FAWKING MIND BOGGLING - HitR 2016

[FJ60Cam]

C-drew rolls into the campground and is immediately on beno's case about the knuckle job. Being the wise sage of the group, he is able to talk him off the ledge and has him packing up the tools in no time.

In the distance, we hear what sounds like earth moving equipment. An eternity later, Steve1 & Justin roll up in the turbo dieseled 60, no doubt driving the whole way from the ferry in low range to show off his new 4:1 split-case crawler gears.

Shortly after, we hear Alex & Jason geeking out on the ham radio. They have sh!tty antennas, so they must be close.

Johnny & Steve2 are a few hours out, still on the road from Denver.

Pablo, having lightened his load in the Mohave, is making great time now and should be here before dinner.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Once Jason, Alex, and Richard (Alex's dad) arrive, we start feeling claustrophobic in the campground. Plus, Andy has a rule about not paying to camp under any circumstance, and this place will cost about $45 a person just to camp for the night. We make use of the showers and little bit of cell signal to send word of our plans to the incoming trucks - we are going to jump on the trail a day early, where we will overnight at the Windmill Camp.

We take turns showering, and since Alex & Jason are from North Carolina, the transgender jokes are quickly flowing. They aren't just jokes though; some of us temporarily gender-identify as ladies so we can make use of the Women's shower as well the Men's to speed things up.

Everyone tops off all liquid-carrying containers and we peel out toward the trailhead.

While we are airing down, the rest of the gang arrives.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That "women's" shower cannot be called that any more but it was legit. It was a shower for those identifying themselves as women regardless of external equipment or permanence. Why NC messed this up is a mystery unless common sense stills prevails there. Anyway it was Equipt with lavender soap, expensive conditioner and soft towels. Not bad for a national park shower.

 

[wngrog]

What NP are y'all in at this point? I need to open a map of where this is happening

 

[Enigma]

The story is like a smoking hot Israeli supermodel that you run into at a combination bowling alley/gas station in Blanding. She's right there in front of you, but you can't just drive off with her; you need a good pickup line.

How about:

You: You remind me of my little toe.

Smoking hot Israeli supermodel: Why? Because I'm small and cute?

You: No, because I'm going to bang you on the coffee table later.

 

[FJ60Cam]

What NP are y'all in at this point? I need to open a map of where this is happening

Just south of Halls Crossing. The red line is the Hole in the Rock trail.

 

[ntsaint]

I'm gonna need those GPS tracks...

 

[fountainhead]

I'm gonna need to tag along when you decide to follow them...

 

[ntsaint]

Dang right

 

[FJ60Cam]

Seriously, this is such a great trail. I put it up there with the Rubicon on the epicness scale, but it is easier on the equipment.

 

[ntsaint]

^^ OK, so now I'm REALLY gonna need those GPS tracks.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Seriously, this is such a great trail. I put it up there with the Rubicon on the epicness scale, but it is easier on the equipment.

Still on a High from this trail too. The adjustment back to life has been difficult. More double rainbros, less work.

 

[FJ60Cam]

We proceed to the Windmill Camp and set up camp.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Andy whips up a batch of carnitas and (at least I think it was this night) Pablo pulls out a bottle of Firestone Double DBA, the craziest, highest potency beer around. He pours half out for himself, and because the rest of us are lightweights, pours the other half into a glass for passing around.

Think barleywine and whiskey with strong toffee and vanilla flavors. Unreal. You have to know someone to score one of these, and apparently Paul knows a few people, because he pulled another one out later on.

 

[FJ60Cam]

The next morning is absolutely gorgeous. We take it easy and take our time. We were supposed to hit the trail at noon, but we are several hours ahead of schedule.

@beno & I break out some of Mrs. Cruiserdan's eggs and venison sausage and make some epic breakfast burritos.

You can't see them, but trust me, it is going down over on my tailgate.

Killer coffee is also being brewed, which after a few cups, I feel the calling to christen my new Trasharoo.

Every poo, I try to find the most epic view available and take a photo (of the view, not the specimen.)

One of the things on my to-do list that never got crossed off was adjusting my new 80 series e-brakes. The last thing I wanted was to have to put my auto trans in Park on a hill and get it bound up. So, before leaving, Andy taught a class on 80-series ebrake adjusting...

 

[FJ60Cam]

How about:

You: You remind me of my little toe.

Smoking hot Israeli supermodel: Why? Because I'm small and cute?

You: No, because I'm going to bang you on the coffee table later.

Trust me, she was way too high class for that. But I think Andy is meeting up with her next week. She was heading to Norcal after she is done touring Utah.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Shhhhhh!

 

[FJ60Cam]

We leave the Windmill Camp and head for the main trail.

We hit the trail and soon find ourselves at the first "real" obstacle, a 10' high downhill sweeper with a few ledges. It looks fairly benign in the video (as most pics do), but it had us fully crossed up.

This will be the first test of my 60/80 hybrid suspension, and you can hear my tires talking to the fenders when they are fully stuffed.

 

[FJ60Cam]

beno's 70 looks like a mountain goat as it hops around, grabbing a foothold in even the tightest of places...

Steve giving it a go...

 

[jfz80]

"Killer coffee is also being brewed, which after a few cups, I feel the calling to christen my new Trasharoo."

yes. After the campresso effect I felt the need to mod my mod to more accurately reflect what a week of basking in the sun can do to these things!