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Archived Newsletter |
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September 2003
For more trip information, see TRIPS. |
CONTENTS |
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THE 24 HOURS OF FORDYSE Fordyce in a mere 24 hours. I can hear you now. What took you guys so darn long? Well, it was a combo. We were new to the area and our maps didn't agree. A very late start put us behind the eight ball. We also had a very hard time finding the staging area for the trail. The group, as usual, volunteered Rick and Suzy Schaffer to lead. We hung close to the spillway on the first water crossing. As you approached the far side, staying on some good-sizeed flat-topped rocks kept most of us out of deep water. However, not everyone played follow the leader. Already lunchtime, and we had just begun. A perfect place to enjoy lunch and play in the water. The expression, "the first guy doesn't stand a chance" proved true on the first winch hill. As for me, after a couple of tries their talking winch. I'm thinking "I don't want no stinkin' winch." I backed down a little, asked Rick to give me the approach line, gave it a little gas, got a little bounce into the notch and pulled on through. Yes! I turned around at the top to help winch the next Jeep up. Happy to help and glad it wasn't me. Over the radio we hear Carol saying something about a broken front spring mount. Not only had the right front spring perch broken on the Toyota, its demise allowed the axle to drop down. The drive shaft also pulled out when the axle dropped, compounding the problem. We carry an invaluable five-foot long digging bat with us. It's mounted through the tube in the front of the Jeep. The guys used the bar as a lever to get the drive shaft back up into place. Then they lifted the axle back up. They found a bolt in the black parts bag. This proved to be teamwork at its finest. While all of this was going on, Jay and Ellen found the bypass. Jay built up the one drop off and made it very doable. With the trail fix now complete, Mike chose to take the bypass. NOW they tell us about a bypass. While the "fix" was underway, three of us went ahead to scout the trail. Mike and Ellen led the way, all the while asking, why the newest to off-roading got to lead. Well, let me tell you they didn't behave as though they were newbies. By staying in radio contact we could pass on suggested lines to the gang. It wasn't long before the group was catching up. Ok, now we're making progress. The next water crossing proved the biggest challenge. We pulled up to find Mike and Ellen at the water's edge, with Ellen about to fiord the river on foot. She ventured out a ways but being slight of build decided it was rushing too fast and getting too deep. By now the group had caught back tip. Dave being tall, strong, husky and brave (although Rick was ready to go) took the strap for safety and the end of the winch, and ventured across. With cold water rushing and getting deeper, with every step, Dave slowly made it across. Ok, that's waist deep on Dave; how high is that on the Jeeps? Dave could you come back and carry my Jeep across? Dave secured the end of the winch around a bolder. The first two Jeeps, now with a strap between them, crossed without incident With the proper line now established, a little momentum and a lot of bouncing, we all made it across. Talk about an adrenalin rush. Yes, Dave had to go back for his Jeep not to mention his wife Grace. After the fact, we heard they shut the dam down three days prior to the Sierra Trek event. What's up with that? Up another hell (I mean hill). Throw a few more rocks around. Ask for a spotter. What's this? A lovely water crossing with an island in the middle. Now that's more like it. What time is it? What did that last mile marker say? I'm starting to get hungry again. I thought we were going to BBQ tri-tip back at camp. It will be dark before long. Are you sure we're still on the right trail? It was getting late. Mike arid Ellen were getting anxious about their dogs left behind in the motor home. One is diabetic and requires insulin. Mike and Ellen, not taking any chances, called 911 to verify the GPS coordinates. Yes! We were still on Fordyce trail. Ellen went ahead, with flashlight in hand, looking for the trail and hoping not to find any large furry critters. Night fell fast and dark in the grove of trees. So much for that five to six hour trail run we read about. Coming up winch hill number four, Dave broke the bead on one of his tires. With flashlights in hand, they grabbed the high-lift jack and started changing the tire. Now in rough terrain and headed uphill, it was not as easy as it might have been. This must be winch hill number five, then we're out! What was that I heard? The Toyota broke again? No Mike, not now, we're almost out! Mike and Ellen made it to the top. I was almost out when I made a bad decision and went too far right. It looked easy enough. I got into soft, very soft, dirt and went down on the rear differential. I wasn't going anywhere. After a couple of tries, to no avail, a strap was the only answer. Jay pulled me back about a foot. I changed my line and got out. Jay and Ellen came up the correct way without incident. The Toyota was a ways back and next in line. It was late, we were all tired by now and no one wanted to attempt another trail fix. We left the digging bar, the infamous black bag, and the three of us headed out. Paul and Debbie still had their tent and sleeping bags from our Rubicon trip just three days prior. A group of 13 vehicles from Fun In the Sun 4x4 Club and three trials bike riders (one being 8 years old) had just finished three days on the Rubicon Trail. All of us had emergency supplies to sharefFor a night on the trail. Supplies no one ever wants to use. I'd say they spent a long cold night, but in truth it was already 12:45am and a very pleasant evening. Mike and Ellen McAllister, Jay and Ellen Jimenez, my husband Jon Rice and I got back to camp about 3:00am. The dogs were fine but in need of water. First hot showers then a twenty-minute nap. Jon and I gathered supplies and headed back out at daybreak. Not wanting to chance running out of gas, we went into Truckee to fill up and put a little air in the tires. A quick cell call to Carol verified they made it through the night and were about to attempt the repair. Jon and I arrived just after Rick and Suzy Schafer, Mike and Carol Kelly, Paul and Debbie Coursey, Dave and Grace Trice made it up that last obstacle. Our offer of coffee and hot chocolate was warmly received. The wipes to Freshen up with went quickly. Let's all go to breakfast! We had breakfast in Truckee, then headed back to camp just short of 24 hours later. That night we had a wonderful, well deserved tri-tip BBQ with all the fixin's. The stories flew. The laughter was loud and all had a good time. Was it fun? Yes! Was it intense? Yes! Would I do it again? Yes, but not right away. Happy trails.
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS Well, the Santa Ana Mountain trip went off as planned, but with only 2 vehicles. It seems like this was A bad weekend for almost everyone except for Dennis Sullivan, the only participant besides Todd Simpson, the leader. Dennis said the run was good and there actually were some "3" rated trails that they took. The views were good and they were able to see Like Mathews, Like Elsinore and Irvine Lake. All in all, a good trip.
BLM FEE PROGRAM The fee program where the BLM was going to charge for use of Stoddard and Johnson Valleys, and El Mirage, has been shelved for now. There was such an uproar from the off-road community that they decided to back up and rethink it. One of the off-roaders' gripes was that we are already paying for those areas through the green sticker program, and we didn't like the idea of paying them to hire more "cops" to control us. I think the biggest complaint was the fee schedule, no day use fee, only a weekly $20 or an annual ($60). So, anyone going out for the day would have to pay the $20!
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