I had a great time, It was real nice meeting new great people and seeing some familiar ones as well..
The morning started out for me meeting jkinportland at the Loves Truck Stop..
We got to talking looking at each others rigs, he has the very nice red OME lifted JKU Rubicon, with some nice bumpers and a winch to boot..!
Anyways, before we knew it time was running short and off we headed to our next official caravan MeetUp..
We pulled in and here's a nice black JKU Rubicon w/bumpers and a winch and also his friends in a very capable TJ/LJ Rubicon UNL. Shortly after we arrive igotTOYZandaWIFE shows up from Fred Meyers next door (food and such).. in his well equipped JKU Sahara with 35's... After shooting the breeze it's time to make our way up to Gales Creek and then up to the Rogers day use area off hwy 6.
As we air down we know nwbronco is not far behind coming all the way down from Olympia, Wa.. As I finally get my tires even @ 15psi, just as we are ready to head to the trail nwbronco's family arrives.. Perfect..! We started out going up the powerline trail which was a nice start up.. Making short work of the first section we decided that the second section is a little tougher and my "disclaimer" came out for possible bottoming out and trail rash. At which time we divided into two select groups and met up on the other side again as one group. I think we all had fun on our next trip which was the Cedar Tree Trail... The Cedar tree trail what can I say..? That was a great suggestion by "jkinportland"...
And we know a skilled stock Rubicon Unlimited driver that did a great job to complete that trail as well. I think everyone has a story to tell there..
A lot of fun.. After we finished the cedar tree trail, it was 2pm and figured we would leave it up to everyone if they wanted to call it a day, as most had other things to do as well it seemed fitting to call it a day. Also the next trail was going to be Firebreak Five and we would not be ready to head out of the woods until at least 4pm by then.. At that point we said our goodbyes and nwbronco and myself headed for Firebreak 5.. This trail at different times can be a real challenge and it didn't dissapoint us for sure.. It was obvious at the first tough section it was not going to allow us bye with out some tough challenges and some rock stacking from nwbronco to get me through it as well.. Whew.. we made it through the first section, thinking we might find the second section harder, Well we'll see...
Holy cow, it was a real "most difficult" trail rating worthy of it for SURE today...
Like nwbronco said with out airing down this section would deny us both...
We both struggled, and I mean struggled.. getting through this section even more so.. I got some good rock rash on my stock rubi right rear wheel as I was tossed into it trying to find some traction... nwbronco and myself have been wheelin' these trails and this section of Firebreak 5 for 13 years and did not ever recall it being this determined in denying us this section... And since, we were "not" turning around..i
"air down or back down" I had to say it.. before I even finished saying it,
I heard air being let out.. by nwbronco.. here we go one last try..
A battle for us ensued with success...

More importantly, it was great meeting everyone Saturday..
We need to do this again in March.. The Long Beach, Wa trip is looking good and nwbronco is looking at the schedule for a good date as the mooonshiners swap meet is happening up north in Wa. that month as well..

 

We showed up late, and folks graciously accepted us and we fell in behind Jimmy's LJ.



After a brief discussion, we headed out for the Powerline trail. Steve took the lead and said we'd try to get everybody together for a better introduction at the first trail intersection.



We stopped there and took the time to get out and say hello and put faces and rigs to the names of the folks we converse with here on the forums.





The kid grabbed her camera and snapped a pic of the rigs in the line up....first up...

Outdoors, (my good friend Steve)



Up next, our new friend, Matt.



Up next, our new friend, Scott.



Up next, our new friends, Greg and his wife.



Up next, our new friends, Jimmy and his wife.



And then of course, we're bringing up the rear...



At this point, Powerline has a few places in that we knew the stock rigs would have trouble with, so Steve took a couple of rigs and took the forest road around, the others followed me and we headed back up Powerline.







Once we completed the 2nd portion of Powerline trail, we got together and decided to take on Cedar Tree Trail. This is one that we had run many years ago and it sounded like a good run for the new folks to hit, so off we go. I am in the lead, so the pics out the window are pretty much Jimmy's rig. Occasionallly we'd see Matt around the bend...








We got to one of the most intriguing things on the trail. The tree underpass...



We were in the lead, so I figured I would try it...









I ended up NOT getting through. I have a little dent in the window frame on the passenger corner, and a managed to pop a few clips on my right rear fender flare.
The best shot I took of the day was everyone watching me trying to fit under that darn tree....


After fighting to get extricated, and a big thanks to Jimmy for the spot. Jimmy gave it a try....








Jimmy was a bit shorter than me. We added a few bodies for assurance that he could fit under that tree...






My wife got behind the wheel and drove for a bit after the tree underpass....





After we finished with Cedar Tree Trail. we headed for the gravel pit for a bite to eat and the group shots...





It was here that most folks decided to call it a day. It was getting to be close to 3PM and folks needed to get on their way home. Steve and I stood around for a few minutes, then realized, we could probably get a good crack at Fire Break 5 before calling it a day, so off we went.



We swapped up and I took the lead in case a winchline was needed...




Steve spotted me through the lower part, it was pretty tough this year...





I returned the favor...




Lower portion done...onward to the upper portion...






At this point, I am stopped. Steve looks at me and says,' air down or back down' so down to 15psi in short order. Steve followed right behind.







We headed back to the Day use area, aired up a little, and called it one heckuva of a day wheelin'

Here's our pics, so it was our point of view of the run. Who else wants to share?

 

If anyone would like a picture shown above in its original photo file size, let me know and I'll email it![/QUOTE]

Oooh oooh send me the pics of us under the tree. I love those. I've got the picture I was taking of all of you looking at us under the tree in my post a little further down.

Great pics!

Bob K.

 

Ok I am jealous! I've seen pictures and videos of that tree before but never knew where it was. I've always wanted to do that trail. :-( looks like I missed out on a great time!!!

 

Sure thing. PM me your email address and I'll get them to ya. Thanks for sharing your photos, too, they turned out great!

 

Bob....what tire carrier are you running for that massive 37!?!

 

It's the stock carrier. The 37" spare is a used tire. And it rests on the rear bumper. The tailgate is holding up just fine.

Bob K.

 

Hey Matt,

It doesn't matter if you post the pics of my lower rider hung up on the rock.....it might help me to move forward with a lift and 35s! Or 37s?

 

Let me know if I can help. Moonshiner's swapmeet is March 13th this year. I know that Dave @ Northridge will attend that. We might try for the weekend after that, say 19-20?

Bob K.

 

Great pictures and I am too bummed I couldn't make it. I'm glad the trip was a success and no serious body/axle damage