Stranded

What a weekend!!!!!

I have been wheeling over 15 years and never have I left a rig behind. Before I get ahead of myself let me start at the beginning.

It started out as a sunny day, I had my coffee and breakfast and was off to meet Ken at the brewery. We were going to do a snow run up off Highway 4 on Black Springs road. I figured this would be an easy road with some snow. Little did I know that it would turn out to be a snow ridden Donner Party trip.




After getting to the trail head we aired down the tires and were off. This was my first snow trip in The Moose. After climbing over the small snow bank we were off. The first part of the trail was pretty non eventful. After the first mile the snow was getting deeper. Then The Moose started to bog down and burry itself.



Stuck 1:

I buried my rig but Ken pulled out the strap and with a yank I was out. We ventured about another ¼ mile and it was Kens turn to be strapped. With a yank he was out. This happened one or two more times, but we ventured on.



The big Stuck:

We were in 2.5 miles on Black Springs road; the weather was brisk but sunny and very nice. A deceiving feeling of security was over us. Then it happened; The Moose decided it was time to dig itself into a hole. The snow buried up to the frame and over the doors. Ken took out the handy dandy strap again but this time The Moose had other plan. He did not want to move. With a few more tugs Kens cruiser was stuck in the snow.

We were both buried, and stuck good. There was nobody to tug and now way to move our rigs. After digging and trying tire chains sticks wood rocks under Kens tire we were still stuck. Time was not our friend at this point it was 3:00 and I was not sure how long it would take to get somebody into our spot to pull us out.



The Plan:

I decide before it gets dark I could hike out and maybe call my wife to bring in The Grasshopper to pull us out. Meanwhile Ken his wife and daughter wait at the rigs and attempt to dig themselves out. I hike out about ¼ mile and actually get a choppy signal and call my wife. I explain that we are stuck and I need her to bring in the backup team in the Jeep (The Grasshopper) for a winching to get us out. I would continue to hike out and meet her at the trail head.



I hike the rest of the way out. The road was fairly flat, and being a big guy I enjoyed that fact. It was a nice hike actually; I got to see a few deer, a coon and some other critters. It was actually very pleasant, but looming in my mind was my poor stuck moose. About a tenth of a mile from the road I hear a rig coming behind me. It was Ken his wife and daughter. They had dug themselves out. We continued to the trail head to see if my wife was waiting.



An End of a Long Day:

After we made it to the trail head, Ken explained to me it was very gushy snow and that he thought we should get out in the morning to get to The Moose. My wife drives up in the Grasshopper and does not look happy.

Ken suggests we wait until morning to get it, but me being the stubborn person I am wanted to try to extract The Moose that night. So we decide to venture in alone in the grasshopper.

The Grasshopper is light, locked and winched, I was confidant that we would get The Moose out. I knew it was getting dark, and we only had about an hour of sunlight left. So it was going to have to be a fast extraction. We made it in without any problem. Around the bend was my poor little Moose stuck in the snow. Buried, it was buried alive….

Winching was fruitless; all it did was drag the Grasshopper. My son Brad dug like a mole. We were able to free The Moose. I tried to drive backward but kept getting sucked off the road. I tried to go forward but couldn’t. After about an hour of trying to get her off the road in the dark, I decide to give it one more try and go forward a bit and then make a run at the little hill.

What a dumb thing to do, in my forward progress I get buried again. We sink deep. It’s now about 7:30 and dark. I decide to call it a night and leave The Moose in the snow.

One Long Night:

The drive home was a long cold drive, not much was said and my thoughts were decision of leaving The Moose. When I get home I make some calls to my local guys with fixed up rigs. Now I was getting worried because nobody answered their phones. Then Ken calls and offers to come back out and help me extract The Moose.

My dreams that night were of The Moose being in the snow for months. He was buried up over the doors. Needless to say it was a long night.


The Extraction:

This was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. We wheel in and get to The Moose. It was stuck; my son Brad again starts his digging. We manage to get it free. I try to drive out but it just sticks. With one tug The Moose pops right out. Within minutes we were free. The Moose drove out without any problems. And we were on the road in no time.




Epilog:

My thoughts on this trip are the following.

I love to see team work especially when its families. Kens family worked as a team. Ken and his wife dug out their rig as I hiked for help while his daughter waited patiently in the car. My family went in on Saturday night and tried we dug, pulled and worked as a team. My wife came to my rescue, my oldest dug and dug with me trying to free The Moose. To me the lesson learned from this trip is with team work anything can be accomplished.

Cruiser Fun

This was a right up from one of the cruiser guys and can be found at this site: http://tlcwagons.org/Norcal%20Wagons/Trip%20Blog/9C571552-6ED5-4BA2-9546-B08B238D2207.html

Once again I have to thank all of the NorCal crew for making things like this happen.
The day started off at my place trying to convince my wife and daughter to get up and go wheeling. This is no easy task in my neck of the woods. With the most challenging obstacle addressed, things were looking good. Next stop, Checkpoint Charlie, Snowshoe brewery, Arnold, CA at 9:00 a.m.

Well, let’s say we roll in late. Pheew! A parking lot full of some of the finest vehicles ever made. This is the place, and everyone’s already here, SWEET!
We park and chat with some of the greatest folks and K9s around. After much self cursing about not having a 2m radio yet, we head off, according to plan, to the Sourgrass/Boards Crossing area.



Paul (ME) , in his sweetheart of a FJ60 (The Moose), is the local area expert and takes the lead. We all follow with big smiles on our faces. Coming down into the canyon the group encounters the first challenge: Navigation of an unmaintained county road with its numerous ice and snow patches plus rock fields. We passed with flying colors and arrive at the Sourgrass recreation area, yep, all 10 of us!!!

As a line of Land Cruisers forms, the group begins the scientific task of airing down.
Even though there are numerous methods and gadgets to accomplish this mysterious affair, some of us overdo it. But, no worries, this is what we carry CO2 tanks for.

On we go. This trail follows the South bank of the Stanislaus River. There’s so much to look at, that it’s hard to concentrate on the trail. There’s something to be said about riding shotgun, passengers don’t have to be looking out for the next obstacle. After about 10 minuets of nice and easy riding, a set of slabs with ice flows are in front of us. And here we are faced with the timeless dilemma: “Do we remove the mud flaps or let the trail do it for us?”. The dilemma is easily solved and we partake in a flap removal party!

Now that the company has performed this prophylactic procedure, $1000s of factory goods are sitting on the backs of our cruisers; we are ready to roll again.

Being out here and enjoying such a beauty of a day, I’m reminded of what my good buddy and I would say on days that we’d ditch school and go skiing: "If we were playing by the rules right now, what would we be doing?"

OK, on to the crux and probably the most entertaining part of the day. As you cross a pretty little stream stands a small piece of dirt that just happens to be at a good little angle and contain some poorly placed roots and rocks. For most of the contingent it’s a non issue For the stock rigs... well, let’s just say they struggled a bit. But by the looks on their faces once they completed the obstacle, they would not have changed that moment for anything in the world.

The trail ends soon after this obstacle at a great open area. It would make an awesome camping spot. We stop, open the tailgates, and grab lunch.

On our way down, the going is easy and the pace is good. We make it back at the day use area and the decision is made to scrap the quest for snow. Skies are getting dark and some want to be with their families down in the valley. Others want to grab a cold one. As we roll out, the view to the East is becoming very dark and ominous, you can tell snow is falling above 6500 ft.

When the now smaller group enters Murphy's we stumble on a nice little eatery with a wood fired oven and a diverse menu. The staff is extremely friendly they are willing to please their customers. Just as an example, I believe Alvaro consumed a burrito with gorgonzola... go figure. But what struck me the most were the handles at the main door: axes welded to the door. Go figure x 2.

We said our goodbyes and hence ended another fun-filled day of wheeling. To everyone who made it up, thank you. It was great hanging with you guys/gals, we had blast.

Cant wait for the next time.

Ken Dean
AKA 450 DUDE

Rain Sleet Snow……Great Day Wheeling

After all the hard work getting ready for winter I decided it was time to get out and play a bit. I wanted to go wheeling, Raylene was all for it, she was going to stay behind and have a Mom day (you know nails, hair walk around Murphy’s all the jazz). Unfortunately that did not work out for her, but that is another story for another blog. I was really looking forward to wheeling, I am not sure if its because I had not been on the trail in a while, or that I had my son with me; either way it was going to be a wonderful day.

John Crossing just before being yanked



I met Ken and Family, and John both Land Cruiser guys. I had initially planned to take the Moose, but with the rain, and snow I decided to take the Jeep at the last moment. We were off first was Boards Crossing trail, lots of rain and wet weather made this really easy trail a bit more difficult. One are in particular has a little muddy hill to climb, I tried first, but my diff hit a rock and denied me the first attempt. Then the second try I went right up. Next came John, he was open and had a harder time. After trying two or three times, it was time for the strap. I was able to pull him right out with the Jeep. It was Kens turn. He made it look pretty easy. His Lexus 450 was locked front and rear and climbed it pretty easy. I have to admit, it was kind of weird watching a rig with leather, interior wood trim, and Satellite Radio, basically a luxury vehicle wheel. I felt as if I need some Grey Poupon or something..



Ken Crossing




The rest of Boards Crossing was without any problems, its just a fun trail that has a nice place to stop and chat. Ken had brought his daughter and wife we chatted while the kids played and had a good time. It was nice wheeling with a small group of good people; it really reminded me of when I started wheeling all those years ago. It is also one of the reasons while I still wheel today. Good people, good times.

It was time to get going if we were going to make Corral Hollow and be out by dark. While driving up Highway Four it started to snow at about 6000 feet. It was getting colder and there is 6 inches of snow on the ground. Once we made it to the trail head I locked the transfer case and off we went. We winded through the trees and my jeep was having no problem going. The ground had a few inches of snow, but was frozen solid, the ice made the locker on my jeep pitch it from side to side. Paul II was having a blast, he was smiles from ear to ear. It was great to share this with my little bud. He loves to wheel, but then looked at me seriously and asked, Dad when do we get to have a snow ball fight. I knew he was jonzen to get out and play in the snow. The problem was that I did not think it was going to snow so I did not bring his gloves.

PP and I leading the pack



I guess John was having a tough time of it, being open and not wanting to air down made him spin his tires a lot, but he was still behind us. After making it through the trees we entered the poppy fields, this time of year they are not the greens yellows and lush colors of spring, its more like browns and white from the snow. Paul and I were blazing the trail when we came to a long steep hill. First attempt denied us, second pitched us sideways. Paul looks at and he is grinning again. I tell him hang on buddy. I lock the front and back down slowly, then give it another try. All four tires spinning, and up we went all the way to the top. Paul and I get out seeing if John is going to be able to make it, but he was denied. I radio Ken to tell him to try it, and that I was going to turn around. Paul and I preformed an awesome two point tank spin to turn around on the trail. It was Most impressive if I say so myself.

While Paul and I were spinning, Ken and his wife switched and Kens wife was going to do the climb. I personally love to see family participation on the trail, but have to admit I get nervous when Raylene drives the Jeep. Not because of her, it’s just a husband wife thing I guess.  Kens wife climbed the long steep icy hill with little effort. She did wonderful; she climbed right up with little tire spin. PP and I drove down the hill and decided it was time to play in the snow.


Grey Poupon anybody




Ken and his family came down and played with us, after about ½ hour of playing a bunch of Jeep guys came by and attempted to climb the hill. They made all of us nervous because they were just gun and go type of people. Not typically the types that I like to see on the trail. After about an hour PP came to me and started to cry. His little hands were red and he was really cold. I picked him up put him next to me for warmth. We made it to the Jeep and I turned on the heater so he could warm up. It was getting late so we headed out.


Family Play time



After airing up we headed home to my lovely wife and a nice warm shower and meal.

It was great getting out wheeling with new people, and a small group. Both John and Ken (and family) were fun, I hope to wheel with them again. Its trips like these that remind me of what wheeling is all about, sure some are about hard core rock crawling and busting parts, carnage and and testing their rigs all out capability is what its all about.. My vision of wheeling is good people good trails (hard or easy) and family. The only thing that could have made this trip perfect was for Raylene to have been there too, but I have to say being alone with my son made it a day I will remember forever.

Paul