Project-JK Big Bear Gold Mountain Run 04/25/09
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Project-JK Big Bear Gold Mountain Run 04/25/09
Yesterday, WOLette and I decided to hook up with toad and join her for the Santa Clarita/Valencia/SF Valley Area group run that they had planned for the day. And, while there weren't a whole lot of people from her area specifically that showed up for run, we still had about 11 JK's along for the ride and with people coming in from all over SoCal. Anyway, here are some pics from our trip up Big Bear's Gold Mountain Trail and a part of John Bull....
Here's a shot of everyone meeting up at the Big Bear Discovery Center....
Airing down and disconnecting our swaybars at the Gold Mountain trail head....
toad climbing up the first obstacle with ease....
08redJKnCA coming around the left side....
Me taking a slightly different line up....
KenB1010 just as he clears the ledge...
08jk4door working his way up the trail with Joe Lightfoot following behind...
Here's a stock Rubicon Unlimited that we came across (with another group) at the rock garden getting some help off of a large boulder....
Here's rangleme expertly working her way around the traffic jam....
Trail Bud taking a little time to stretch....
Stopping up at the top to do lunch and take in the views....
View looking back out across Big Bear Lake....
After finishing up Gold Mountain, we decided to make our way over to John Bull and do a quick run up it as well. Here's a shot of the trail marker....
Taking some time to scope out the first real obstacle before heading on up....
toad working her way up a difficult line....
and the reminants of her passenger side front marker light after it exploded on the rocks....
fish getting some nice flex as he easily makes his way up....
Nice shot of 08redJKnCA coming up.....
Friend of Joe Lightfoot having some fun...
Joe Lightfoot picking the absolute hardest line up and nailing it....
08jk4door carefully making his way up....
Shot of Trail Bud from behind as we continue our way up the trail....
Here's KenB1010 just as he wheel hops his way up and over this obstacle and before toad asks him to stop for a pic....
Unfortuantely, this gets him stuck. Feeling bad, toad trys to push KenB1010 back off the rock he is stuck on....
Soon after getting KenB1010 rolling again, Trail Bud calls out on the CB and lets me know that he cannot steer left. When I get up to his JK and give it a look, this is what I saw - A BROKEN TRACK BAR MOUNT.....
After unbolting the track bar and steering stabilizer, we were able to free it and this is what it looked like up close. As you can see, it was pretty much a clean break and right at the welds....
Fortuantely, we came prepared with air tools and a welder. Here's a shot of me doing some prep work before welding....
Couple of shots of the bracket getting welded back on....
And a shot of Trail Bud working his way back off the trail. Amazingly, he was able to get home without any issues....
At the end of the trail and airing up....
If you would like to see all of the pics we took from our day out with toad on the Gold Mountain and part of John Bull Trail, simply click on the link below:
Project-JK Big Bear Gold Mountain Run Photo Gallery
Thanks again to everyone for coming out and for the great time we had with you. WOLette and I truly had a great time and look forward to joining you again out on the trail soon!!
Here's a shot of everyone meeting up at the Big Bear Discovery Center....
Airing down and disconnecting our swaybars at the Gold Mountain trail head....
toad climbing up the first obstacle with ease....
08redJKnCA coming around the left side....
Me taking a slightly different line up....
KenB1010 just as he clears the ledge...
08jk4door working his way up the trail with Joe Lightfoot following behind...
Here's a stock Rubicon Unlimited that we came across (with another group) at the rock garden getting some help off of a large boulder....
Here's rangleme expertly working her way around the traffic jam....
Trail Bud taking a little time to stretch....
Stopping up at the top to do lunch and take in the views....
View looking back out across Big Bear Lake....
After finishing up Gold Mountain, we decided to make our way over to John Bull and do a quick run up it as well. Here's a shot of the trail marker....
Taking some time to scope out the first real obstacle before heading on up....
toad working her way up a difficult line....
and the reminants of her passenger side front marker light after it exploded on the rocks....
fish getting some nice flex as he easily makes his way up....
Nice shot of 08redJKnCA coming up.....
Friend of Joe Lightfoot having some fun...
Joe Lightfoot picking the absolute hardest line up and nailing it....
08jk4door carefully making his way up....
Shot of Trail Bud from behind as we continue our way up the trail....
Here's KenB1010 just as he wheel hops his way up and over this obstacle and before toad asks him to stop for a pic....
Unfortuantely, this gets him stuck. Feeling bad, toad trys to push KenB1010 back off the rock he is stuck on....
Soon after getting KenB1010 rolling again, Trail Bud calls out on the CB and lets me know that he cannot steer left. When I get up to his JK and give it a look, this is what I saw - A BROKEN TRACK BAR MOUNT.....
After unbolting the track bar and steering stabilizer, we were able to free it and this is what it looked like up close. As you can see, it was pretty much a clean break and right at the welds....
Fortuantely, we came prepared with air tools and a welder. Here's a shot of me doing some prep work before welding....
Couple of shots of the bracket getting welded back on....
And a shot of Trail Bud working his way back off the trail. Amazingly, he was able to get home without any issues....
At the end of the trail and airing up....
If you would like to see all of the pics we took from our day out with toad on the Gold Mountain and part of John Bull Trail, simply click on the link below:
Project-JK Big Bear Gold Mountain Run Photo Gallery
Thanks again to everyone for coming out and for the great time we had with you. WOLette and I truly had a great time and look forward to joining you again out on the trail soon!!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Sure seems like Trailbud has a lot of breakage....I remember the ring and pinion from the EJS thread.
Great shots as always WoF, looking at your pics always makes me want to get out and wheel.
Great shots as always WoF, looking at your pics always makes me want to get out and wheel.
