Here is the highly anticipated trip report for our very eventful and long day. We started off by meeting at the Discovery Center. We had 5 H1's, 4 H2's and 5 H3's. We had some entertainment there from a guy yelling at us. As Dave put it, he must have had a magical mushroom patch in the forest.
We finally got started on the trail about 10:30. This trail was far more technical and challenging than when we ran it in March. We hit our first obstacle, The Ledge. This is where we encountered our first carnage. A bent tie rod on a H2
After replacing that we all got through with no other issues. We made it up to the Talus Rock Garden with no problems. Once in the garden, we had another bent tie rod on a H2
And then found out one of the H1's broke a rear half shaft. This set us back quite a bit. Instead of having the H2 come through the garden, we had him take the bypass.
From this point on is where it really went crazy. As if we didn't already have enough issues. Once we got to where the bypass met up with the trail, he was nowhere in site. After a brief conversation, we decided to send Serge and Jared back down the bypass to look for him. I took the rest of the group up to see if he continued on. We hit a major obstacle that we felt he probably wouldn't have been able to get himself through. Luckily I got the group with me. We were all tree huggers on this one. We finally ended up at the bottom of the trail. Serge and Jared had also had no luck finding him. My group went back around the trail head and Serge and Jared headed back down the trail. Once to the trail head, Anthony and I started back up to see if we could find him. We met Serge and Jared just before The Ledge with no luck. Went back down the to the trail head and finally got a call from him. He was off the trail.
At this point we learned that the H'1s were having an issue with a blown tire. So we went back up the backside of the trail to give them a hand. Found out that Dave had already blown a tire and this was the second one. By this time it had turned into a night run. The last obstacle and click click click from Serge. At this point, no one could believe it. Twisted front prop shaft and possible transfer case and would not go into gear. This was extremely time consuming getting Hamster out of the way to bring a H1 past him to pull him up. Well, it didn't work. At this point, we sent up a H2. With the two hooked up together with straps and managed to pull him up. Mikkel ended up towing Serge off the trail.
Okay, finally we a free and clear nothing else can happen. Wrong! Just before the end of the trail one of the H'1s punctured another tire and was leaking. We did get off the trail to the fire road, where we had to change it. I think we finally hit the pavement around 11:45. Wanted around at the gas station with for his ride home. There were some good laughs at this point. Serge had to get spotted pulling Hamster up
Anthony, Dave, Mikkel and myself finally ended up leaving Big Bear at 2 am.
Total damage for the day.
2 tie rods
3 tires
1 half shaft possibly 2(Serge)
1 front prop shaft
2 transfer cases?
1 mirror
1 tow strap
Dents and scratches galore
If i have missed anything, hopefully some of the others will chime in. Was a long and tiring day. But was fun
We finally got started on the trail about 10:30. This trail was far more technical and challenging than when we ran it in March. We hit our first obstacle, The Ledge. This is where we encountered our first carnage. A bent tie rod on a H2
After replacing that we all got through with no other issues. We made it up to the Talus Rock Garden with no problems. Once in the garden, we had another bent tie rod on a H2
And then found out one of the H1's broke a rear half shaft. This set us back quite a bit. Instead of having the H2 come through the garden, we had him take the bypass.
From this point on is where it really went crazy. As if we didn't already have enough issues. Once we got to where the bypass met up with the trail, he was nowhere in site. After a brief conversation, we decided to send Serge and Jared back down the bypass to look for him. I took the rest of the group up to see if he continued on. We hit a major obstacle that we felt he probably wouldn't have been able to get himself through. Luckily I got the group with me. We were all tree huggers on this one. We finally ended up at the bottom of the trail. Serge and Jared had also had no luck finding him. My group went back around the trail head and Serge and Jared headed back down the trail. Once to the trail head, Anthony and I started back up to see if we could find him. We met Serge and Jared just before The Ledge with no luck. Went back down the to the trail head and finally got a call from him. He was off the trail.
At this point we learned that the H'1s were having an issue with a blown tire. So we went back up the backside of the trail to give them a hand. Found out that Dave had already blown a tire and this was the second one. By this time it had turned into a night run. The last obstacle and click click click from Serge. At this point, no one could believe it. Twisted front prop shaft and possible transfer case and would not go into gear. This was extremely time consuming getting Hamster out of the way to bring a H1 past him to pull him up. Well, it didn't work. At this point, we sent up a H2. With the two hooked up together with straps and managed to pull him up. Mikkel ended up towing Serge off the trail.
Okay, finally we a free and clear nothing else can happen. Wrong! Just before the end of the trail one of the H'1s punctured another tire and was leaking. We did get off the trail to the fire road, where we had to change it. I think we finally hit the pavement around 11:45. Wanted around at the gas station with for his ride home. There were some good laughs at this point. Serge had to get spotted pulling Hamster up
Anthony, Dave, Mikkel and myself finally ended up leaving Big Bear at 2 am.
Total damage for the day.
2 tie rods
3 tires
1 half shaft possibly 2(Serge)
1 front prop shaft
2 transfer cases?
1 mirror
1 tow strap
Dents and scratches galore
If i have missed anything, hopefully some of the others will chime in. Was a long and tiring day. But was fun
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