CRASH
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foresthill, CA
Well, got home late last night from Best of the West, version 4.0. Had a fantastic time, but then again, how could one have anything but a great time when surrounded by great people and great trails?
The wheeling was very good, and we lucked out on weather - for the most part. Got flooded out of Table Mesa, our first stop, because the Agua Fria River was at or above flood stage. Ran Raw Deal, which is basically the only trail in the area that does not require crossing the river. An average trail when dry, it was very fun when wet, which turned out to be the theme for the whole week. OneTon broke a hub (shocking), and Wisconsin Jeff broke two wheels while descending a V-notch. OEM Waggy wheels are not West Coast approved.
Pulled out for the Florence Junction area Monday morning and went to play in an area called Lower Woodpecker, which is not so much a trail as a very good play area. It was the site of an ARCA comp years ago, and it's always interesting playing on old ARCA lines. In fact, this area was the site of the original Dumb-fest. One of the ARCA lines claimed a rear 30 spline 60 shaft (OneTon's) and a front CTM (Goatman's). Led drove the line with ease, proving that at least one guy from Colorado can wheel. Headed back to our desert camp after dark (me on the tow strap as my adjustable MAP sensor crapped out). Fixed everything back at camp and we were all operational by dawn.
Tuesday, we ran Highway to Hell, a trail we had missed during BOTW I due to breakage earlier in the day. It is tight and tough dry, but when it's raining, and there is water running down the trail, it is MUCH more interesting. This trail claimed sheetmetal and glass. In fact. it was hungry for both. Goatman tore the Panhard bar mount off of the frame on one particular V-notch, forcing a trail fix right in the middle of the stream. Got it ground and welded in a permanent fix-type fashion, and it worked well for the rest of the trip. I lost a rear MTR while bound in a V-notch, but with some hi-lift help we got it plugged and reseated. Didn't get off of the trail until after dark, and we all had a nicely deserved beer back at camp.
Wednesday, we were scheduled to travel to Quartzsite to run Fistful of Dollars, but we soon realized that we were headed into a torrential rainstorm. We decided to bypass and head right into Parker, AZ, which is right on the Colorado River. The rain had come through Parker, but quit just as we were setting camp.
Thursday morning we headed to a couple of trails that were very close to camp, Rio Lobo and President's Choice. Both very good, and Rio Lobo was even more sheetmetal-hungry than Highway to Hell. Presidents Choice had a couple of vicious V-notches that required major air-time to get through. We finished both trails with few mechanical issues, but some scars on the full body rigs. We headed back to camp for a very good carne asada dinner cooked by our favourite chef, Mil.
Friday, the group, sans me, headed back to Quartzite to run Fistful. I decided to head home, and last I checked with Richard, it was a festival of carnage. Someone will have to pick up the stroy from there......
Random thoughts:
Chicago Jeff is the new official photog of the WCGIC. The guy is a madman with a camera, taking almost a gig of photos a day! Quote of the week: "Arizona is to Moab, what Moab is to Attica." - Kid4lyf. 37's and Dana 44's do not play well together in the rocks. Period. Hinkley was his usual cogity self. He tried to steal my dogs. Andy Couch takes his rig places on 33's that would scare most people on 37's. Jes is a better driver than I am. Rick Norman is about the best tour guide you can get in Arizona. Special thanks for all you did. Jumping Chola cactus is the scourge of the Earth and must be destroyed. The Roses are good people. Brad took a nice 99 Cherokee and modified it for rock use. Then the rocks modified it for Arizona use. Alloy USA shafts are not West Coast approved. Sobe bombs rule.
All in all, an excellent trip with very good friends. Can't wait for next year.....Nevada?......Baja?......PNW?......you never can tell where this crew will show up next.
Thanks for the memories.
CRASH
The wheeling was very good, and we lucked out on weather - for the most part. Got flooded out of Table Mesa, our first stop, because the Agua Fria River was at or above flood stage. Ran Raw Deal, which is basically the only trail in the area that does not require crossing the river. An average trail when dry, it was very fun when wet, which turned out to be the theme for the whole week. OneTon broke a hub (shocking), and Wisconsin Jeff broke two wheels while descending a V-notch. OEM Waggy wheels are not West Coast approved.
Pulled out for the Florence Junction area Monday morning and went to play in an area called Lower Woodpecker, which is not so much a trail as a very good play area. It was the site of an ARCA comp years ago, and it's always interesting playing on old ARCA lines. In fact, this area was the site of the original Dumb-fest. One of the ARCA lines claimed a rear 30 spline 60 shaft (OneTon's) and a front CTM (Goatman's). Led drove the line with ease, proving that at least one guy from Colorado can wheel. Headed back to our desert camp after dark (me on the tow strap as my adjustable MAP sensor crapped out). Fixed everything back at camp and we were all operational by dawn.
Tuesday, we ran Highway to Hell, a trail we had missed during BOTW I due to breakage earlier in the day. It is tight and tough dry, but when it's raining, and there is water running down the trail, it is MUCH more interesting. This trail claimed sheetmetal and glass. In fact. it was hungry for both. Goatman tore the Panhard bar mount off of the frame on one particular V-notch, forcing a trail fix right in the middle of the stream. Got it ground and welded in a permanent fix-type fashion, and it worked well for the rest of the trip. I lost a rear MTR while bound in a V-notch, but with some hi-lift help we got it plugged and reseated. Didn't get off of the trail until after dark, and we all had a nicely deserved beer back at camp.
Wednesday, we were scheduled to travel to Quartzsite to run Fistful of Dollars, but we soon realized that we were headed into a torrential rainstorm. We decided to bypass and head right into Parker, AZ, which is right on the Colorado River. The rain had come through Parker, but quit just as we were setting camp.
Thursday morning we headed to a couple of trails that were very close to camp, Rio Lobo and President's Choice. Both very good, and Rio Lobo was even more sheetmetal-hungry than Highway to Hell. Presidents Choice had a couple of vicious V-notches that required major air-time to get through. We finished both trails with few mechanical issues, but some scars on the full body rigs. We headed back to camp for a very good carne asada dinner cooked by our favourite chef, Mil.
Friday, the group, sans me, headed back to Quartzite to run Fistful. I decided to head home, and last I checked with Richard, it was a festival of carnage. Someone will have to pick up the stroy from there......
Random thoughts:
Chicago Jeff is the new official photog of the WCGIC. The guy is a madman with a camera, taking almost a gig of photos a day! Quote of the week: "Arizona is to Moab, what Moab is to Attica." - Kid4lyf. 37's and Dana 44's do not play well together in the rocks. Period. Hinkley was his usual cogity self. He tried to steal my dogs. Andy Couch takes his rig places on 33's that would scare most people on 37's. Jes is a better driver than I am. Rick Norman is about the best tour guide you can get in Arizona. Special thanks for all you did. Jumping Chola cactus is the scourge of the Earth and must be destroyed. The Roses are good people. Brad took a nice 99 Cherokee and modified it for rock use. Then the rocks modified it for Arizona use. Alloy USA shafts are not West Coast approved. Sobe bombs rule.
All in all, an excellent trip with very good friends. Can't wait for next year.....Nevada?......Baja?......PNW?......you never can tell where this crew will show up next.
Thanks for the memories.
CRASH
Last edited:
I've been known to kill light on a regular basis.
