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SCHEDULED EVENTS

	1/17 Red Rock Canyon
	2/21 Coyote Canyon
	3/20 Calico
	4/17 Anza Badlands

For more trip information, see TRIPS.

CONTENTS

One-Way Canyon Still One Way

ONE-WAY CANYON STILL ONE WAY
By Rick Schaffer

It sure doesn’t take a lot of people to make a short run long. Just someone to get in trouble.

We started out expecting 5 to six vehicles on the run, but with three backing out at the last minute, we wound up with only 3. Actually, I thought it was only going to be Jon and Dale Rice and Suzy and I. A last minute e-mail to Bob Lloyd got him interested enough to finish putting the transfer case back in his Jeep and come out for the day. You’ll see later that I sure am glad he showed up!

As you know, we started the run at Chirioco Summit even though we were camped at Salton Sea. We drove from camp along the 111 up to Mecca and took the Box Canyon cut-off up to the 10. That’s where we met up with Bob. We didn’t want to take the usual route along the canal road onto the Bradshaw Trail. Too much washboard. So we decided to try the old Fast Camel (SR2013 Red Canyon) route. It’s more scenic, however, mostly 2WD. We noted that every thing west of our trail was closet to that "W" word.

Making it down to the mouth of Red Canyon was un-eventful. We went into the side canyon that we pre-ran earlier for a lunch stop. On the pre-run, it was 105 in the shade. But this time, we were looking for some sun as it was in the 70's. We did, however, look into the end of the canyon to find the entrance of the old trail we used to take in with the Chersky’s when they first led us on this trip. It hadn’t been used in years and was looking pretty degraded. It was a steep climb out and I didn’t want to chance having to back down if I couldn’t make it up. Besides, I wasn’t sure of the entire route, and yes, it was inside that "W" area. So, we went around into One Way and had lunch somewhere after the second waterfall. It’s only noon.

It’s amazing how much the trail has changed since last year. The recent rains have filled in most of the hard spots. Going left of the big boulder was still a challenge. I got hung up the same as last time but was able to back out and take a different line. No Hi-Lift exercises this time.

The next few obstacles were much easier, this time, due to sand filling. The slab where you needed to do a 3 pointer on top of was no challenge. What’s astounding is the big notch between the overhanging rocks that’s been the big challenge was so full of sand your tires barely rubbed the side walls getting through! What a disappointment for Jon and Dale because they passed on this part of the trail last year and were looking forward to trying it.

Now, the rocks on the far side of this notch have given us fits in the past. At least they still measured up. I made it through with some bumps and scrapes but Dale was having some problems with her right front tire. Seems it just couldn’t budge the rock in front of it. She finally made it after several attempts. Same with Bob. Remember Bob?

Since it was early (before 2), we decided to continue up canyon, instead of turning around, and find the old trail where it came down into where we were. We missed it going up and ran into a dead end. Searching harder on the way back down, I found it and climbed out to the top and assessed if we should try to go out that way. NOT Remember that "W" word?

So now it’s about 3 and we head back out the way we came. That last bunch of rocks coming up proved to be a real challenge going down. I got stuck on it, and instead of having Suzy get out and spot me through, I got stubborn and kept banging away at it. Well, I came down real hard on what appears to be my gas tank and the engine quits. Won’t re-start. Crank, crank, crank. Nothing. I figure I mashed the inlet and starved it for fuel or the pump just quit. I cranked it in gear to try and get off the rock and got hung up on the rear diff. Can’t start. Can’t move. Piling rocks is futile. Fortunately there’s a good size rock ahead, so I hook up the winch and pull myself off.

Now remember, I’m in front. I’m inside the big wedge and I need to be towed. Well, we pushed my Jeep forward into the wedge and cranked the starter in gear again and got through. Remember, the sand had filled it in so it went pretty easy. Now Jon and Dale can get around me and tow me out. Remember Jon and Dale? They’re back at those rocks I got stuck at and Dale is having a hell of a time trying to get through. First, she scrapes her right front flair on the overhanging rocks. Then she gets the rear so close that she’s up against the right side glass and every move pushes it harder. We stop her there and try to figure a way to get her away. I’m pushing like mad on the rear, trying to hold it away and Jon starts letting air out of the left side tires. As she inches forward, it scrapes the glass but doesn’t break. As they’re airing the tires back up, they discover the right front tire is leaking. Further investigation reveals the valve stem is torn. Time to change tires. By the time that gets done and I’m hooked up to be towed, it’s 4pm. Dark in an hour. The first time we ran this trail, Mike Kelly got towed out in the dark. We were about 50 yards behind where he was when he broke down.

Remember that tight 3 point turn up on the slab that was so easy coming up? Try it on a tow strap with no power steering and you can’t back up! Remember Bob? Sure am glad he’s there! He gets behind me up on the slab and straps me backwards, but the strap is so long we run out of room before I can set up. Suzy suggests we get out my tree saver strap. It’s only 6 ft. long. Sure enough, we hook it up and Bob pulls (slides) me back enough to set up the down hill side of the slab. I’m able to coast down and re-hook to Dale.

Now we’re at the notch where Mike got strapped from. My left front gets hung up and Dale is digging holes. I tell her to back up and I’ll crank it in reverse and re-align. I do and the engine starts! GREAT! Lets get goin’! Dale moves ahead and as she’s setting up for the next trick, my engine dies again. Damn! She was setting up to take a by-pass to the left of some narrow rocks that I had come through on the way up. Now, instead of taking the by-pass, I suggested to push through the rocks because it’s a straight shot. She does and gets hung up. Air is hissing out of her right front tire from being squeezed in the rocks. She backs up and punches through.

Now I’m there and the same thing happens. I holler to back up so I can, and the engine starts again! Un hook me and lets get out of here! She takes off, dragging the strap. I take off, and Jon jumps in with Bob (remember Bob?), who takes the by-pass and we scat. Just about now, we’re turning on our headlights.

No problems getting out of the canyon. It’s dark by the time we reach the Bradshaw Trail. We turn east and follow it about 6 miles to the Red Cloud Mine road and hit highway about 6:30.The Jeep’s running fine so we head back up to Chirioco Summit where there’s free air. I shut off the engine and it re-starts. Cool!

While airing up, I noticed a broken shackle bolt on my right side front spring. While the others are airing up, I switch it out. While tightening the last bolt, the socket wrench slips off and nails me right between the eyes. Guess the Jeep’s getting back at me for the abuse I put it through!

Roughly a 40 mile drive back to camp, and it’s running fine.

Thanks, Jon and Dale, for the tow. And thanks, Bob Lloyd, for being there to take up the rear. I’d never have gotten off that slab without rolling if you weren’t there!

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