June 23, 2001 Day Run

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Saturday, June 23, 2001

Members present:

Pete Griffith with Jonathan - CJ-7
Paul Rivas - M-38

Guests present:

Peter Colacino - Ranger (not really a guest, more like a co-conspirator)

Saturday dawned bright as we woke up early to head out for another fun day
at the best 'wheeling in So Cal.  I met up with Paul in Temecula, and we
headed down Hwy 79 to meet Peter at the campground.  It was an uneventful
drive and we arrived at the main gate at around 8:15 or so.

The prices have gone up, as was rumored.  They have posted a sign which
basically says that they're staying open 'till at least October.  However,
they also have it posted that we are to use established trails only.  Anyone
caught off the trail will be kicked out and banned for life.  The prices
are:

$15/day to play for the day
$20/day to tow in and play for the day OR drive in and camp
$25/day to tow in and camp

So the prices went up, but it's still worth it, in my opinion.  Anyway, we
paid our fees and headed on in to air down and wait for Peter.  He showed up
about 5 minutes later, and we headed out to have some fun.  We headed
straight out to the back country and proceeded up Which Way Way.  We stopped
at For Pete's Sake Hill where I once again tried (and failed) to climb this
obstacle.  Someday, perhaps, but not today.  Then Paul stepped up.  He tried
every angle, but even with his shiny (not so much now) new Goodyear 35"
MT/R's he could not make it.  Then Peter in his Ranger made us both look bad
by climbing right up it with his dinky little 30 inchers.  Go figure.  I
have to admit it, though.  Every time I go 'wheeling with Peter, I'm amazed
at what that Ranger can do.

Anyway, a little further up the trail and we come to No Way Way.  Now, the
big joke is that we always look, but there's no way.  I heard that Matt made
it a few weeks ago, but with umteen-zillion to one crawl and 38" Swampers.
And he was the first to do it in a looonnnng time.  So Paul takes a look and
says "Why not?" and heads up.  He slips and slides and starts to demonstrate
why they call it No Way Way, when all of a sudden those MT/R's start to
bite.  Me and Peter were down at the bottom saying "No way!"  And then up he
went.  Just like that.  Hats off to Paul!  So then of course he gets hung up
on the next little step right above the main ledge.  A little work, though,
and he made it all the way.

We then finished the trek to Bagby's Rock and turned around and headed back
to El Hill.  We decided that we weren't in the mood to try and climb the
Toboggan, and none of us wanted to go DOWN it.  Back through the nice climbs
on the way to El Hill and then there we were.  We stopped for lunch before
playing on the hill.  As we were finishing up, a group of Land Rovers came
through.

This is pretty cool, actually.  The local Land Rover dealer in San Diego
makes organized runs to LCIR at least once a month and brings their new
customers along to teach them how to use their trucks.  I've seen them out
there numerous times. Even though I'm amazed that someone would pay that
much money for a stock vehicle and then come out and beat it up like some of
the inexperienced ones do, I have to give them credit for coming out and
proving that it not JUST good for getting the groceries.

So we finished lunch and then went up El Hill.  Peter went first, and made
it look easy, as usual.  Then Paul started up and then backed out.  He
wanted to watch a short-wheelbase rig do it so he could see the line.  Far
enough.  So I headed up the left line this time and walked right up.  Paul
started up but then had stalling problems and so backed out and went up El
Hillette instead.  That hill is no picnic, either.  At the top of the hill
was the Land Rover club, watching us play.  We went back down to the bottom
and proceeded up the backside of Hot Dog Hill, and then up Creek Road.  This
is much more fun than the traditional down route, and makes for a nice
warm-up for Bronco Hill.

When we got to Bronco Hill we found a crowd.  There was another group
working to get everyone up the hill.  They had a good mix of locked and
unlocked vehicles, so it was a lot of fun watching them try to make it.
They were a helpful bunch, and made sure to let us know about the hill and
which line is best and what to avoid.  They told us it takes a few tries,
but eventually we'd make it.  So, once the hill was clear we walked right
up.  We've been up the hill once or twice before.  It was fun, though.

After Bronco Hill we headed over to Dangerous Road, where we caught up with
our friend in the Land Rovers.  One of the stock Discovery's was having
trouble on a rock step, so there was a bit of a traffic jam.  He eventually
made it, and we continued on.  From Dangerous road we proceeded to Jeep
Squeeze.  We went down the squeeze and then back up on the more difficult of
the hills.  I went first, and then Paul followed.  Half way up and BAM,
there goes a driveshaft U-Joint.  Up to this point it had seemed that Paul's
axle-wrap woes were a thing of the past, but they crept back in to bite one
last time.  Apparently, his brand new traction bars were not made quite
right, and that led to the wrap problem.  To be fair, I've seen how bad it
used to be for Paul before the traction bars, and can say with confidence
that they made a huge difference.

After Paul fixed his Jeep, we headed back up Jeep Squeeze and out to Left
Turn Hill.  I had heard that it was pretty chewed up and barely passable,
but I had no problems, and Paul and Peter followed right behind and made it.
At that point we had done almost everything, and it was time to call it a
day.  So we did.  Back to the campground where we aired up and re-capped the
day.

It was a great day.  It got kind of hot, but not too bad.  There was a lot
of dust, but with only 3 vehicles we were able to keep it to a minimum.
Also, with there only being 3 of us, we were able to do it all in good time.
I had a great time, and can't wait to go out again.

Until the next time,

Pete