Fordyce 7/24-26

[Letterman]

A week ago I joked with Jes say'in "Lets go run Fordyce next weekend" he said "yes!" Drove up after work on friday, I got to the trail head and found Jes kicking it, and Rick and his wife showed up 20 minutes later. My passenger side hub was not working so we drove into the top of the slabs to camp just before the drop off to the first water crossing. Drove down to the first water Saturday morning:

Drag'in a dead one out of the first crossing:

Water going over the tailgate:

Jes getting wet:

Debbie lift'in the feet off the floor to keep them dry:

 

[Letterman]

Getting some good trail karma letting KJ139 use Ricks welder to glue up a snapped rustys track bar:

Stuck behind some Toyotas on Winch Hill 1, the old hard line was a cake walk:

Jes walk'in WH1:

Winch'in out with LOTS of help from Jes, very tippy even with a string attached:

With the broken Toyota out of the way Jes was back at it:

Rick hav'in way too much fun:

Find'in the tippy lines all the way up:

 

[Letterman]

Tail lite damage thanks to a late night bump from Jes:

Kevin Found us Saturday after noon, Kevin at Commity crossing Sunday morning:

Washing his hands off, too tall to get wet:

No traction on the other side, had to pull a string out:

 

[Letterman]

Rick drop'in down:

Jes snapp'in a photo of Rick crossing:

 

[Letterman]

Daaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Broke my rear drive shaft, busted two hubs, ripped off a KC light, lost all stearing driving out, but my junk still drove home! Always a good time Hang'in with you Jes, thanks for all your help with my junk.

 

[srmitchell]

Nice man! Great pics too.

I heard from my nieghbor that the water isn't as fast right now, last year it was up over his hood. (Tj,5.5 on 35's.) He's headin up there today or tomorrow.
Looks like you had a lot of fun.

 

[Letterman]

Nice man! Great pics too.

I heard from my nieghbor that the water isn't as fast right now, last year it was up over his hood. (Tj,5.5 on 35's.) He's headin up there today or tomorrow.
Looks like you had a lot of fun.

Both Jes and I are on 37's and it was flow'in thrue my rig, my seat was in the watter. I have never had watter come in at the second crossing and I was flooded on this one.

Some did not make it out on there own:

Others were pulling across with no power to the front wheels:

Always hard to tell, rocks move, the river shifts, it did not seem that powerful, but the level seemed higher in some areas.

 

[hiimmred]

Great pics Dave. I want to attempt this trail someday!

Ed

 

[Letterman]

Great pics Dave. I want to attempt this trail someday!

Ed

It is a GREAT trail, but it beat the heck out of my jeep, one hub just exploaded and shot parts so far I only found 40% of it, the other hub just stoped working. My Drive shaft sounded like a gun shot when it broke in half at the CV joint, and I think I have to buy a new power stearing box and pump. I was thinking my Jeep would not make it home Sunday driving back down the hill.

This Toyota broke the passenger side hub right here:

I have so much work to do to my junk before I can take it out again.

 

[hiimmred]

It is this breakage that makes me hesitate to go over 33" tires. I've been pretty hard on my junk with 32's and so far only bent 3 tie-rods. If my budget was a little higher then maybe chromoly's for the D30 and 35's. I think the rear is okay thanks to Jes dealing the D44 shafts to me, and you with the beat but not broke Detroit and gears. You guys rock!

 

[playwithit]

Damn, That's wheel'n. Great pictures. I have a new respect for Fordyce. I am a ways from that trail, both with equipment and experience.

Thanks

 

[kj139]

Thanks again Letterman, Rick and Jes for stopping and helping. You guys really turned our day around. Awesome rigs too. It looks like the trail got even better past us, so next time...(but I think I'll leave the kids at home for Fordyce)...

Kevin

 

[NoCoastFocus]

That trail is rough. I love it but it beat me up the last time too. Glad you made it home safely! Great pics.

 

[Goatman]

Dave, I don't know why that stuff would just blow apart like that. It's a street jeep and you're not hard on it. :huh:

 

[Jes]

Dave, I don't know why that stuff would just blow apart like that. It's a street jeep and you're not hard on it. :huh:

:roflmao:





Great time for sure! I definately wouldn't want to cross the water if it had been any deeper, I actually got water in my center console. Driving out Sunday with a wet seat was rather unpleasant as well.
Here's some pics from the new trail that goes from Cisco Grove camp ground to Eagle Lakes Road. It starts out easy two wheel drive but then starts climbing some really steep and loose sections, the views of I80 are awsome...

...

 

[Jes]

The second I saw the first crossing I knew the water was deep. This leaf sprung covered wagon found out...

I took a lot on and promptly fried my amp. :'(

Dave making short work of WH1...

Rick on some retarded line...

Crossing two...

My right foot and leg got soaked on that one.

 

[Jes]

Thanks again Letterman, Rick and Jes for stopping and helping. You guys really turned our day around. Awesome rigs too. It looks like the trail got even better past us, so next time...(but I think I'll leave the kids at home for Fordyce)...

Kevin

Glad we were able to help(and heckle).
Good to meet you.

 

[Letterman]

Dave, I don't know why that stuff would just blow apart like that. It's a street jeep and you're not hard on it. :huh:

I hit a shopping cart that was stuck between the curb and a parking block at the mall . . .



Again big thanks to Jes and Kevin, if not for them I whould have not got it home on Sunday. I think Jes has a shot of that drive shaft just after I snapped it. Jes did you get a shot of the stuck rock we winched out of my tire/body?

 

[Jes]

No shot of the rock, that thing really shot outta there when I winched on it.