Coke Ovens

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'Impassable' is a relative term. I've seen buggies climb boulders that I would never have believed possible. It's not all equipment either- it's also no fear of damage and knowing what your equipment can do. The original Luge looks bad, but not impossible- at least the last time I saw it.

-Spike

Noted. This isn't a "buggy" forum though.

I can tell you this (forgetting all of the folks I know with a zillion different vehicle-types whi will not try the Luge), if Leo passes(d) in his D90 (probably the most capable vehicle I have ever seen to date...combined with his expert driving), we Cruisers won't be doing it for sure!
 
your right,, that pic was feb '04, my bad. i actually remember it cause the big flood was in jan/feb '05, i was lucky enough to be the very first rig to run the loop after the flooding, water was still over my tires in some spots and the 150ft waterfall was still flowing well, but thats another thread.

its not a good angle but i dont know what to tell ya. thats the luge.

another friend wanted to try it with his runner, i was down at camp when it happened, but he actually rolled over entering the luge and came to rest upside down. there was a jeep group running through that righted him, when he came back to camp he told us the story but didnt have pics. the jeep group took pics and we gave our e-mail to have them sent, but they never did.

i know you hang with the bestest drivers and the builtest rigs, but some of us are willing to get a little dirty to have fun and we might run a trail once in a while that the "cool kids" dont think is doable.

the crew i hang with is all about bad ideas in favor of fun.

here is what the bypass looked like when we were playing on it in feb '03, the winner was the one who broke the barbie jeep.

are you seeing a pattern with the dates? we do a little thing we call man weekend, once a year at martinez.
barbie luge.webp
 
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The only time I ever ran down that was late 2007 in my stock FJC... no damage, but honestly I think I got lucky. Didn't look anything like those pics, holy moley.
 
I guess I'm gonna steer clear of that area. Might end up changing the location of the run for Saturday. Temperatures are suppose to be back in the mid-90's.

Well I managed to convince my :princess: brother that the heat won't be that bad so we're still heading out to Box Canyon area if anyone else wants to meet up.
 
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nice link tibaal, look at all those rigs on that impassable trail ! :D

If I was a group leader (like Leo was on his Rally's pre-run) I would have turned the folks around as well. Leo had all Disco and Range Rovers wagons with him. He was the only D90. That is not a spot for wagons to go down right now unless you want immenent damage. Send the FJ40's down with soft tops (like the Jeeps) and they'd be fine.
 
Should be no problem as long as your tires stick out to the side of the truck by a foot :rolleyes:.

I haven't seen an '80 (or for that matter, a non-buggied K5...) set up like that.
 
I was out at Box Canyon a couple weeks ago after having not been there for several months... looks like the right (from the bottom) side of the box canyon water fall obstacle is a bit nastier. Also the middle line of the 'red hill' looked like the ruts were a bit deeper.

Could just be my bad memory though... didn't wheel any of it, was just passing through.
 
shotts i understand and would do the same thing with a bunch of shiny rigs. i wouldnt take my tacoma down it, but the FJ55 is a trail wagon.

you know of course i have to be my ornery self and submit questionable humor when i can;)


tibaal brings up another point, he mentions the middle hill at the windmill and i just couldnt believe new climbs were made when i first saw them, just stupid.


p.s. i surprised no one laughed at us racing barbie jeeps down the luge bypass, tough crowd here.
 
p.s. i surprised no one laughed at us racing barbie jeeps down the luge bypass, tough crowd here.

It's the economy. We're just worried about y'all's repair bills for those things.
What kind of mileage you getting with them, BTW?
 
...

p.s. i surprised no one laughed at us racing barbie jeeps down the luge bypass, tough crowd here.

It was funny, the first time you posted it.;p
 
Typical jeep.... couldn't even finish the run.
 
Typical jeep.... couldn't even finish the run.
Howdy! Yea, must have been made after Chrysler bought them out. You know how Dodge trucks had all those bad frame problems. John
 
Well got back from Florence Junction about 20 min ago and I did not make it to Martinez Cabin area due to time constraits of someone else in my party. The road running into Box Canyon is not as bad as it was a year ago, but the road out is very washed out. A lot more rocks sticking out and very little dirt covering the trail. Photos to come soon.
 
So did anyone ever say if the Coke Ovens were still accessable? Couple of trucks are planning to head that way in the morning. Just what to know if you could still get to the ovens. Also from the ovens which way is the river crossing? Was hoping to exit that way. Thanks!
 
Howdy! I was at the Coke Ovens on10/25. Went in on Cottonwood Canyon. Came out the same way. The river crossing at Cochran is really nasty looking. The ramp is washed out, and the water was 3+ feet deep and fast. Battleaxe Rd is washed out really bad, 10 x 20 foot hole, just east of the Cochran crossing. I did not take the time to go back towards the railroad bridge to look for another crossing. Overall, I thought the trail was rougher, and slower, than last spring when I was there. John
 
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