T-33 Plane Crash Trail 10-10-09
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 540
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From: Winchester, TN
T-33 Plane Crash Trail 10-10-09
Decided last minute to hit up a trail on saturday. There had been a light snow friday night/saturday morning. Someone on the JKForum board was planning on going to the T-33 Plane crash site and we had never been...soooo, off we go!
The ride out there was interesting as we left about 10:00 and got caught up in a nasty crash on C470W near the I70 exit. I car had slide out of control on the west bound lane and crossed over into the east bound lanes and hit a large 2500 series truck that was hauling a tandam axle trail loaded to the hilt with something (couldn't make it out). The trucks front axle was snapped free and shoved under the truck and the engine bay destroyed, other than that it was in failry good shape for a combined impact of 120+ MPH (~60MPH each vehicle directly at each other!). The Car on the other hand (the car was the one going west bound) was demolished and they had to cut the entire roof off the car to get the person(s) out of there! I really feel for the occupants of the car!!
The drive was very beutiful once off the main roads (this is hwy 9 going to hwy 70)
Sorry, back on topic...Once we got to the trail head (up near Boulder) the snow was deeper than down in littleton. The trail had about 3-5" of snow in most places with ~6" drifts in places.
The ride consisted of me and a buddy from JKForum
He was build much better than I am, as he is sitting on 35" KM2's and has a winch (Thank goodness LOL).
Bad news is we couldn't make it to the top because my stock jeep was getting high centered on a large rock...Here is the deal, It wasn't that difficult except that it was covered in what was snow, but it had been turned to ICE by the previous person to go through (we did end up running into him in a nice XJ). This rock was placed on a down hill slant so that every time I tried to crawl over it (couldn't straddle it due to 32" tires and long wheelbase) I would slide down hill about 2 feet and slam onto the stupid rock right on my crossmemeber and couldn't move (even locked) due to the lack of traction. On top of that if I slide another 2" or so I would be into a tree hard...I tried mulitple times over the course of 30 minutes or more. John, (the other JK) gave some awesome spotting but to no avail.
We finally decieded that even if I got over the rock I would have to come back across and that would likely prove even more difficult as I would have gravity against me. Getting high centered while clmbing rocks covered in an almost glass like snowy crap would prove less than fruitful.
Sooo, a disapointed person finally admits defeat (first time ever to back down!!) and agrees to back down the trail and turn around. Luckly for all of you my wife caught my expression on the camera LOL..
The kids didn't really care one way or the other..
I wonder if my son was simply taughting me...ha, ha, daddy needs a lift!
Just so you know though, I did have a fantastic time and enjoyed the adventure. I was very impressed with how easily the stock JK climed some of the previous rocks (NOT covered in ICE)...
Here is the drive of shame back out of the trail....
P.S. Backing down the trail to get turned around was a NIGHTMARE!!! it took an hour for the both of us to get backed down because every time we would go back 2 feet we would slide into the treeline 3 feet and have to start over again LOL!!!
P.S.S. I also must admit that I had to use the lockers a few times when I slid into the treeline as the Jeep wouldn't budge, just spin... My poor JK is ready for a lift and some decent tires.
Here is a video of the days events:
and here is a link to all the photos we have (not to many sorry)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...view=slideshow
The ride out there was interesting as we left about 10:00 and got caught up in a nasty crash on C470W near the I70 exit. I car had slide out of control on the west bound lane and crossed over into the east bound lanes and hit a large 2500 series truck that was hauling a tandam axle trail loaded to the hilt with something (couldn't make it out). The trucks front axle was snapped free and shoved under the truck and the engine bay destroyed, other than that it was in failry good shape for a combined impact of 120+ MPH (~60MPH each vehicle directly at each other!). The Car on the other hand (the car was the one going west bound) was demolished and they had to cut the entire roof off the car to get the person(s) out of there! I really feel for the occupants of the car!!
The drive was very beutiful once off the main roads (this is hwy 9 going to hwy 70)
Sorry, back on topic...Once we got to the trail head (up near Boulder) the snow was deeper than down in littleton. The trail had about 3-5" of snow in most places with ~6" drifts in places.
The ride consisted of me and a buddy from JKForum
He was build much better than I am, as he is sitting on 35" KM2's and has a winch (Thank goodness LOL).
Bad news is we couldn't make it to the top because my stock jeep was getting high centered on a large rock...Here is the deal, It wasn't that difficult except that it was covered in what was snow, but it had been turned to ICE by the previous person to go through (we did end up running into him in a nice XJ). This rock was placed on a down hill slant so that every time I tried to crawl over it (couldn't straddle it due to 32" tires and long wheelbase) I would slide down hill about 2 feet and slam onto the stupid rock right on my crossmemeber and couldn't move (even locked) due to the lack of traction. On top of that if I slide another 2" or so I would be into a tree hard...I tried mulitple times over the course of 30 minutes or more. John, (the other JK) gave some awesome spotting but to no avail.
We finally decieded that even if I got over the rock I would have to come back across and that would likely prove even more difficult as I would have gravity against me. Getting high centered while clmbing rocks covered in an almost glass like snowy crap would prove less than fruitful.
Sooo, a disapointed person finally admits defeat (first time ever to back down!!) and agrees to back down the trail and turn around. Luckly for all of you my wife caught my expression on the camera LOL..
The kids didn't really care one way or the other..
I wonder if my son was simply taughting me...ha, ha, daddy needs a lift!
Just so you know though, I did have a fantastic time and enjoyed the adventure. I was very impressed with how easily the stock JK climed some of the previous rocks (NOT covered in ICE)...
Here is the drive of shame back out of the trail....
P.S. Backing down the trail to get turned around was a NIGHTMARE!!! it took an hour for the both of us to get backed down because every time we would go back 2 feet we would slide into the treeline 3 feet and have to start over again LOL!!!
P.S.S. I also must admit that I had to use the lockers a few times when I slid into the treeline as the Jeep wouldn't budge, just spin... My poor JK is ready for a lift and some decent tires.
Here is a video of the days events:
and here is a link to all the photos we have (not to many sorry)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l2...view=slideshow
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
The weather did get pretty nasty out that way it kind of caught some folks off gaurd if yah ever need someone to tag along shoot me a pm im trying to learn where some of the trails are I know there around I just cant find them. The pics are awsome keep them coming 
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: Winchester, TN
Just shoot me a PM when you want to hit the trails. During the summer we usually go out at least 2-3 times a month (sometimes more).
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,060
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From: North Texas
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