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Archived Newsletter |
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November 2007
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SLASH-X JEEP RUN Suzy and I arrived around 3:30 on the 19th. to find Dave Trice already there. Seems he got by us when we stopped at the Outlet Center. The day was bright and sunny with just a breeze in the air. The Kellys arrived around 10:30 pm. By then, the wind was howling, and remained that way for the duration. The rest began showing up around 8:30 am on Saturday. Bob & Pat, Paul & Debbie, Dennis Neil and Louie & Karen Villa. As we were leaving, Dennis Sullivan called and said they and the Viques were about 100 miles out and would join us around lunch. They were coming in from a fishing trip in Utah. We really didn’t have a leader or a specific place to go. We just headed over to where they hold Hi Desert and roamed the area. Paul happened to be the first one out of the parking lot, so he was the first of many leaders. We made it up and over a few hills, then put me in front since he wasn’t too familiar with the area. It was starting to be a "Who’s on first, What’s on second" sort of day. So we roamed through the hills looking for some sort of challenging hill climbs and rocky gullies. There were a few hills that required posi’s or lockers, but no-one had any real problems. We were in one rocky gully with some tight turns where Louie and Karen sliced a tire. After changing it, we were off to find some more of the same. Nearing lunch time, the Kellys suggested we head back toward camp to see if the Sullivans had arrived. I headed out a sandy wash toward the road, but the Kellys turned off with the Courseys and Dave Trice to try "one more hill climb." Well, one hill turned to another, and another, and another. So, as the rest of us arrived back in camp and had lunch, they were still out there trying to find their way out of the hills. After lunch, the Sullivans and Viques headed out with the rest of us in search of the "lost" Kellys. We finally found them just as they were coming out of the hills pretty near where we began in the morning. I led them back around to where we lost them so the rest of us could try the first hill that they did before we lost them. Paul and Dave said it was easy enough for the rest of us, so they headed back up. Dave was in the lead, now, and started having trouble at the top. Paul had to help throw rocks to get him over the top. Next, Paul headed up and had some trouble, as well. After tossing a few more rocks, I headed up and over with good spotting. Next was Matula. A little tire spin here and there, but made it over. Dennis Neil’s Jeep YJ was the only "open" vehicle on the run. He spun tires a few times, and then conceded to a strap from Matula. The rest stayed below and didn’t try. After that, we continued on and found several challenges here and there with no other mishaps. We got back to camp around 4:30 and prepared for dinner. As Carol said at the meeting, dinner was disappointing since they no longer provide the BBQ ribs and chicken. So we were all stuck with burgers and fries.
Slash-X October Run October 20, 2007 While searching for the "Achy Breaky", we found the relentless "Windy Ridge." Yes, let it be known that the "Fun in the Sun" jeep club chose for our October outing to take on Mother Nature and her Santa Ana Winds. The winds were not too bad at the 9:00 a.m. take off time, but by noon they were howling up on the ridge. Six jeeps took to the trail leaving the Slash-X. Rick Schaffer led the crew up and around an unknown hill, down gullies and ravines. About an hour into the run, guests, Louie & Karyn Villa in their JK, sliced a front tire and had to change it on the trail. Once all were ready to get back to the trail, we continued to "explore" the area. Noon was approaching and the group split into two groups back to camp. Schaffer took the Villas, Bob and Pat Matula, and guest Dennis Neil back via the paved road. Meanwhile Dave Trice led Mike and Carol Kelly, and Paul and Debbie Coursey back "as the crow flies." It’s a good thing the crow has wings because he’d have a heck of a time on this trail. Dave didn’t let us down on this trail. First we traveled up a hill that was uneventful until the top where there to meet us was a small rock outcropping. Easy enough that we thought we wanted to bring the rest of the group up later. Back down the hill and on to the trail where we found the rock crawling challenge of the day. This part of the trail lasted about a quarter mile of challenge after challenge, with only a few rocks stacked. Once we were past the hard stuff and we made it to the top of the mountain we had started on in the morning. Here comes Schaffer and crew back from lunch up the trail, perfect timing. Rick had picked up a couple of stragglers. Dennis Sullivan and son-in-law, Andy Vique, were traveling back from a fishing vacation in Utah and wanted to join the club for a short run and dinner. The two groups became one and once again continued to explore the area. The most challenging event of the weekend had to be the trip home down the Cajon Pass. The Schaffers and Kellys left around 9:00pm Saturday and they said it was windy, but not too bad. By early morning, the Sullivans and Dave, who left around 4:30 a.m., had a very windy welcoming in the pass. Trucks were overturned and Dave said he spent most of the trip home on two wheels. Winds of 50-60mph were recorded in Lytle Creek area. I’m sure you know the rest of the story for Southern California for the rest of the day. All in all, a good weekend was had.
Well, the results are in. No hanging Chad (or anyone else) and the results are: Bob Matula as President and Paul Coursey as Vice President. Treasurer and Secretary is unchanged. I would like to thank Bob and Paul for stepping forward and assuming the positions. I would also like to thank Carol Kelly for her 10 years of service as President and Jay Jimenez for his role as Vice President.
GET JACKED I recently noticed that my high lift jack was getting a bit rusty from lack of use (a good thing) so I decided to take it apart and hit it with a little paint. I found that I couldn’t take it apart since the head wouldn’t move until I hit it with a good shot of WD-40. When was the last time you did a little PM on your jack? I would suggest that you pay a little attention to it so it will lift you up and let you down. -Ric Jones I second the motion! A few years back, I got hopelessly stuck in the caliche next to the Salton Sea at the end or Tule Wash. With flash floods expected after sundown, I spent two and a half frantic hours with a shovel and an ill-maintained high-lift jack. I remember opening a quart of Castrol to pour over the mechanism on the jack. It was no fun, having to use a screwdriver to make it click with each stroke. Scraping the sticky, gooey mud off the spade with each shovel added to the torture. Moral of the story: Keep your jack in good shape, and don't go to close to the Salton Sea. (The armpit of the desert; the toilet that doesn't flush, etc... you can think of a lot of names to call it in two and a half hours.) - "Jungle" Jim Carvin
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