Extreme 4 Wheelin'
Freilings ORV Park, April 9th 2005
(Click on image to enlarge)

It's a perfect spring day for wheelin'!  We've got about a half dozen trucks that have made the trip to Freilings park outside Clayton.

For a little warm-up, we make a run around Hummer loop.  Walt and Earl make the climb up.

Next comes Hamid.  It's a bit slick in spots.

Then JC powers up in the Toy.

Next we'll get the suspensions warmed up as we work our way back up the trail.

Now that everyone is warmed up, we'll take a run at upper TSOB.
Hamid's progressing, but need a couple rocks to get past a snag.

Walt and Jack are getting used to the new rig. 
Jayson's old Sami looks good with 1-ton's under it.

Now JC is demonstrating how you get thru the rocks with an open front axle. 
Ya can't get hung up if the tires never touch the ground....

Once they get all the stuff picked up and back in JC's bed, we'll take a break for lunch.

After lunch, we hit on a pretty good obstacle just a little past the slab.  I manage to break a lower link during my attempt, so we have a little down time while I get the heim joint replaced.

Next, Norm takes a shot at the spot.

But, He's not doing much better.

Then Tim backs into a tree and smashes a brake line.  Well, good thing we've got vice grips...

It's a quick fix (well, patch) then he's giving the spot a try.

Next Walt takes a shot with the Sami. 
But, it's just too slimy to even get the front tires up the ledge.

After going around that one, we take a couple nice easy runs back down the hill.  Now folks are are ready to give lower TSOB a shot...

JC's really having a tough time in the Toy with that open front.   But, he's not done yet.

Now Jack get some seat time in the Sami

There's plenty of tough stuff on this trail.  It takes some work...

We are almost up to the big wall, there's one more good obstacle left.   But, Norm manages to separate his steering shaft.

While Norm's making repairs, I notice this guy checking out the action while sunning on a rock.

Repairs are about done, ready to progress onward...

Tim, you need to put up a slash shield, or just keep your head inside.  
Because you're getting all muddy...

A few more to go and we'll all be up at the wall..

Looks like I'm the first to tackle the wall.

There's a new rock that's washed down on top. It's making it even more difficult.  I've got the front end up, but just no bite to pull on over.  Oh well, a little tug from the winch gets me out.

Thanks to Norm's sister Marjorie for taking these pictures of me on the wall...

Next up is Norm. 
With the mud down below, just getting the front tires on top is quite a challenge!

He's finally got the front tires on top when.....

Well, we've seen that before.  I'll bet he remembered his water buckets this time...

Now it's Tim's turn...

He's got the tires smoking.  They are starting to bite,, ohh sooo close....

One more little spot, and he's made it!

We're not done yet...  I've got one more trail in mind.   However, on the way to the trail JC's steering box fails.  So Norm gives him a tow back to the parking lot.  Earl opts to follow him, which is probably a good thing.  The trail we are headed towards has gotten worst since the last time I ran it.....

This is the first time I've tried going down the trail.  It proves to be quite exciting..

Hamid stops to measure up his line...

This is not an easy trail, even with gravity on your side...

It's a little off camber in spots.

But we all make it down just fine.

Well, we are back and on the trailers ready to head home.

It was an exciting day.  Quite a bit of carnage, but with the exception of JC's Toyota that'll have to wait for his return, everyone else made it to the trailers.

However, the excitement was not quite over.  I was following Hamid on the drive back, when suddenly sparks fly from under the trailer.  I start flashing my lights a Hamid.  He soon realizes something is wrong when he begins to slow down and is passed by his trailer tire!  He pulls on to the shoulder and I take off after the tire, which seems to be perfectly happy rolling down the middle of the road.  It finally veers off and into the grass about a half mile down.  When I returned with the tire, I was asked if I got a picture of the tire going down the road.   Well, I never even though of that.  I guess I was just too busy trying to signal oncoming traffic!  :)

I think that was enough excitement for the day. 
Thanks to all that came out, and we'll see ya next time....