Peak Putters - Liberty (July 2012)
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:37 am
Okay, I'll get this started before the natives revolt.
For starters, this was a challenging to bad weekend for some. I got a text from José telling me that DJ and family missed the turn-off for Liberty and were now broke down at Blueit pass [4:05 PM]. This is while I was fueling up in Ellensburg.
I, with my family in tow arrived at camp to find Danny getting situated. After a bit DJ rolled into camp with his Jeep, but not with his motor home. He had loaded up everything of value, including his family, and was heading home. [8:00 PM]. The motor home had a fuel problem. He had gone into town to get a fuel pump, but unfortunately, that was not the cure. (The next day he arranged with insurance to have it towed to Union Gap for repairs.) And that was the last most of us saw of DJ and family for the weekend.
New text from José, "At north summit and losing voltage / battery power." [8:43 PM]
Next text, "We are in Ellensburg. Dead. Lost the alternator." [9:38 PM]
And, "Pulling alt now." [5:30 AM]
And about 9:30 AM Saturday José and family rolled into camp. By then the following Ed group had headed out. Someone can correct me, but I believe that was Danny, Ed, Roy, JKLance, and Crispy. Those with empty seats offered them to José's sister's family (they had arrived the night before to camp with us) and a few of those intrepid souls excepted the offer.
Our group headed out after José and family were situated, about 11:00 AM. Lee & clan, Joser & clan, and Jeff (day tripper in a Grand expecting to be wheeling with DJ) & wife. We headed to the one trail I knew I could find, Hole in the Rock, and headed up. The trail was fun if not overly challenging. When we popped back out on the forest road we headed toward Lion Rock where the Ed group was eating lunch. There was little snow in the road, but when we found some drifts we availed ourselves of them to the point where we had to winch one rig back on the road, I won't tell who it was Jeff.
Lunch with the other group and we found a few people laying under a certain 4 door JK that refused to make brum-brum noises. With a rock as a tool, Chrispy soon had Lance underway and I guess he just didn't turn it off the rest of the day.
Our group headed back down the hill after finding a rock pile just literally covered with Lady Bugs. (I got Jeeper Chicks.) José and I were determined to make a fire wood run, Sveta was in camp don't cha know. Back at camp José and I were cooling in the shade on his trailer when Karen Livesy came by to get our drink order. REALLY! A few spins of her blender later and we were drinking the best coffee / Bailey's / whatever drink ever out of a real glass with whip cream and chocolate drizzles... in camp.
Feet in the creek for a little bit and an ice run later we headed out on our first of two firewood runs. We brought back far too much firewood, even for Sveta, but it was a good diversion. That night found grills, fires and stoves going in typical Peak Putter fashion turning out all sorts of Americana food. Burgers, dogs, pork tenderloin, corn on the cob and some tasty leftovers to go into Man Quiche. Danny Manned the Man Quiche in the morning and it was driving him crazy trying to get it cooking faster, faster. He was desperate to get his wheeling fix. He is about to have long wheeling drought, which is too bad for him and worse for us. Man Quiche was excellent and served up before 10:00 AM... new record, I believe. The Dutch oven contained every part of the pig short of the snout and was completely emptied by the attending crew.
Ed, Danny, Roy, and Lance headed out to run, I think the other side of the highway, while those of us that had brought children began to break our camps. Sorry no pics from here, but I saw cameras this weekend, so post up. Somebody take the lead from the other group and gives us a run report from the following Ed side of things.
Oh, and DJ, post up when you are ready to go again, because we owe you a make-up run.
For starters, this was a challenging to bad weekend for some. I got a text from José telling me that DJ and family missed the turn-off for Liberty and were now broke down at Blueit pass [4:05 PM]. This is while I was fueling up in Ellensburg.
I, with my family in tow arrived at camp to find Danny getting situated. After a bit DJ rolled into camp with his Jeep, but not with his motor home. He had loaded up everything of value, including his family, and was heading home. [8:00 PM]. The motor home had a fuel problem. He had gone into town to get a fuel pump, but unfortunately, that was not the cure. (The next day he arranged with insurance to have it towed to Union Gap for repairs.) And that was the last most of us saw of DJ and family for the weekend.
New text from José, "At north summit and losing voltage / battery power." [8:43 PM]
Next text, "We are in Ellensburg. Dead. Lost the alternator." [9:38 PM]
And, "Pulling alt now." [5:30 AM]
And about 9:30 AM Saturday José and family rolled into camp. By then the following Ed group had headed out. Someone can correct me, but I believe that was Danny, Ed, Roy, JKLance, and Crispy. Those with empty seats offered them to José's sister's family (they had arrived the night before to camp with us) and a few of those intrepid souls excepted the offer.
Our group headed out after José and family were situated, about 11:00 AM. Lee & clan, Joser & clan, and Jeff (day tripper in a Grand expecting to be wheeling with DJ) & wife. We headed to the one trail I knew I could find, Hole in the Rock, and headed up. The trail was fun if not overly challenging. When we popped back out on the forest road we headed toward Lion Rock where the Ed group was eating lunch. There was little snow in the road, but when we found some drifts we availed ourselves of them to the point where we had to winch one rig back on the road, I won't tell who it was Jeff.
Lunch with the other group and we found a few people laying under a certain 4 door JK that refused to make brum-brum noises. With a rock as a tool, Chrispy soon had Lance underway and I guess he just didn't turn it off the rest of the day.
Our group headed back down the hill after finding a rock pile just literally covered with Lady Bugs. (I got Jeeper Chicks.) José and I were determined to make a fire wood run, Sveta was in camp don't cha know. Back at camp José and I were cooling in the shade on his trailer when Karen Livesy came by to get our drink order. REALLY! A few spins of her blender later and we were drinking the best coffee / Bailey's / whatever drink ever out of a real glass with whip cream and chocolate drizzles... in camp.
Feet in the creek for a little bit and an ice run later we headed out on our first of two firewood runs. We brought back far too much firewood, even for Sveta, but it was a good diversion. That night found grills, fires and stoves going in typical Peak Putter fashion turning out all sorts of Americana food. Burgers, dogs, pork tenderloin, corn on the cob and some tasty leftovers to go into Man Quiche. Danny Manned the Man Quiche in the morning and it was driving him crazy trying to get it cooking faster, faster. He was desperate to get his wheeling fix. He is about to have long wheeling drought, which is too bad for him and worse for us. Man Quiche was excellent and served up before 10:00 AM... new record, I believe. The Dutch oven contained every part of the pig short of the snout and was completely emptied by the attending crew.
Ed, Danny, Roy, and Lance headed out to run, I think the other side of the highway, while those of us that had brought children began to break our camps. Sorry no pics from here, but I saw cameras this weekend, so post up. Somebody take the lead from the other group and gives us a run report from the following Ed side of things.
Oh, and DJ, post up when you are ready to go again, because we owe you a make-up run.