Bear with me I'm winging it. 
Wednesday morning I finished loading the last few items into the Jeep. I had all my usual wheeling gear, camping gear, and then the additional half ton of raffle prizes and event supplies. The plan was to ideally meet up with PDX1 convoy leaving at 11am with the three ZJ's, John, and Nick.
While waiting at the rendevous point, Nick updated me that Scott was having some trailer issues, and would be a few hours. So John, Nick, and I hit the road around noon up I5.
The first leg of I5 went by in a flash, from there we got onto HWY12 which puts the US97 route of years past to shame. We made good time, and started up White Pass. Part of it was shut down to one lane, and we luckily got there toward the end of the wait.
Final leg.
After pulling into Long Meadow I went to shift into first, and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor. A quick assessment determined the reservoir ran dry, and the their was a leak likely off the internal slave. I added some fluid, pumped the pedal, and had pressure again.
We scouted the area and began setting up our home away from home. Rory had pulled in just before us, and Steve had arrived the previous day. The ZJ crew, and PDX2 convoys arrived later that night. Where were the north enders?
Thursday morning we got a slow start, but finally decided to go pre run the route to the rocks. Due to the flooding over spring, our only direct route to the rocks was off 1702 twelve miles down 410. Once we got to the trails, Kris lead the way to the rocks.
The rocks were mostly clear of all snow except for the patch in the trees below. Katrina was determined to push through a small drift.
While some were breaking a trail in the snow, others were on the rocks.
I explored a bit up top, and had Nick spot me up the crack with no problem. Kris blew a driver 760, so while he changed that out a few headed over to Moon Rocks. I started to get the itch to try something new, and began eying the "Snag Line." Shortly after I found myself idling up the base of it. The front end grabbed and started to climb much to my amazement. It felt like it was going to walk right up, but the last little break over proved to be a challenge. I tried a few different lines, and decided to cut hard passenger to get some grip on the rock up top.. bad idea. Front end got really light, and suddenly I was staring at the sky. You know your not in a good spot when you can feel the wind teetering the entire Jeep. Warn came through once again, and helped bring me back down from two tires on the ground to four.
On the way out we got word on the radio Aaron had ripped an LCA apart. The bushing cradle had pulled apart. Ratchet straps were Mcgyvered into place to try and hold the axle in place.
At one of the turn offs on the 1701 I second guessed myself, and wanted to confirm with Kris who was behind me I went the right way. With all the dust I radioed that the front was stopping. As I look out my window behind me I see Streetpirate come in, and veer off the road. Unfortunately, he found the only drainage hole on the road, and launched his "Sex Palace" four feet in the air. He came down hard, and the WTF look on his face was priceless. It was like it was straight out of the Dukes of Hazzard. After a quick look it was very apparent his Jeep was smiling at us, and the front axle was bent, but still drivable.
Friday morning seemed to come sooner than expected. The "Epic Run" was scheduled to leave at 0800. Since I didn't trust my slave cylinder leak, I rode passenger in Simple Green with Darren.
Kaner Flats was surprisingly in decent shape, and somewhat dry. Rich was elected to lead, and tested the waters. On the first obstacle he sunk it to the axles in the mud. With some creative winch work we got him free, and the group through. Hans, continuing on up 676.
Rory was just thrilled about the mud.
Wednesday morning I finished loading the last few items into the Jeep. I had all my usual wheeling gear, camping gear, and then the additional half ton of raffle prizes and event supplies. The plan was to ideally meet up with PDX1 convoy leaving at 11am with the three ZJ's, John, and Nick.
While waiting at the rendevous point, Nick updated me that Scott was having some trailer issues, and would be a few hours. So John, Nick, and I hit the road around noon up I5.
The first leg of I5 went by in a flash, from there we got onto HWY12 which puts the US97 route of years past to shame. We made good time, and started up White Pass. Part of it was shut down to one lane, and we luckily got there toward the end of the wait.
Final leg.
After pulling into Long Meadow I went to shift into first, and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor. A quick assessment determined the reservoir ran dry, and the their was a leak likely off the internal slave. I added some fluid, pumped the pedal, and had pressure again.
We scouted the area and began setting up our home away from home. Rory had pulled in just before us, and Steve had arrived the previous day. The ZJ crew, and PDX2 convoys arrived later that night. Where were the north enders?
Thursday morning we got a slow start, but finally decided to go pre run the route to the rocks. Due to the flooding over spring, our only direct route to the rocks was off 1702 twelve miles down 410. Once we got to the trails, Kris lead the way to the rocks.
The rocks were mostly clear of all snow except for the patch in the trees below. Katrina was determined to push through a small drift.
While some were breaking a trail in the snow, others were on the rocks.
I explored a bit up top, and had Nick spot me up the crack with no problem. Kris blew a driver 760, so while he changed that out a few headed over to Moon Rocks. I started to get the itch to try something new, and began eying the "Snag Line." Shortly after I found myself idling up the base of it. The front end grabbed and started to climb much to my amazement. It felt like it was going to walk right up, but the last little break over proved to be a challenge. I tried a few different lines, and decided to cut hard passenger to get some grip on the rock up top.. bad idea. Front end got really light, and suddenly I was staring at the sky. You know your not in a good spot when you can feel the wind teetering the entire Jeep. Warn came through once again, and helped bring me back down from two tires on the ground to four.
On the way out we got word on the radio Aaron had ripped an LCA apart. The bushing cradle had pulled apart. Ratchet straps were Mcgyvered into place to try and hold the axle in place.
At one of the turn offs on the 1701 I second guessed myself, and wanted to confirm with Kris who was behind me I went the right way. With all the dust I radioed that the front was stopping. As I look out my window behind me I see Streetpirate come in, and veer off the road. Unfortunately, he found the only drainage hole on the road, and launched his "Sex Palace" four feet in the air. He came down hard, and the WTF look on his face was priceless. It was like it was straight out of the Dukes of Hazzard. After a quick look it was very apparent his Jeep was smiling at us, and the front axle was bent, but still drivable.
Friday morning seemed to come sooner than expected. The "Epic Run" was scheduled to leave at 0800. Since I didn't trust my slave cylinder leak, I rode passenger in Simple Green with Darren.
Kaner Flats was surprisingly in decent shape, and somewhat dry. Rich was elected to lead, and tested the waters. On the first obstacle he sunk it to the axles in the mud. With some creative winch work we got him free, and the group through. Hans, continuing on up 676.
Rory was just thrilled about the mud.
