Peak Putters - FS RD 1302 "megarun" (1/12/2013)
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 9:18 pm
I'm going to write a report/ect. and post in this spot tomorrow, but I thought I'd get a thread going for people to post their pics and give their version of the events of the day. Let me give a rundown on who showed and a teaser pic for now:
ME. . .w/Daughter and her BF on the strap
Jose and Lee
Lance and Mandi
Commando14
Royboy
DJ
Chrispy/Nichole
and guests
Yjran
BobRacing
Rodentsquisher
along with various and sundry co-dawgs and at least one actual dog.
Here's the teaser of the staging area. I'll be VERY curious to get the Newbie's take on the events of the day. Suffice it to say, the snow was Horrible. . . but we still managed to have one heck of a good time.
Othe than a couple of XJs with blown beads and my compressor taking a poo, No real damage. Well. . .maybe a little pride damage.
OK. . .so the story:
The aforementioned group huddled up at the BC Park/Ride and left pretty close to one time. On the way up, Yrjan made a call for a new CB to be delivered in Yakima. They made short work of getting it installed, those that needed to got some gas and we headed for the parking area.
Once on the FS1302. . all aired down. . .and past the switchbacks, we broke into two groups. The lead group was taking turns breaking trail and the second group was helping the newer guys get their "snow legs". I stayed with the lead group, so that's where my story will lie for the most part.
We immediately past a large group of quads (with one sxs and one Jeep) and headed through the open snow fields. Going was nearly impossible and the quad guys, once they got up and going again, were down right RUDE. They were having even a tougher time than us, but had no trouble nearly sideswiping our rigs and blowing snow in our windows even AFTER we pulled them out when they were stuck. Now, I only witnessed 3 of the people in their very large group exhibiting this behavior, so I don't want to say that "all quad guys are jerks", but those 3 sure were!!! If you stumble upon this post and you are one of the lead 3 quad riders, SHAME ON YOU!
On with the story. Once the ATVs called it a day and the lead group had some lunch, we carried on up the trail. The conditions got worse quickly. the snow had a nice layer of hoarfrost on top with absolutely bottomless sugar underneath. It was beautiful gleaming in the sun, but completely brought the fail to drive on. At the turn around point, Roy said, "It just doesn't go away, no matter how many times you drive over the same spot." Quicksand had nothing on this snow.
Needless to say, everyone got stuck. . .multiple times. I honestly thought that Chrispy and his big beadlocked tires where going to be the secret to success, but this bottomless silt had other ideas. It simply bested all comers.
At the 4300' mark, we hit a wall. Commando14, Chrispy, and I took turns trying to batter it down, but we only succeeded in pushing it back. Over an hour's worth of work only netted us 100 yards or so. At this point we were just approaching what I consider the bottom of the trail!!! No where near the top! We decided that enough was enough and called it a day. Everyone else caught up at this point. I asked if anyone else wanted to give a try, but after seeing the struggles, cooler heads prevailed and quarter was given to the mountain.
On the way down, DJ and I each lost a bead playing Baja racer and I pretty well chewed up a tire in the same incident. Well worth it!! I finally ended up in full hovercraft mode pinned out in 3rd gear.
My passengers and I had a GREAT time with everyone. I'd have to admit that I really enjoyed having my daughter's boyfriend along. He was extremely willing to help in the MANY recoveries. We must have been stuck 15 times and done that many extractions as well.
I will also say this: If you do not own a Super Yanker or some other kinetic recovery rope, go get one NOW. The one recovery that we used DJ's tow strap for nearly jarred our teeth out. The Yanker is better at it and there is no impact. No, I don't get commissions from them. .
When we started airing up, my compressor quickly died. As it turns out, I had some ice or something inside my wheel that deadheaded the pump. No bueno. Roy and James gave it a go as well, but it wasn't until I caught up to Jose and his Sanden pump that I got past the obstruction. I even put in a brand new core. . .
Yrjan and I (at least) both had some ice build up in our wheels that caused an out of balance condition that annoyed me all the way home.
This morning, I used Orville to get the paper and some eggs from the store. He was frozen to the driveway. That is a sure sign of a good day in the hills!!!!
I'm off to the shop to get some more modifications done. . .
and the pics:
A little logging first thing
Buried ATVs
End of the trail for the day. Chrispy ended up with high mark on the hill since he was the last one to give it heck.
and good night. . .
ME. . .w/Daughter and her BF on the strap
Jose and Lee
Lance and Mandi
Commando14
Royboy
DJ
Chrispy/Nichole
and guests
Yjran
BobRacing
Rodentsquisher
along with various and sundry co-dawgs and at least one actual dog.
Here's the teaser of the staging area. I'll be VERY curious to get the Newbie's take on the events of the day. Suffice it to say, the snow was Horrible. . . but we still managed to have one heck of a good time.
Othe than a couple of XJs with blown beads and my compressor taking a poo, No real damage. Well. . .maybe a little pride damage.
OK. . .so the story:
The aforementioned group huddled up at the BC Park/Ride and left pretty close to one time. On the way up, Yrjan made a call for a new CB to be delivered in Yakima. They made short work of getting it installed, those that needed to got some gas and we headed for the parking area.
Once on the FS1302. . all aired down. . .and past the switchbacks, we broke into two groups. The lead group was taking turns breaking trail and the second group was helping the newer guys get their "snow legs". I stayed with the lead group, so that's where my story will lie for the most part.
We immediately past a large group of quads (with one sxs and one Jeep) and headed through the open snow fields. Going was nearly impossible and the quad guys, once they got up and going again, were down right RUDE. They were having even a tougher time than us, but had no trouble nearly sideswiping our rigs and blowing snow in our windows even AFTER we pulled them out when they were stuck. Now, I only witnessed 3 of the people in their very large group exhibiting this behavior, so I don't want to say that "all quad guys are jerks", but those 3 sure were!!! If you stumble upon this post and you are one of the lead 3 quad riders, SHAME ON YOU!
On with the story. Once the ATVs called it a day and the lead group had some lunch, we carried on up the trail. The conditions got worse quickly. the snow had a nice layer of hoarfrost on top with absolutely bottomless sugar underneath. It was beautiful gleaming in the sun, but completely brought the fail to drive on. At the turn around point, Roy said, "It just doesn't go away, no matter how many times you drive over the same spot." Quicksand had nothing on this snow.
Needless to say, everyone got stuck. . .multiple times. I honestly thought that Chrispy and his big beadlocked tires where going to be the secret to success, but this bottomless silt had other ideas. It simply bested all comers.
At the 4300' mark, we hit a wall. Commando14, Chrispy, and I took turns trying to batter it down, but we only succeeded in pushing it back. Over an hour's worth of work only netted us 100 yards or so. At this point we were just approaching what I consider the bottom of the trail!!! No where near the top! We decided that enough was enough and called it a day. Everyone else caught up at this point. I asked if anyone else wanted to give a try, but after seeing the struggles, cooler heads prevailed and quarter was given to the mountain.
On the way down, DJ and I each lost a bead playing Baja racer and I pretty well chewed up a tire in the same incident. Well worth it!! I finally ended up in full hovercraft mode pinned out in 3rd gear.
My passengers and I had a GREAT time with everyone. I'd have to admit that I really enjoyed having my daughter's boyfriend along. He was extremely willing to help in the MANY recoveries. We must have been stuck 15 times and done that many extractions as well.
I will also say this: If you do not own a Super Yanker or some other kinetic recovery rope, go get one NOW. The one recovery that we used DJ's tow strap for nearly jarred our teeth out. The Yanker is better at it and there is no impact. No, I don't get commissions from them. .
When we started airing up, my compressor quickly died. As it turns out, I had some ice or something inside my wheel that deadheaded the pump. No bueno. Roy and James gave it a go as well, but it wasn't until I caught up to Jose and his Sanden pump that I got past the obstruction. I even put in a brand new core. . .
Yrjan and I (at least) both had some ice build up in our wheels that caused an out of balance condition that annoyed me all the way home.
This morning, I used Orville to get the paper and some eggs from the store. He was frozen to the driveway. That is a sure sign of a good day in the hills!!!!
I'm off to the shop to get some more modifications done. . .
and the pics:
A little logging first thing
Buried ATVs
End of the trail for the day. Chrispy ended up with high mark on the hill since he was the last one to give it heck.
and good night. . .