I can truly say that my wife and I had a really good time on this trip. It wasn't so much due to the fourwheeling as it was due to the good company and the campfire sittings. It's pretty wierd to camp in a cow pasture, but after dark, its just like being in the mountains if you don't look too hard.
Chuck and I convoyed down friday night and set up camp, Don was already there and flagged us down with a flashlight, it was a good thing cause we really didn't know where to camp since neither of us had been to the sangres trip before. (thanks Don). Gary and his FJ40 made it in shortly thereafter followed be Andy and his enclosed trailer. Saturday morning brought Ken and his daughter, with Sam catching up with us at the middle taylor camp.
We woke up saturday morning to the sound of rain on the tent, but it moved out for a while so we could get ready to hook up with the forest service and get to hermit pass. Andy had to drop out of the run due to a broken brake line, Chuck's FJ60 was making some really bad noises that we thought were coming from the transfer case, but we later found out it was a bad ring and pinion in the rear. Chuck rode with my wife Heather and I, while Andy rode with Gary.
The rain was on and off all day. We never really had any downpours, and I really can't remember my clothes getting wet, so it must have not been that bad. We spent most of the day cleaning up around middle taylor camp ground. There was surprisingly little trash to be found, so we spent most of the day moving and stacking wood that the forest serviced guys cut down to eliminate fall hazards. Everyone got to go up and see the waterfall, and we ended up stopping for lunch at this spot.
The forest service guys talked about us adding a coat of sealer to the picnick tables, but the were just not dryed out enough, so the group took off up the trail. There was still not much trash to be found so about half the group stopped and hiked to the lake, My wife and I headed up to see how far we could get before the snow stopped us. It was about 12,500 feet, the snow was not deep, but it was icy and on a sidehill, making it too dangerous to cross. We tried to back off the trail a little to turn around and ended up having to get out the winch to get ourselves back on the trail. The mud was mixed with ice and too slick to even dig down, yet it ended up coating my truck somehow. The group radioed that everyone was ready to head down, so we made our way back.
At camp saturday night, it was Chuck, Andy, my wife Heather, and myself. We had a good fire going, the rain and clouds moved out, and gave way to a clear sky. We had a few adult beverages and discussed that fact that satellites can be seen orbiting the earth (we saw three in about a 20 minute span) and watched the shooting stars. I'm still in awe of the satellite thing, I guess I learned something new that night.
We drove out sunday shortly after breaking camp. Chuck pulled out his rear driveshaft Saturday night, so he was able to drive with the front axle, and didn't need earplugs to get home.
We made a side trip to Bishop castle. I was completely in awe of this place, It's unlike anything I've ever seen. If you haven't been before, you just have to check it out to believe it, and you have to go all the way up the towers to appreciate it. (I don't care how scared of hieghts you are)
Anyway, that's about it, If anyone thinks of anything throw it in too.......and hopefully we will get some pictures. I forgot my camera, but Gary was there, so hopefully he and everyone else will share. see ya in buena vista!!!!!
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