The Dusy Ershim has been on my bucket list for years and I couldn’t imagine running it with a better bunch. We worked together efficiently even when attitudes clashed.
Thompson Hill is no joke and the 90 degree heat coupled with indescribable dust challenged our constitutions even more. We brought a lot of extra parts none of which were needed as we had zero vehicular failures. Plaudits to all for their vehicle builds and excellent pre-run preparation.
20 miles of the Dusy on the second day on minimal rest was a challenge itself but a challenge we welcomed after a long lunch break at Ershim lake where we made the collective decision to abort our much anticipated two night stay under the evergreen canopy due to the smoke plume in the distance.
Needless to say a sense of concern and the need for a quick but drama free exit to Kaiser pass was felt by all. I can’t stress enough how awesome this group of guys are to wheel with and I think the challenge of 20 miles in, I believe, around 13 hours wheeling time all the while thinking about the conflagration happening a couple ridges over serves to solidify what I say.
Once back to black top after dark, we worked together sharing the extra gas that was brought by some and air compressors by those who had them. I discovered a torn valve stem at my right rear. @Noahrob and his shotgun rider and long time wheeling buddy, Dan saw me bringing out the tire changing tools and jumped in immediately to assist in a very fast tire change. Before we were finished others came to help wrap it up by putting that flat and heavy 37 up on the carrier and off we went down the mountain with @GWNugget leading the way.
At the small town of Shaver Lake we all gassed up, shook hands and parted ways except my wife and I and @Broski. Our tow rigs were parked several miles up Dinkey Creek Road. When we arrived there at 10pm the air was clear and we were dead tired so we decided to sleep there before loading up the cruisers and heading out. About 4:30am we awoke to a very smokey atmosphere. My wife and I slept on cots atop my trailer deck with Gabby the super mini Aussie and had a light coating of ashes on our sleeping bags. Broski, being the nice guy that he is, made coffee inside his camper and still found time to help me load my rig on the trailer. I never thought I’d be happy to leave the mountain...
@Broski
@Noahrob
@malteserunner
@GW Nugget
Thompson Hill is no joke and the 90 degree heat coupled with indescribable dust challenged our constitutions even more. We brought a lot of extra parts none of which were needed as we had zero vehicular failures. Plaudits to all for their vehicle builds and excellent pre-run preparation.
20 miles of the Dusy on the second day on minimal rest was a challenge itself but a challenge we welcomed after a long lunch break at Ershim lake where we made the collective decision to abort our much anticipated two night stay under the evergreen canopy due to the smoke plume in the distance.
Needless to say a sense of concern and the need for a quick but drama free exit to Kaiser pass was felt by all. I can’t stress enough how awesome this group of guys are to wheel with and I think the challenge of 20 miles in, I believe, around 13 hours wheeling time all the while thinking about the conflagration happening a couple ridges over serves to solidify what I say.
Once back to black top after dark, we worked together sharing the extra gas that was brought by some and air compressors by those who had them. I discovered a torn valve stem at my right rear. @Noahrob and his shotgun rider and long time wheeling buddy, Dan saw me bringing out the tire changing tools and jumped in immediately to assist in a very fast tire change. Before we were finished others came to help wrap it up by putting that flat and heavy 37 up on the carrier and off we went down the mountain with @GWNugget leading the way.
At the small town of Shaver Lake we all gassed up, shook hands and parted ways except my wife and I and @Broski. Our tow rigs were parked several miles up Dinkey Creek Road. When we arrived there at 10pm the air was clear and we were dead tired so we decided to sleep there before loading up the cruisers and heading out. About 4:30am we awoke to a very smokey atmosphere. My wife and I slept on cots atop my trailer deck with Gabby the super mini Aussie and had a light coating of ashes on our sleeping bags. Broski, being the nice guy that he is, made coffee inside his camper and still found time to help me load my rig on the trailer. I never thought I’d be happy to leave the mountain...
@Broski
@Noahrob
@malteserunner
@GW Nugget
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