The Saturday afternoon group I led consisted of:

Real Men Campers -
Bryan and Matthew Folts, 99 XJ 33"
Doug and Andrew Masnick, 93 4Runner SR5 (aka Honey Badger) 31"
Rich Martinez, '11 JKUR 32"

and part of the Comfort Inn crowd -
Chip Woods, 04 TJ on 33"
Roscoe Primrose, '99 TJ on 32s
Paul Neubert, 93 Explorer w/ 33s

The Plan was to take the B trail to Trail 1 and head north. But the Friday night snow hid the entrance to Trail 1 fairly well and we took G to Pole Line to circle back on B and find the beginning of Trail 1 that we missed. We headed up trail one enjoying an easy but steady pace. The trail's personality being a lot different with snow covered rocks and icy spots. After a little while you can predict how your vehicle will slide around some of the bigger rocks rather than climb them. From the 1 Trail we crossed Pole Line to connect in the middle of Trail 2 moving towards Crawler Ridge. As we approached CR I bailed onto D and watched the group climb up to the ridge. We met back up at the base of CR itself turned back on D heading towards camp then turned on the green part of 1. We meandered on 1 when Roscoe decided to break some ice. He attempted to cross a frozen puddle/mudhole and soon found himself stuck, probably high-centered. A quick tug and he was soon free and wheeling. At the end of 1 we turned right on B to begin Trail 4. We were having a great time on 4. Then we came to Yellow Jacket Ridge. Bryan attempted to climb it but didn't have any luck. So he took an alternate path and then went down the other side. The rest of the group followed. It was about this time that we met up with Scott's group and enjoyed a little play and chat time. Once we got the groups separated we stayed on C and headed to B. By this time it was 4:30 and we knew we had to be off the trails by 5. So we decided there would be less traffic if we went back to camp on D rather than rejoin the big group on C as we all headed back. So we turned left on B, right on E, and right on D to make our way back to camp. We were making good time so when we got to one of the D/Trail 2 intersections we decided to get one more blue trail in. So we turned on Trail 2 again as we headed to camp. I saw a clean unbroken snow covered mudhole just before Trail 2 hits Pole Line and I broke the ice and inched my way in only to get stuck. I could move an inch in either direction. Paul tried to pull me out with a strap but his rig could get enough traction on the icy trail. So he moved and Roscoe decided to give a tug. After some high-speed yanks I was moving again. As I understand it someone near the back of the group got stuck about the same time so we actually had 2 recoveries being executed simultaneously. From there we headed down Pole Line to G Trail. Then turned left on B Trail and made our way back to camp.

Back at camp everyone agreed it was a fun day both working and wheeling.

Rich Martinez