West Branch and St Helen

[Alter Ego]

Today, a few of us including OZ97TJ, Rentalrider, Phittie1100, myself, and several other rigs went for a ride around West Branch. It was definitely an eventful trip with no shortage of trail carnage.

One red JK X backed into a tree and broke the taillight and bent the tub corner.

RentalRider's CJ kissed a tree and broke the convertable top frame.

I tore off both rear fender flairs and wheel well liners on 2 separate occasions and got a flat tire.

I didn't have my camera, so you'll have to wait for the pics until someone else posts them.

The winches and recovery straps got a good workout because half of us did manage to get stuck at least once. Some, a lot more.

We did have a good time. The snow was heavy, warm, and sticky so we had relatively good traction. The two open diff Jeeps kept getting stuck and provided our entertainment on the CBs.

Here's a hint when you wheel with JR. If he says 'This trail is a little tight', turn around and meet him on the other side. He is now the official Master of Understatement.

Rusty the Wonderdog had a good day too. He got to run around all he wanted through the deep snow without a leash. He slept all the way home. That is, of course, after the food was all gone.

The kids had a great time sledding and we enjoyed watching them wipe out but were secretly wishing we still had the energy and resiliency to do that.

Everyone made it home safe and we did our part for Michigan Tourism.

[Evil Queen]

awesome to hear. Sorry about all the carnage!!!

[oz97tj]

lol. Master of the Understatement? I like it! Sounds superhero-ish. lol

My photos are loading now, but it's taking a while because they are all loading through my tethered phone connection seeing as I'm at the parents. I didn't take too many. Just some of the carnage. Will post them shortly...

[kickstand]

so by carnage you mean a couple scratches from hitting trees?

[oz97tj]

so by carnage you mean a couple scratches from hitting trees?

yes, this is what we mean. These scratches are too deep to buff out. Hardcore!

[Alter Ego]

so by carnage you mean a couple scratches from hitting trees?

No, the paint on a Jeep is a normal wear item like tires and brake pads. It only lasts just so long. :hehe:

I was referring to broken, ripped, and bent metal and plastic. Hundreds of dollars worth.

My HiLift did put a decent scratch in the door though.

[oz97tj]

Hmmm, I think these were attached...
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00386.jpg
Faster now
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00388.jpg
Jonathon stunt sledding
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00397.jpg
From left to right, RentalRiders CJ, me, phittie LJ, Julie and Ed JK, Derek YJ, and AlterEgos JK
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00409.jpg
Most people put their fenders on the outside.
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00414.jpg
Yup, this sides missing too.
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00416.jpg
Julie and Eds JK
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt303/oz97tj/Wheeling%20with%20What%20Lies%20Beyond/DSC00418.jpg

[Beefy]

ahah nice

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Uhhh.....how do you rip a wheel well liner out?

[Evil Queen]

you ripped mine out!!!!

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Well yea, but that was on a hoist and intentional.

I have been in a bunch of crap, including 2 rolls and never ripped a wheel well liner out on the trail. :lol: Hell, I even stabbed a log up through my engine compartment and through the hood.

[Alter Ego]

Uhhh.....how do you rip a wheel well liner out?

Very narrow trail cut 2 feet into surrounding ground. Fender flair catches on dirt and gives way. Wheel well liner is attached to fender flair more than tub so it comes out too.

[Beefy]

:hehe: :woot:

[rentalrider]

Yeah, great time Gary... my sons loved it! First thing they said to my wife when we got home is how her next vehicle should be a 4-door rubi. I think i should have NOT let them look into your jeep and see that some have carpet, adequate heat and other creature comforts! :shrug: Did that tire get you home? I was gonna offer my shop to hasten the change, but it was opposite direction for you.

Thanks OZ for the invite, had a lot of fun. And first winter ride I've ever taken with the cj's top down! :uh:

[oz97tj]

Very narrow trail cut 2 feet into surrounding ground. Fender flair catches on dirt and gives way. Wheel well liner is attached to fender flair more than tub so it comes out too.

It wasn't that tight...

Yeah, great time Gary... my sons loved it! First thing they said to my wife when we got home is how her next vehicle should be a 4-door rubi. I think i should have NOT let them look into your jeep and see that some have carpet, adequate heat and other creature comforts! :shrug: Did that tire get you home? I was gonna offer my shop to hasten the change, but it was opposite direction for you.

Thanks OZ for the invite, had a lot of fun. And first winter ride I've ever taken with the cj's top down! :uh:

Any time Rick. It was good to see that the CJ does actually move. hahahaha. How was the ride home with the top folded back?

[rentalrider]

Actually not bad! Better than anticipated for sure. :cheers:

[Alter Ego]

It wasn't that tight...


It was for a lowrider limousine.

[BookWorm]

Awesome :thumb:

:hug:

[Alter Ego]

Rick, we changed that tire before I left. I had so many people helping me, it was like a Nascar pit crew.

Thanks to all of you!

[phittie1100]

I promised more sledding time than Jonathon actually got, so we went back over to the bowl at the MSA and took another 1/2 dozen runs down the hill on his saucer....both of us. I am feeling those wipeouts big time after a day of sitting at my desk, but we had fun.

My soft top doesn't look as bad today as I thought it did yesterday, but the "scratch" I collected in the same spot that got Gary's 2nd fender flair will need a rubber mallet to "buff out" LOL. Hope everyone had as good a time as we did, even if I failed on both of my reasons for heading up there in the first place. I swapped e-mails with Paige from DNR this morning - she marked the St Helen re-route on foot, which explains why we couldn't get through. And the billy goat trail that JR took us down at the MSA looking for the new home of the St Helen Rock Crawl actually ran right along the top of the bowl we were trying to find, it was down to the right of the trail.

[Alter Ego]

I did notice that whatever got my tire also left a gouge in my rim. I was too sick today to find out what it was. Hopefully tomorrow will be better

[oz97tj]

Paul, you want to call my trail a billy goat trail? At least my trail was drivable. lol

Also, I just want to point out that my JK is wider than your TJ and I was breaking trail and I didn't suffer any damage. Actually, on that particular trail, I was the only one who didn't have any troubles at all. lol. :crazy:





I suppose it was a little tight.:hehe:

[GaterDubs]

Was there more snow on this trip then SnoFari?

[phittie1100]

No more snow than SnoFari - we just got off the beaten path a bit, fresh snow is always a treat. Most of the trails were hard-packed (Snow Blind was the weekend before), and some of the hills were a wee bit icy. Poor snowmobilers were riding slushy puddles in some of the areas we travelled.

[phittie1100]

Also, I just want to point out that my JK is wider than your TJ and I was breaking trail and I didn't suffer any damage. Actually, on that particular trail, I was the only one who didn't have any troubles at all. lol. :crazy:


:praise:

:ftw:

:yeah:

[Alter Ego]

I had a great time breaking the fresh snow on that new section. Being the lowrider, I don't get to do that very often. http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Angels_and_Demons/saint-evil-0045.gif