Late notice snow run Feb. 1, tomorrow

[Springs505]

Pictures:

Nice folks we recovered on 314. The couple in the pickup had arrived at Ft. Carson from Maine a week and were brave (but not prepared) enough to venture out.

Down 300V

Down 300v (2)

The rough part of 300v. I think Leon is winching Luke where the trail started to get really bad. This was the beginning of the "getting unstuck" ordeal. Notice the depth of the snow on either side of the tracks. Luke's jeep was a snow plow at this point.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Great write up Luke.

Thanks for leaving out the part where I broke down into tears. But, more on that later.

Here are some pics from the "1st" part of the trip:

Just starting out...


"The Frank"!!!!...


Luke done doing burn-outs for the skiiers...


Chaining up for a rescue...


Leon's 80 has a pouty face....

 

[Fitzgerald]

In all seriousness folks, with the three kiddos in back, two feet off the road and two feet deep, I WAS FREAKIN' OUT!!!! Without the kids, I would have felt a bit "oh crap-ish" and not sure how I/we were going to get out, but with the kiddos along, snow dumping, and out of baby milk.... I WAS FREAKIN' OUT (like getting to the point of nausea, freakin' out). Really can't think of a time in my life where I felt so lacking in control of a situation, something I don't enjoy.

Then as Luke said, he came down that hill, hand used my $10 harbor freight come-along to twist and pull that fat 100's arse out of that ditch. Can't thank that man enough... and it was amazing to watch him work! (Knew exactly he was doing, doing it, and at the same time instructing me on what to do. I truly think you would have had to been there to realize the situation I/we were in.

From one of the most stressful situation I can remember, to a feeling of pure joy. I made it up 300v, then 300U managing to only loose traction a few times...and only bouncing off one tree. The pure joy moment came when I wasn't sure how much longer 300u was when I saw the Rampart sign shining like a beacon in the distance.

INTENSE.....


Just turning onto 300V, "The Frank" going deep...


Not sure when this occurred exactly, but I'm sure it was down in "my" ditch...


I do however know when this occurred... going up 300U, it was either stop and miss the tree (and probably not get started again) or keep momentum and bounce off a tree...

 

[Fitzgerald]

Thanks again to everyone out there yesterday.

On the way home, I definitely had a "I should sell the LC and go back to playing golf" moment.

But with a little time for retrospect, it was quite the adventure. Looking forward to the next one.... although with out the kiddos if it's going to be as "adventurous".

 

[Springs505]

Pictures:

I got back in to start backing up to get to a clearing about 400yds back. A minute or so later, I lost the back end, becoming nicely stuck on top of a log and against 2 trees.

During the few hours it took to get unstuck (Frank was the subject of "Winching 301" complete with chainsaws, re-directed pulls, and side pulling from the rear of the truck thanks to Rodney, Leon, and Luke), intentionally re-stuck, turned 180 degrees, re-unstuck, and drive back down the way we came in, I neglected to take pictures until we got out and it was dark.

The rest of the bunch headed back to Luke's house to air up. We headed straight out, pausing at mcdonalds in WP to use their "facilities", get the starving kid a snack, and air up.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Wish I could have seen how dug in "The Frank" was... glad we all made it out.

 

[black95]

I definitely had a "I should sell the LC and go back to playing golf" moment.

For the price to get you re-equipt to play golf, we could stick a winch on that 100, Even if we just made a receiver hitch port and kept the stock bumper. Winches are awesome. We would have had you out of that hole in 15 minutes instead of 90 minutes.

When I got back to Rodney and my Cherokee he looked at me, out of breath and covered in show, and asked "Dude, what the heck happened down there? do you realize know how long you've been gone??" Haha.

Did you have your tire chains? Why didn't we put those on???

 

[Fitzgerald]

For the price to get you re-equipt to play golf, we could stick a winch on that 100, Even if we just made a receiver hitch port and kept the stock bumper. Winches are awesome. We would have had you out of that hole in 15 minutes instead of 90 minutes.

Yeah, bumper/winch has been bumped to the top of my list.

When I got back to Rodney and my Cherokee he looked at me, out of breath and covered in show, and asked "Dude, what the heck happened down there? do you realize know how long you've been gone??" Haha.

Funny how time is such a fluctuating variable for something that is supposed to "constant". Waiting to hear from you guys when I slide off felt like forever, then when we were working on my rig, that 90 minutes felt like 20-30, then when I was at the open area waiting for you guys to meet up, every minute felt like 10. Definitely some surreal moments.

Did you have your tire chains? Why didn't we put those on???

Yeah, I had some. I got them out but there was NO way they were going on in that ditch. Really should have put them on sooner. Absolutely a lesson learned.

 

[black95]

That's right, I forgot you don't have standard truck chains. I took a tread bar on mine and moved it back so I could get my chains on without moving the vehicle for just those situations. It creates a weird gap that you can probably feel on the road, but I have never used my tire chains on the road.

Oh, and I thought your composure was quite good... and if you were crying, I didn't notice

 

[Springs505]

That's right, I forgot you don't have standard truck chains. I took a tread bar on mine and moved it back so I could get my chains on without moving the vehicle for just those situations. It creates a weird gap that you can probably feel on the road, but I have never used my tire chains on the road.

I was wondering why you told me not to roll forward when installing the chains on my truck. I'm not sure how I feel about moving a tread bar in terms of performance, but clearly it allows the chains to be installed on a stationary truck, which is valuable. pretty clever.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Oh, and I thought your composure was quite good... and if you were crying, I didn't notice

Well, my "Freakin' Out" might be a little tame compared to others, but I was stressin', that's for sure.

 

[black95]

Oops.

 

[karas]

That looks like fun guys and I would be freakin out a little with you Travis. Luke's one of the best wheelers I have encountered and knows his stuff. You should have told the skiers to get the hell off the road and go ski the mountains like your supposed to unless there a bunch of sissy's and if they want a workout go to the gym. I don't set up my weight bench in the middle of powers here to work out as well as they shouldn't. Anyway those type of people bug me. Luke the Cherokee doesn't look as big as it did in the drive way. I am betting its awesome on the trail and not as tippy as the 4 runner but just as capable. Still need to see the rack,can't quite make it out in the snow.

 

[black95]

Matt, I was holding my tongue in a serious way. I wanted to really lay into them as well, but I already made a bad enough impression but trying to throttle out of a hole in front of them. We all completely agreed, if you are on cross country skis, you could go anywhere you wanted... Why be on the road??? Whatever.

Anyway, I will take some pictures of the rack when the snow melts off of it the Cherokee is only on 6 inches of lift, but they start out so low you have to have a 3 inch lift just to fit 31's. It's very low and very stable. Took a lot of cutting and some big bump stops to make those 285's stuff.

 

[CO_Hunter]

It's pretty much been said, what a trip!! Great write up by the way Luke. Glad everyone got out safely, I thought it was going to be a very late night and I was surprised nobody had a problem going out but then again our group of three did have chains at that point. Sorry to those that got body dings. Luke where did that happen? I only remember your passenger side getting close.

Apparently I cut an ABS wire when I threw the right front chain on the way out. Should be a relatively easy fix the real challenge will be water proofing the repair. Left rear molding is a bit looser than it has been in the past.

Here are a few pics:

Andrew showing Luke how its done


Travis looks like he is waiting on AAA for the 100 series


I didn't do the graffiti, just the picture


It was a bit sketchy at times. Travis, I can't imagine the extra stress having the kids along. I heard that Kira stepped up as the big sister to help keep things under control. Why didn't you chain up once you were in the open area???

One parting thought on the skiers. They have every right to be there as we do, it is just the attitude that was out of line. I ski on roads at times as well. Let's keep taking the high road during these situations as hard as that can be at times.

Okay one more thing, a bit of irony. Today I was trying to wash off the ice, snow and muck so I could pull the 80 into the garage to work on the ABS sensor. Well my wife and I were jockeying vehicles so I pulled forward towards the house. Apparently all that washing with the cold weather something froze in the brakes. I was approaching the brick wall in front of the house while standing on the brakes. While on the brakes I threw it into neutral and pulled the parking brake. Well the wall stopped me Luckily I had slowed enough by then to just put a small chip in the bricks and scratched my ARB bumper. Revenge of Rampart...

 

[black95]

Man Leon, made it all the way through that without a scratch just to hit your house?? Glad it wasn't worse.

I got that dent and scratches winching up the trail after I first got stuck. The rear end was already so far off the trail, that I was pretty much winching sideways with the trees holding me up. I guess one of the big branches got me. The window seal looks pretty bad, but at least the glass is still there. No worries, as it's been said "That'll buff out". Trail dents are badges of honor and, good memories, I might even label and date that with black marker.

As far as waterproofing, I had good luck with making the repairs, then using your finger to rub some RTV silicone on the wire, and slide some heat shrink over it all and shrink it down. Heat shrink will tighten on the RTV squeezing it out and sealing the repair.

 

[Springs505]

I took a closer look at the Frank. The trees did a number on me for this trip.

The trees I was up against when I slid off backing out scratched up my door and broke most of the mounting tabs and put a good sized crack on my RF flare.

I hit a tree on the way out. It didn't look like much in the dark last night, but now I see that I pushed my bumper into the RF fender and pushed it in under the headlight/turn signal.

I think I'm going to buy some resin and fix up that flare when I get the time. Also, may have to buy some more steel and fab up something a bit beefier for the front bumper...maybe something that accommodates a winch

 

[Fitzgerald]

Time to deflare Frank!

 

[Springs505]

Time to deflare Frank!

Don't want/need to...the 33's tuck into the flares nicely. I like the look and will repair.

 

[karas]

Well I had a run in with a "retarded" mountain biker. Not just a mountain biker and I was gonna post it up on here at the time and didn't. Let's say in the old day I would have gotten out and left him for the bears. I held my tongue and now know I have a voice and will be silent no more. All tyranny needs to gain foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. That's my stand. They are more then welcome to use the road but to be mad at me for driving on it is not very nice.