wayoflife

Unlike most other school districts, our son just had his spring break last week and so WOLette and I decided to take Thrusday off and take a short vacation up to San Luis Obispo. To make things interesting, we decided to head up the 5 as opposed to the 101 so that we could cut across the Carrizo Plains and see the amazing wildflower display still going on up there. On Friday, we did a quick solo run up Garcia Ridge and then made our way back to the coast and ended our day at Morro Bay. On Saturday, we hooked up with Trail Bud and spent the day doing a run up Pine Mountain and Garcia Ridge again. Here are a few pics from our first couple of days....

Flowers we saw crossing over the Temblor Range on the 58 from Taft...






Entrance to the Carrizo Plains National Monument...


Looking southeast across Soda Lake from the overlook...


Looking across Soda Lake from the shoreline...




Old windmill and storage tanks up along the hillside...


Flower shots from the hillside...








To see all the pics that we took from the Carrizo Plains, click on the link below:

Carrizo Plains / Garcia Ridge 04-2008 Photo Gallery

wayoflife

As mentioned above, on Friday we did a quick solo run up Garcia Ridge to test out our new Rancho 9000X resevoir shocks and LoD Signature front bumper before making our way back to the coast and ending our day at Morro Bay. There's pretty much only 4 real obstacles on this trail worth mentioning and only 3 that we got a decent pics of and here they are...

Flowers we saw along the way up to Garcia Ridge...






A few shots on the first obstacle...






The 2nd obstacle was too easy so here are a couple of shots from the 3nd obstacle (going down) which is a set of big rock ledges...




The 4th obstacle is basically a set of large boulders that you can crawled down or up....






and of course, coming back up the boulders...




Climbing back up the rock ledges...




Making our way back down and out...


Off the main trail, we decided to make this trip into a loop and headed down towards Lopez Lake on our way back to SLO. Here are some more flower pics that we took along the way...










and finally, some shots at Morro Bay to end the day...






To see all the pics that we took from our 2nd day up in SLO and the Garcia Ridge Trail, click on the link below:

Carrizo Plains / Garcia Ridge 04-2008 Photo Gallery

wayoflife

Friday night, Trail Bud came up so that we could run across the Pine Mountain Trail on Saturday morning. Fortunately, the weather was expected to be in the 80's and so we both pulled our doors and top off for the run. For those of you who aren't familiar with Pine Mountain and are considering doing a run up it in the future, you should be forewarned that the famous "Stair Steps" is every bit as challenging as the last chance warning sign and Charles Wells book indicates. The last couple of obsticals will have you dropping down a VERY steep and uneven rock face that is about 45°-50° or more and upon landing between the two, there is a very steep ledge to left. IF you roll here, it's game over for you. When we got to the Stair Steps, a TJ had showed up to try and climb it and after coming close to doing an endo off the very bottom obstacle, he called it quits and turned around. In fact, it is for this reason that most people run this trail in the direction that we did which will take you down the steps. While I'm sure a modified 2-door JK could do this trail, a long wheel base like the Unlimited's have was definitely a big help. Aside from that last section, the trail is for the most part easy and very scenic. Here are some pics from our run....

Off the 58 and airing down for the trail ahead...


Shots of a friend we met going though one of the many water crossings along the way...




The Pine Mountain trailhead...




View looking out across the ridge of the Pine Mountain trail...






This trail had some deep ruts to negotiate....


At the top of the Stair Steps looking down next to the last chance to turn around sign...




Here's a shot of a TJ that we met who wanted to climb the steps and almost did an endo on the very first set of rocks...


The first set of steps is noting more that your average rock ledge. Without a lift and bigger tires, they would probably hang you up but otherwise, nothing special...


The 2nd set of steps are more imposing and good spotting will help out a lot here as not only are the rocks big but the potential of a roll over starts to increase here....








The 3rd set of steps aren't a whole lot easier...




Sizing up the 4th and most difficult set of steps. Wheel placement here is critical and deviating from it will send you down hard. Did I mention that there is a steep ledge to the left upon landing? Not a good place to roll


Please buckle your seatbelts and keep your hands and all objects inside the vehicle at all times...




Yes, it really is this steep...


Touch down, now on to the final set of stairs...




and I'm off...


Now Trail Buds turn....


again, yes, it really is this steep - just look at the expression on Trail Buds face...


and coming down the final set of steps...


Heading off to our next adventure...


To see all the pics that we took from our 3nd day up in SLO and the Pine Mountain Trail, click on the link below:

Pine Mountain / Garcia Ridge 04-2008 Photo Gallery

wayoflife

After a quick lunch in Pozo, Trail Bud WOLette and I agreed that there was still more than enough time left in the day and so we decided to take Trail Bud up to the trail we ran solo the day before - Garcia Ridge. Here are some pics from our trip...

Oak grove just outside of Pozo...






Making our way up to the rocks...


Trail Bud on the 1st obstacle...


Trail Bud taking on a hard line down the 3rd obstacle....




On the 4th obstacle making my way down the boulders...






Trail Buds turn...




and back up again....






and the aftermath of drifing off your line - torn drive shaft boot, dented drive shaft and kicked off EVAP...


Trail Bud doing some trail side repairs...


Success...


Climbing back up the rock ledge...




and the day is done...


Last but not least, what we found in town - this one's for you fish ...


To see all the pics that we took from our 3nd day up in SLO and the Pine Mountain Trail, click on the link below:

Pine Mountain / Garcia Ridge 04-2008 Photo Gallery

Dayton

I'd swear that Trailbud is the Project-JK Poster Boy for trail repairs! Guess it's time to relocate that EVAP cannister! Nice pix.

Conradfreedumb

dude great shots!

Looks perdy steep

The turkey is loose!!

HG07JKRubi

Great pics...looks like a great time. Thanks for providing 10 minutes of daydreaming when I'm supposed to be working !!!

Rubimon

Great pictures! That one pucker shot is a good one.

Trailbud, I have a driveshaft boot that is shreaded a little less than that one...you are welcome to it!

fish

Awesome shots!!!!! Good job on the American honey find WOL,I'm proud of you!!!!!!!

Rubimon

See the stuff that falls out of your Jeep when the doors are off!