Snow Day! (4/21/01)

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Wow...anyone who wasn't with me at Los Coyotes today was bummin'!

It was one of the best days I have ever had at Los Coyotes.  It was a dark and
stormy night...wait...that's not right...

I woke up early anticipating the day.  It was to be the first trip out with my
newly repaired Jeep, and I was apprehensive about how it would work.  I had
breakfast, grabbed my friends who were visiting from out of town, and headed
down to the Arco to meet up with Keith Panza and Tim Swanson.  I got there on
time, and Keith was right behind me.  Tim was nowhere to be found, though...We
gassed up, waited an extra 15 minutes, and then hit the road.  It turns out
that Tim was running about 30 minutes behind us, but I didn't find this out
until I was heading back home.

Anyway, we headed out to LCIR, where we met up with Peter Colacino and my other
friend Peter Matusov with his brother Nick, both in full-size Cherokees. Peter
M. was eager to be on today's run, because this was the maiden voyage with his
brand new (to him) EZ-Locker in the rear (formerly from the front of the Gumby
Jeep).

So, with 5 rigs ready to tear off into the wilds of Los Coyotes, we headed out
and took on all of the hardest obstacles we could find.  That would have been
the dirt road leading up to the campground, as it was snowing heavily.  We
decided to head over to the mesa overlooking El Hill to check out the
conditions.  There was about 4 inches of snow on the ground already, and it
just kept coming down.  Along the way we tried Up-Down Hill, but had no luck.

After getting everyone grouped up again, we decided that we could head down the
backside of El Hill and then come back up Creek Road.  Let me tell you, going
down that hill when it's covered with snow is something that will get your
attention.  But, traction was surprisingly good, and we all made it down with
no problem. Then we looked at the hill going up.  I laughed in the face of El
Hill, and then wimped out in a big way.  If you think El Hill looks scary when
it's dry, you should see it with 5 inches of snow on it.  There was no way! 
But, we had to get out, so we headed back up Creek Road.  About 2/3 of the way
up, Peter C. started having bead problems with his tires.  We waited at the top
for him to change the tire, and then we continued on.  It took about an hour to
get up Creek Road.  Next Stop, Bronco Hill.

We headed over, and I decided I was going to give it a try, even though I
couldn't really see the line going up the hill.  But, as I tried to approach
it, I started sliding sideways, and decided that I would have a better day if I
tried something else.  We wisely moved on the Dangerous Road.  I can't
adequately say how much fun this trail is when it is covered in snow.  We had a
blast.  There were a lot of other trucks on the reservation, and they decided
that this was the place to be, too.    We ran into a traffic jam halfway up the
road.  At around the point where the trail widens out enough to let vehicles
turn around, everyone in front of us did.  They looked at us and told us there
was no way we were making the last hill next to Glass Alley.  It was just too
slick.  Can't make it??  Me??  Ha!  I laugh in the face of adversity.  Yeah,
right.  But, we couldn't turn around because the trail was blocked, so we
continued on.  I was in the lead, and Keith in his Blazer was right behind.

We climbed over the first step leading to the hill with no problem, and then I
looked at the long, steep hill that led out of Dangerous Road.  It was ice. 
Pure ice.  With a shrug, I decided to give it a try anyway, so I jumped in and
hit the gas.  I made it about 2/3 of the way up before I lost forward momentum.
 However, I had to keep the wheels turning, because they were the only things
keeping me from losing control while I was sliding helplessly backwards.  With
the wheel turning forward the whole time, I slid back to the bottom of the
hill.  OK, so maybe I can't make it.  What the heck.  I decided to try again. 
I got to the same spot, but then I started digging through the snow to the mud
below.  I wasn't moving forward, but I was chewing up the snow to get to the
dirt below.  I would dig a set of ruts, and then I would drop back a little and
launch my self through the ruts to the next point where I lost traction.  I
used this technique for about 15 minutes and finally clawed my way to the top. 
Of course, Keith cruised right up behind me after I had prepared the trail.  Of
course, all this time it is snowing like crazy.  At some points we were treated
to blizzard-like conditions.

So anyways, we got to the top of the hill, and then I hear on the radio that
Peter C. needs my compressor.  Seems he blew two beads, and needed air badly. 
At about the same time, a group of Land Rovers dropped down onto Dangerous Road,
blocking the trail ahead.   So, Keth and I made 30-point turns and got turned
around.  Of course, the hill was so well prepared that I was able to crawl it
down.  Very nice.  We went back to where Peter C. and Peter M. were working on
the tires and helped him get his beads re-seated.  Then every truck on the
reservation showed up.  It was hilarious trying to get everyone sorted out. 
Finally we got back on the trail and headed back up.  This time the trip was
uneventful, and we made it up to the grouping point at the top of the trail. 
Then we headed down and played on Left-Turn Hill. Me and Kieth were the only
ones to make it, although Peter M. gave it quite a try.

And that was the end of the day, because it was by then almost 3 PM.  It took 3
hours to get up Dangerous Road.  Wow.

We went back to the campground, aired up, and took off for home.  By the time
we left, LCIR had received another 6 inches of snow. It's never been funner than it is right now!

I was very happy with the repairs on the Jeep.  It's running great, and did
everything I asked it to with dying.  Oh, no oil leaks, either. WooHoo!

Can't wait to get out there again.  The reservation will be OPEN for the
beginner's run, but is closing to off-roading activities after the Memorial Day
holiday, no question about it.  It is posted on the gate. (note: They LIED - LCIR is still open as of 5/25/04)

Pete