Saturday morning we started a little bit late waiting for the last few stragglers to show up, so we did not begin until about 9:30am. Unlike the past few years, Jeff and I decided to just do all of the classroom stuff as a whole group. We went through all of the presentations from the 101 (which can be found in the files section of this Yahoo group). And then Jeff touched on a couple of things from the 201 packet since a lot of the information had already be brought up and there was no need to be redundant. We finished up with the instructional portion around 11:30am and called for lunch while we figured out who was taking which groups where.
After lunch we split into three groups. Jeff took the highest level group, I took the middle group, and Charles took the lower group.
After lunch we split into three groups. Jeff took the highest level group, I took the middle group, and Charles took the lower group.
My group consisted of 12 vehicles
Myself and Josh (Red YJ)
Suzzy and Gabby (Green YJ)
Colin Baralace (Blue Tacoma)
Doug Stevens (Green Discovery)
Pete Soski (Black YJ)
David Short (Orange Defender)
Doug and Robin Masnick (Blue 4Runner)
Jeff Huff (Yellow Defender)
Geoff Olinde (Orange CJ7)
Robert Chandler (Black TJ)
Dana Grambling (Yellow FJ Cruiser)
Rich Martinez (Blue CJ5) - Tail Gunner
We wanted to go down to the very beginning of Trickle and run it in its entirety. At least that was the plan. First we had to get there. Apparently there is a log laying across Middle Road know as "Pedro's Log" that one truck got high centered on a another one landed with the front axle U-bolts stuck straight down into it. So after a couple of recoveries, we moved on. Next, no one had told me how the very beginning had gotten more dug out, but I soon figured that part out for myself. We had a couple of tight places in that first section before you cross back over middle road. The first was only a few feet in which required a bit of stacking for about half of the vehicles in the group. The next was where the tree leans in to the right hand curve, which was a little tricky for the taller trucks that still wanted to be able to open and close their doors properly. Then there was another section just past there where some of the longer vehicles were getting hung up. Neither of those were too bad, just needed a bit of spotting. Then, with Middle Road in sight, I was attempting the final rock step but under the water was so dug out I couldn't get the back end to climb it. While the front end kept trying to pull, it also kept shifting right and finally the right rear grabbed and came within an inch or two of flopping me. With a quick tug of the winch, I was out. Only two others tried that line, and only Rich actually made it. Since it was already after 4pm, some of the guys wanted to start heading back and Suzzy went back to town to pick up the food for dinner. While driving out Middle Road, we ran into both of the other groups. Jeff's group was going to extract a rig they had to leave on Trickle earlier in the day, and Charles' group was deciding what to do next. Once we got to the clearing of Middle Road, Rich took David, Jeff, and some of Charles' group back to
camp. I took Colin, Dana, Doug, Geoff, Pete, and Roger over to U-turn Easy. That too was a little bit of a challenge due to the loose rocks on the inclines, but everyone made it without too many issues. From there it was getting later, so we headed back to camp. On the way back to camp, Doug noticed that his side steps has been pushed up enough that it made opening the doors tough. That was easily fixed with a couple of guys jumping on it to push it back down. We also found out that Robert had a pin hole leak in his oil pan. It wasn't dripping bad and he lives close, so he wanted to just get home to assess the problem.
Back at camp we learned of things that came up with the other two groups, some people settled in for dinner and relaxing, others packed up in order to head home. Suzzy was already back from Winchester with the food, so Mike Ball manned the griddle (brought by Bad Triebwasser) and dinner was started.
Sunday there were quite a few less rigs getting ready to head back out on the trails. We were still going to have three groups, but Jeff noticed that the one shock he busted off the day before, would have been two if he continued driving it. So, instead we went out in two groups, Charles took a lower group, and I took the higher group.
Sunday, my group included 6 trucks
Myself and Josh (Red YJ)
Suzzy and Gabby (Green YJ)
Pete Soski (Black YJ)
Collin Baralance and Doug Stevens (Blue Tacoma)
Ian (blue TJ)
Dana Grambling (Yellow FJ Cruiser) - Tail Gunner
With determination to finish what we started, we went back to where we left Trickle. We got all the was down there and ran the rest of it with no real problems. A spot her and there, but nothing major. Then with everyone's confidence high, we moved over to Wahoo. By the time we made it to the first bailout, we had already had a couple of hangups, including two ripped valve stems by Collin (luckily it was just the tips on both, so with some tape, he was able to continue). Then on the hill climb just prior to the bailout, I had to thrash the vehicle I need to get home in a bit more than I wanted to on a Sunday. So when we all got to the bailout the vote was made to start heading back. That was fun too. Just before the clearing on Middle Road, I lost a bead on my right rear tire. With help, the spare was installed and we moved on. Shortly after turning off Middle Road, right near the turn for the riffle range, I lost the bead on my right front tire. Luckily there was someone else with the same size tire and bolt pattern in the group. Also with help, we got Pete's spare tire mounted and once again proceeded to camp. Once back at camp everyone packed and loaded up while we waited for Charles' group to come back with a power tank to fix the four bad tires. When they did get back, someone did have a tank, but it was empty. The Gods must have been smiling, because Brad Triebwasser had a bad ass compressor that was able to reset both of my beads, and both of Collin's after installing new valve stems. Shortly thereafter, everyone was ready to head home.
From there, my woes did however continue. The Red YJ stalled out once on 37 going towards I-81, and once on I-66 around mile 10 (just as it began to downpour). We did finally make it home around 10pm.
Special Thanks:
The Cove - for letting us come out
Jeff Eppolite - for helping the instructing and leading trails
Charles Galpin - for leading trails
Rich Martinez - for helping with the instruction and tail gunning
Dana Grambling - for tail gunning on Sunday
Pete Soski - for the use of his spare tire and technical help when I was stuck on I-66
Brad Triebwasser - for the griddle and the bad ass compressor
Suzzy Lewis - for consent reminders of things I needed to do
Everyone that came out - for making this another great event
Scott LeLacheur
OCC 2011 Ex-Presidnet
Back at camp we learned of things that came up with the other two groups, some people settled in for dinner and relaxing, others packed up in order to head home. Suzzy was already back from Winchester with the food, so Mike Ball manned the griddle (brought by Bad Triebwasser) and dinner was started.
Sunday there were quite a few less rigs getting ready to head back out on the trails. We were still going to have three groups, but Jeff noticed that the one shock he busted off the day before, would have been two if he continued driving it. So, instead we went out in two groups, Charles took a lower group, and I took the higher group.
Sunday, my group included 6 trucks
Myself and Josh (Red YJ)
Suzzy and Gabby (Green YJ)
Pete Soski (Black YJ)
Collin Baralance and Doug Stevens (Blue Tacoma)
Ian (blue TJ)
Dana Grambling (Yellow FJ Cruiser) - Tail Gunner
With determination to finish what we started, we went back to where we left Trickle. We got all the was down there and ran the rest of it with no real problems. A spot her and there, but nothing major. Then with everyone's confidence high, we moved over to Wahoo. By the time we made it to the first bailout, we had already had a couple of hangups, including two ripped valve stems by Collin (luckily it was just the tips on both, so with some tape, he was able to continue). Then on the hill climb just prior to the bailout, I had to thrash the vehicle I need to get home in a bit more than I wanted to on a Sunday. So when we all got to the bailout the vote was made to start heading back. That was fun too. Just before the clearing on Middle Road, I lost a bead on my right rear tire. With help, the spare was installed and we moved on. Shortly after turning off Middle Road, right near the turn for the riffle range, I lost the bead on my right front tire. Luckily there was someone else with the same size tire and bolt pattern in the group. Also with help, we got Pete's spare tire mounted and once again proceeded to camp. Once back at camp everyone packed and loaded up while we waited for Charles' group to come back with a power tank to fix the four bad tires. When they did get back, someone did have a tank, but it was empty. The Gods must have been smiling, because Brad Triebwasser had a bad ass compressor that was able to reset both of my beads, and both of Collin's after installing new valve stems. Shortly thereafter, everyone was ready to head home.
From there, my woes did however continue. The Red YJ stalled out once on 37 going towards I-81, and once on I-66 around mile 10 (just as it began to downpour). We did finally make it home around 10pm.
Special Thanks:
The Cove - for letting us come out
Jeff Eppolite - for helping the instructing and leading trails
Charles Galpin - for leading trails
Rich Martinez - for helping with the instruction and tail gunning
Dana Grambling - for tail gunning on Sunday
Pete Soski - for the use of his spare tire and technical help when I was stuck on I-66
Brad Triebwasser - for the griddle and the bad ass compressor
Suzzy Lewis - for consent reminders of things I needed to do
Everyone that came out - for making this another great event
Scott LeLacheur
OCC 2011 Ex-Presidnet