Extreme4Wheelin' Monthly Run, June 2003

(Click on image to enlarge)

This month we went back to the Clayton area, to the Freelings offroad park.  It's an early rise for the drive down, but it's a beautiful morning with the sun just peaking thru the clouds and the fog lifting out of the valleys.

The ground is a little damp, but not real wet.  Traction is good, however that won't last long.

Traction is a little too good for Ray as he blows up a left front axle joint on the first big climb.  Of course, I'm sure it had not ever been stressed before.  Right Ray? ;-)

The rest of the group works up the hill.  Including Ken, with his new beast.  First trail run on the BIG Chief!

Up comes the 'Rock Frog'.   By the end of the day we had renamed it 'Lep Frog'.  Gotta love that skinny peddle!

At this point everything is going well, until the rain hit!  A pretty good shower moved in and drenched all the trails.  Nothing like a little slime on the rock to make it interesting!

Is it getting a little slick Ken?

This was the first Extreme run for Paul.  I hope it's not the last after he 'placed' his YJ between a rock and a hard place (well, more like two trees).

But, nothing two trucks and winches can't fix.

However, the tail lights may be another matter.  Actually, only one tail light was broken in the tree incident.   The other one, well, that story you'll have to ask Paul to tell.... :-)

Man this is some of the slimiest stuff when wet.  The description greased owl ____ comes to mind!  This is a pretty tough hill, that is taking it's toll.  A couple deep holes, trees in just the wrong place, an covered in slime.  And that's just the bypass!

Here, Steve is working on the real challenge.  He finally gets a line and with lots of left foot and a timely turn before entering the trees, and is the first to make it up.

Next comes Jayson.  He got past the first spot, but gets hung just above.  That has to be the hardest I've seen that V6 run since Little Sahara!  But, he finally makes it.

And last was me.  I decide I'd take a look at the big climb before going to the bypass.  I was asked what line I planed to take.  My response, second gear!  I got my front tires started up the hill then buried the throttle!  Steve snapped this shot as he scrambled out of the way.  I think it pretty well summed up my approach.  But hey, it worked, I did land on top (although the back tires did touch down before the front)!

At this point our fearless leader Jody, was having alternator issues so he headed out early.  The rest of the group headed down to tackle TSOB.  Over two hours later most of the group managed to find a bypass out!  TSOB in the wet brings a whole new understanding of the name......

Another trip survived.   Thanks to everyone for coming out, and thanks to Jody for the pics.  We've defiantly got some more video for Steve's end of the year compilation!