Me and Jeepster Randy met up with Michael Shimniok just outside of St.Elmo on Saturday Aug 11,to run grizzly and iron chest trails.
Grizzly has gotten a little more diffacult in the last couple of years and the first obstacle at the entrance was the hardest.I usualy motor right up it but we all had to have a spotter and a couple of tries to make it up. The 2nd obstacle was a breeze and then off and up to the long narrow steep shelf road. This shelf has always been a trip due to it's loose rock and moguls add to that some pretty good drop offs and it has your undivided attention.Momentum is your friend here.Once past that,it was smooth sailing till we hit the 3rd obstacle.A tree root ledge across the trail with several holes and rocks.We actualy needed a spotter here to due to the big hole with a big rock on the left and the tree and the hole on the right.1st time I have needed a spotter here also.We made it up to the lake with no problems,vapor lock or over heating.The 4 linked Jeepster did have some linkage problems that were easily fixed though.We set up camp and Michael and I went off fishin. We both did pretty well with our catch of wild brookies then went back to camp to gather firewood.Our old tradition is still held whereI ride the rack and Randy tries to see how close he can get me into the trees with out knocking me off.Crazy? Naw! Just a fun old tradition going back to high school.But thats a different story.
We got the fire goin and had some dinner sat around and BS'D till we got wet from the rain.We retired for the night sleeping to the sound of rain on the tent all night long.Sunday morning was great weather! We broke camp and headed down the mountain.There were no real issues headin' down except for needing a spotter to come off the last obstacle and one narrow off camber section of dirt and mud.Michael and Randy went through fine but my turn up had a little excitement.The driver rear slid over and I could see in the mirror that it was right on the edge of no return so I hammered the skinny pedal and the front locker pulled the cherk up and across the 20 foot long section sideways ( a baby jeep rolled here a few weeks ago ) At the end of the trail we said our goodbyes as Michael had to motor back home and we went and unloaded excess gear in the tow rigs and off to run Iron Chest.
I didnt think I could crawl the rock garden so I kind of banzied it while Randy just crawled along behind.The trail is actualy very easy and scenic with no major obstacles other than the rock garden.The only thing about this trail is it's sheer narrowness,off camber sections and drop offs.For an FSJ you have about a foot on one side and inches on the other.
We made it up to the top and explored the area had some lunch and headed down.The trip down was uneventfull and with my low gears Randy kept calling on the CB to see if I was still back there but I caught up to him at the rock garden.
This time I decide to crawl the garden and it was a breeze for both of us. We got off the trail just in time as it started to majorly down pour.We loaded up on the trailers and headed home.
All in all it was a great 2 days of wheelin and some excellent company. No one broke,over heated or vapor locked,that I know of,and no one took a strap or winch line.Now time to plan for Mt.Blanca in September....YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully you can view the entire album and vids off this link.
Fred G.
Grizzly has gotten a little more diffacult in the last couple of years and the first obstacle at the entrance was the hardest.I usualy motor right up it but we all had to have a spotter and a couple of tries to make it up. The 2nd obstacle was a breeze and then off and up to the long narrow steep shelf road. This shelf has always been a trip due to it's loose rock and moguls add to that some pretty good drop offs and it has your undivided attention.Momentum is your friend here.Once past that,it was smooth sailing till we hit the 3rd obstacle.A tree root ledge across the trail with several holes and rocks.We actualy needed a spotter here to due to the big hole with a big rock on the left and the tree and the hole on the right.1st time I have needed a spotter here also.We made it up to the lake with no problems,vapor lock or over heating.The 4 linked Jeepster did have some linkage problems that were easily fixed though.We set up camp and Michael and I went off fishin. We both did pretty well with our catch of wild brookies then went back to camp to gather firewood.Our old tradition is still held whereI ride the rack and Randy tries to see how close he can get me into the trees with out knocking me off.Crazy? Naw! Just a fun old tradition going back to high school.But thats a different story.
We got the fire goin and had some dinner sat around and BS'D till we got wet from the rain.We retired for the night sleeping to the sound of rain on the tent all night long.Sunday morning was great weather! We broke camp and headed down the mountain.There were no real issues headin' down except for needing a spotter to come off the last obstacle and one narrow off camber section of dirt and mud.Michael and Randy went through fine but my turn up had a little excitement.The driver rear slid over and I could see in the mirror that it was right on the edge of no return so I hammered the skinny pedal and the front locker pulled the cherk up and across the 20 foot long section sideways ( a baby jeep rolled here a few weeks ago ) At the end of the trail we said our goodbyes as Michael had to motor back home and we went and unloaded excess gear in the tow rigs and off to run Iron Chest.
I didnt think I could crawl the rock garden so I kind of banzied it while Randy just crawled along behind.The trail is actualy very easy and scenic with no major obstacles other than the rock garden.The only thing about this trail is it's sheer narrowness,off camber sections and drop offs.For an FSJ you have about a foot on one side and inches on the other.
We made it up to the top and explored the area had some lunch and headed down.The trip down was uneventfull and with my low gears Randy kept calling on the CB to see if I was still back there but I caught up to him at the rock garden.
This time I decide to crawl the garden and it was a breeze for both of us. We got off the trail just in time as it started to majorly down pour.We loaded up on the trailers and headed home.
All in all it was a great 2 days of wheelin and some excellent company. No one broke,over heated or vapor locked,that I know of,and no one took a strap or winch line.Now time to plan for Mt.Blanca in September....YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully you can view the entire album and vids off this link.
Fred G.
Comment