a lot of rocky trails, but it's still stressful hearing your vehicle bang on the boulders

 

Then there will be 2 trails staging at 8:00. Staggering the times every 30 minutes kept it simple since only one trail is staging in the parking lot at any one time.

 

Oh, I get it, your group was going to get to sleep in!

Wheeler folks, I'll be in the gold 4Runner. Line up behind me. (The Iron Chest line will be available for autographs.) ...again, it's Friday.

 

Actually, whichever trail I expect to take the longest is the one that got the ugly 7:30 time. Wheeler Lake has a long drive there and back and the trail is a few miles in each direction plus there's several optional obstacles that I'm sure at least a few people will try or at least play on. Iron Chest is right in our backyard of the campground. I'm not sure many of us will be available for autographs because we'll be too busy oogling under the two trucks that will have 37's, plus the truck on 35's that used to be Scott Wilson's highly modified 4Runner - now owned by Mark. You know, I'm not sure but I think everyone on the Iron Chest trail is locked front/rear even though that's not a requirement.

 

Some rigs with 37's? That is cool. I think that I saw the rig that used yo belong to Mr. Wilson when I was coming back from Moab, it will be cool to see some other rigs. I felt a little out of place last year when Matt, Mark, Mike and I were the only non 3rd Generation runners.

Regarding the crawler, Steve really does keep it moving. I thought for sure it would be a lot of sitting and waiting down there, but it was not at all. I felt like quite a throttle jockey compared to the crawling. It also meant the diligent spotting was punctuated by the obligatory, "SLOW DOWN! SLOW DOWN!"

Mike, this string of replies is about the funniest that I have seen from you, but perhaps I have not been reading enough.

Now there are just 16 sheets of drywall between me and the drive out.

 

That's right, my sharpie and 8X10 glossies are ready to go.


Me posing with a bunch of girls in orange shorts. You know same old thing.

Fartin in Mojo 4Runner, Talkin about Hooters, Watch Jeff drive it like he stole it, Matt breaks down, Sherpa has a meal off of his ultra clean engine.

 

Probably I'm not posting enough. Hey, I got a life!

But I am getting very anxious to go. Kinda remebering how much fun we had last year, and this year the trails will even be good from a technical perspective.

 

Adrian - this year it's about 25% aren't 3rd gen 4Runners.

 

Lance, Alan and myself will probably meet at a gas station on Bowles & C-470 around 5 on Wednesday evening, getting off work around 4:30, then caravaning out. So, if anyone else is interested and could do that as well, let us know. I love seeing 4Runner trains on the highway!

Without traffic delays (hehe, right), we should be pulling into camp around 7:15.

 

Check this page if you haven't already. Print it to unless you have a photographic memory.

I wasn't sure when to stage on Saturday or what channnel to tune the radio to. I'm sure glad I know now.

 

Iron Chest looks alot like "Log Corral" that the AZ Pirate Board guys take "everyone" on once a year.

Martinez is harder. I get the feeling Martinez needs a new rating.

"Of all the places I have ever wheeled in my life, This is the most kick ass trail I have ever been on."

Adrian Flygt in 113 degrees fahrenheit and he signed the "book".

Yoder set my expectations pretty high, I'm expecting alot. It’s a shame Mike Nevitt Can’t make it, he would have really enjoyed the event and would have completed the Hooters Trio.

 

I have to tell you guys that I am very excited about this trip. This is actually the first time I will wheel with an organized event. I can't wait to see 30 rigs lined up.

Now I am not fully armored or even locked "yet" so I will not be climbing with the big boys, but I am pumped to get up there none the less.

Actually I will get to experience the thrill of being "in" the Lead rig on Thursday (Holy Cross). Jeff has been gracious enough to let me reserve his "shotgun" seat. That will be cool I guarantee!

4 days and counting...See you guys Wednesday evening