Trip Report - Longwater and Hackett Gulch.

[Man Jerk]

Ty (3rd Gen 4runner) Eric (FJ60) and Leon (LX470) managed to get to the Hackett Gulch Trailhead by about 10:15 or so. I forgot how long you are driving down dirt roads just to get to the trailhead. Much of the road was a lot rougher than I remembered.

The other members of our group, Chuck, Trevor, Ben, and the Bronco Guy and the Rubicon Guy (sorry, I don't know their names) all got head up. The 1st group made a beeline to the trailhead in case anyone was meeting us there. Turns out they didn't.

Longwater:
After a quick trip through the trees you are into the burn area rather quickly. The trail winds up and down ridges, eventually beginning it's slow decent towards the South Platte River. I am always awed by the scenery, and the views that no trees afford. The only problem is not trees = no shade.

Overall longwater was no different than Metberry for those who have driven that trail. The scenery is similiar, and it is no harder. I was quite impressed quite a few times at how Eric's FJ60 was so effortlessly handling the trail. His wagon is stock except for all terrain 31" tires. I'll chalk it up to driver skill. Everyone else was quite at home behind the wheel so we mad it to Longwater rock around 11 am. You have 2 choices. An off camber drop to the left, or a seriously off camber run down the middle. We all chose the left drop and I seriously hung some tires in the air, everyone of course made it easy. Before you know it we were at the county line and lunch.

In and out took us just over 2 hours. There really isnt much room to turn around at teh bottom.
Hackett Gulch.
We said good bye to Leon and Eric ,who were missing their families, at the trailhead for Metberry Gulch. We still had not seen the other group, so I imagined either they had just gone down Hackett, or something else.

So Tye and I headed down the trail.

Hackett is much more difficult than Longwater. Hackett rock is a blast. It's a long, long stretch of granite that goes uphill, then turns to the right and goes uphill. I was on the gas making sure I didn't have to back down that rock if I lost traction. We both made it up pretty easy and both mentioned to each other how we weren't looking forward to driving down that granite slab that was covered in gravel.

I think Hackett is a much prettier trail. You actually drive through aspen groves for quite a while unlike the other trails. There are lots of meadows and lots of wildflowers. And shade...that was welcome.

Eventually you drive into the burn area, and it too starts it's slow decent. There are quite a few very steep windy parts of the trail. Much steeper than what is encountered on the other trails.

And guess who we ran into at the county line. No one. Just a bunch of farmiliar trucks parked at the bottom, but no one around. Tye and I started to hike down the road towards the river, but after about 50 feet we said no way and headed back.

Just before we left a few very tired souls showed up. Seems they all hiked down to the river what I'm assuming was a nice cool break.

Tye and I headed out and once again wrapped this trail up in about 2 hours in and out.

Thanks everyone for a good day.

I'm working on pictures.

 

[Man Jerk]

Longwater Gulch

Longwater Rock

Hackett Gulch

Hackett Rock

 

[CO_Hunter]

Ty (3rd Gen 4runner) Eric (FJ60) and Leon (LX470) managed to get to the Hackett Gulch Trailhead by about 10:15 or so.

Just to clarify that was LX450 not 470 Great running the trail with you guys today. My pics were kind of more of the same except for the video my daughter took. It was of me going down and up Longwater rock. Pretty funny with Marks commentary when I was going up. Wish I could post it.

So the slab going back down Hackett wasn't too bad?

 

[alteredvision]

Thanks for the run it was great to meet everyone and very cool seeing the new growth of a great area. Eric sorry if I did not get you enough photos going up Longwater rock you went up to fast and all I could do is snap and get out of the way.

Here is a link to the video from inside going down Hackett rock.

Link to all photos taken today.

It is a lot different terrain then what I am used to and the driving style feels like I have to re-learn everything again. I am all new to 4Lo, desert we only used it on some rock obstacles and I have never run almost a whole tril in it before.

Longwater Gulch: Moderate trail that has 1 large obstical and a lot of steep inclines. The obstical has multiple lines and the easiest that we found was to get all wheels on the rock and do not go into the soil that runs the side. This line was done by all of us and one truck had no lockers and AT tires. This is an out and back trail so everything that you do 1 way has to be done in the opposite direction.

Hackett Gulch: Moderate/Hard trail that will require rock crawling and very steep decent and ascent on gravel slide trails. Terrain is very rough with large boulders and tree limbs on trail. There is also a large rock that has no go around and I did have my rear locker engaged to make it up but was told that a open 4Runner 1st gen made it up earlier that day.

 

[Man Jerk]

Tye, I can't believe you ran all day in 4hi. Especially going up those hills. Boggles my mind. There is no possible way you could do that with a 22RE. It would never make it.

I believe that Ben put on a pretty good show when he did Hackett Rock in is stock 4 runner. I'm curious how he did getting out.

 

[Man Jerk]

I also wanted to mention that we only saw 3 motorcycles, and 1 ATV on longwater, and 3 trucks on Hackett. I was worried there would be a lot of traffic but there was almost none.

 

[subzali]

Very cool guys! I should have been paying attention more to my schedule and come with you! Hope to do those trails soon, been wanting to since before I got my truck in 2005 (obviously they were closed in 2002, but still...)

 

[Hulk]

Looks like a great day. Thanks for sharing the trail report and pictures!

 

[PPFJ60]

I have a question on the definition of a "flop". Do you have to stop in the flopped position to be a flop or is it a flop if you tip on the side hit the gas and bounce back up? This happened just down the hill from Hackett rock when I went to the left of the tree instead of to the right (going down hill). Small scratch on the front fender small dent on the rear fender and scrapped the slider. Without the slider I would have been parked with only two wheels on the ground or if I would have hit the brakes I would have been stopped with only two wheels on the ground.

I ran Hackett in two wheel drive (with a locker so both rear wheels have power) with the exception of going up Hackett rock and after the mini flop to get back to level ground. Heading down the steep part of the trail in rear wheel drive and in low gear the tires turn slower than the truck is moving so I was thinking maybe that wasn't a good idea because if I started sliding sideways it could get ugly. I was able to make it back up the steep part of the trail as long as I kept the momentum going. The V8 has enough power to allow for this but I would suspect a minimally powered truck would not be able to make it out without 4 wheel drive.

The trail is still smooth from being worked on to get the trail open but I would suspect that it will get a few ruts in it over time and as the top of Hackett rock gets dug out the trail will get harder.

We hiked to the river from where the trail is closed at the Park county line. I will post some pictures of us at the bottom tomorrow when I have a chance.

 

[Isotel]

Good Trip! its always nice to have some more options for trails!

Big Thanks to Mark for leading this trip! i owe ya bud!

We had a fun time on hackett, best part of the trip was chilling out down by the river! i think the Main attraction of these trails was the section down by the river that is still closed, its very nice down there! it will be nice once the park county section is open so we can do some camping down there!
Trevor

 

[Corpolite]

Longwater

Gents--had a great time on Longwater! Thanks for your patience with the newbie. Next time I'll take on Hackett (if I can get my new suspension in by then, and maybe a locker or two, oh, and a winch...and sliders of course...and maybe it's time for a skid plate...crap this is going to get expensive!!!)

Eric (aka Corpolite)

 

[PPFJ60]

Eric (Corpolite),

Sounds like you have been bitten by the Landcruiser bug. One bite from this bug causes you keep thinking about upgrades and then testing the upgrades you have already made.

I would suggest a mild suspension lift, sliders and an Aussie locker for the rear for starters. With these changes you should be able to fit some 33" tires. You will be amazed at the difference these changes will make and what they will allow your FJ60 to do.

 

[Corpolite]

FJ 60 upgrades

Thanks, I was hoping to hear from a fellow-60 owner. I have a couple of questions if you can spare a minute...

After getting up the rock on Longwater I started hearing a pretty loud grinding sound from either my transfer case or front axle. It only showed up when I was in 4-lo and in first or second going up a steep grade.

I'm worried I have an axel or hub going bad or maybe a bad motor mount...any thoughts?

 

[PPFJ60]

The driver side motor mounts are notorious for going out on FJ60's. Under heavy load it will allow the motor to flex enough to rub on the fan shroud.

If you want someone to help you plan ways spend money on your FJ60 call me at 719-649-9180.

Chuck

 

[PPFJ60]

Here are a few pictures from Hackett. I wish I had one more picture that would have been taken between picture #1 and picture #2. That's the point I was doing #1 and #2 in my shorts.

 

[black95]

That's the point I was doing #1 and #2 in my shorts.

ha ha. that's some pretty mean flex you got goin' on there in pic #2. Driving into a flop and powering out takes some major pelotas. good job!

 

[nuclearlemon]

need more pics

 

[PPFJ60]

Here are a few more pictures.

 

[PPFJ60]

Just one more.

 

[PPFJ60]

Sometimes I get asked the question "Does the anti-wrap bar limit my axel travel?" My reply is always "Not that I can tell!".