I think Gman has more videos-the raw uncompressed version looks amazing-
Anyway-time for a recap
We arrived at the park somewhere around 10.00 am
After getting instructions on reading the map, and "tight areas" to avoid, we headed out intending on staying on the "outer road" just to get a feel for the place. Someone said go left and we ended up on a black trail within 5 minutes of starting out-
This is where gman got hung up-
Since "oz" was ahead of him he decided to bash his FJ on up the hill, making some disturbing sounds and lurches on the way up.
After this they were lost for about an hour, trying to find there way back to the outer road.
Meanwhile, we unstuck gmans truck and headed back to the main area to plug his ABS sensor back in ===lol 4wd?
we then headed out to look for oz, ended up taking another wrong turn and holy heck now we are back in the rocks with trees 1" on either side everywhere you go. once we were wedged all up in there someone made the announcement," now we're lost".
The hills were interfering with the radio reception so OZ and dee were still nowhere to we found-
so, we got out of there ( along with a new "ding" ) and went back up to the volunteer station.
We raised oz on the radio long enough for some no life-joker with a sideband amp ( or whatever) to walk all over us and also follow on the channel changes-
this added to the confusion. We finally worked it all out and ended up meeting somewhere around the "B" marker.
by this time it is about lunch time, so we enjoyed a nice 17 degree picnic lunch of cold cuts and all kinds of goodies. Gman is the guy to have along. I'm, telling you he is a feaster. We had all kinds of food and fat to eat.
THANKS GREGG!!!!!!!
After lunch we felt a little "huh?" and decided to just figure out how this park actually is laid out, so we went around the rim roads, taking about every combination of turns, trying to just get a handle on the place. We went back up to the bathrooms, and I decided to go play on the playground-no teeter totters and swings here-
This was a truck playground with all kinds of stuff to break your rig. Half of it was unusable for me, but we did try the ramp out. The flax pit was not a place for me so I gave up and drove out of it's side. Still, I am the only truck to not get stuck. I got out of it under my own power. It felt real satisfying to pull the FJ outta there.
Now back to drive the rim roads again.
Around 3:00 or so we finally got the nerve to start down some green trails on purpose.
Just when we finally got the hang of it, I found a little green trail with a 4' deep mud hole hoopdeedoo and went for it. I think the rear of my truck went about 5" in the air as I blazed through there--wee hoo that was fun!!! The squishy slide out of control while in control kind felt cool!!
Well, I was so excited I shot straight across from that to a trail called " ford flip" ( I coulda swore the sign was blue--nope it was black)
I shot up that thing while Sheri was screaming "no don't!" and about hlaf way up I saw the tree stumps sticking out of the rocks-
Somehow I took the correct line and ended up on top!!! HA ha!! right before the top is a 2' ledge-I still don't know how I got over it considering how steep of incline we were on. I was expecting a snapped axle shaft right there.
Sheri got on the radio telling all to not follow us up-I guess the excitement got to us because the response was " didn't you hear me? I'm stuck again!"
oh, that means we have to go back down this thing. ummm
well, it went smooth, just a little bumper adjustment at the bottom and we were back with the group.
We meandered around for a while before deciding the rib eye roast ( yes, a full chunk of rib eye) sounded pretty good right now. So, one last time up the easy over ( ha!) hill for some video and home we went.
Carnage:
Me-door ding from tree. This was my first time ever trying it and yeah--
I wasn't looking well enough.
Oz ( other John) dented up skid plate on the FJ. It's now a real neat s shape
Gman-held up real well with no real carnage other than intermittent 4WD which we need to figure out.
We came back to enjoy a very fine dinner of stuffed portabella mushrooms, baked taters with sour cream, salad and a huge ribeye steak carved from the roast by my good friend Gman.
My daughter is moving to the Raleigh NC area-this came as a surprise so we had to pull out from Sunday fun, as this was the last chance I had to send her off. I think everyone else had enough of the cold anyway, at least I hope this little snag didn't upset anyone.
We had a great time and can't wait to go back.
As for the trails there--I don;t care who you are or what you drive you will fine several places to break your stuff. This is a guarantee.
We were talking with the volunteer for a bit when I mentioned the trails were unegotiable and he thanked me.
Oz ( being even less experience than I) said " you rangers need to get some chainsaws out to move the trees in the way" lol
The ranger chuckled, and answered" that is how you learn to place your truck. The trees are there on purpose"
ah---
Now I get it--
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