This, my friends, is always a good sign.
The first technical part of this trail was a crazy steep, muddy three-part hill climb that was basically a trench you're driving through. This is the last part. I didn't take any pictures during our climb because I love my camera far too much to have mud flung upon it, and I was hanging on.
The last guy up the hill. He makes it look SO easy!!!
The view after that climb... wow. This is why we do this. (Mt. Rainier)
Finally we reached Moon Rocks. Bill took the most technical path up, so he could show us how it's done.
Moon Rocks. :-) Pretty cool... not something you'd expect to see in the middle of a Pacific NW forest.
Our turn...
T took the most difficult route he could, every time... we definitely saw how capable 4Runners are! :-)
Then, finally we were at Funny Rocks. It's like the Moab Desert, in the middle of the Cascades. Beautiful. My camera's batteries died about right now, and I didn't realize I could borrow some from other people at this point, so I didn't get a lot of pics of this spot. But, I did get a few. :-) That probably kept me from hitting 500 pics for the weekend, haha. Here we are learning Hi Lift Jack stuck vehicle removal technique, which was cool. I think I could have used this technique to get myself out of my previous regrettable vehicle stuckification, had I had all the proper equipment with me at the time. Also, I like rigging stuff-I think it's neato. I had no idea about this random Naomi factoid until this past weekend.
So, we ate lunch on the frigid, sunshiney rocks, and some folks drove up and down the rocks, a lot, and we finally headed out for the rest of the trail...
So, we ate lunch on the frigid, sunshiney rocks, and some folks drove up and down the rocks, a lot, and we finally headed out for the rest of the trail... Getting winched over a log... more winching practice. I kid you not, before I had batteries in my camera I watched him drive this vehicle up a side of a tree to try to get around this log. Darn you camera, and your stupid need for more batteries to work!!!
More wheels off the ground. It's funny. The first couple times this happens, you may feel like freaking out. But, after a while you get used to your vehicle and it's capabilities, and you know exactly how far you can push it before it actually flips, or hits something, or whatever. So once you know that, this is just fun.
Our only trail damage for the weekend, always nice when it's a cheap part. Also, it's funny that it cracked the light cover, but the light bulb behind it was perfectly fine. Also, it's funny how different vehicles with different purposes have a different level of seriousness when it comes to damage. It's quite easy to be circumspect about damage in this vehicle--that's how it's used. But, I swear when someone even walks too close the Frank's 300c, he involuntarily emits a high pitched scream that human ears cannot even hear. Cats coming near this vehicle pretty much send him into frantic genuflections. (For the record, I may be exaggerating slightly here, but not really.) But, it's all about the purpose... that vehicle is for driving fast and looking pretty... which it does quite well, and this vehicle is to be used on trails, and treated with respect and care, but not quite in the same way. Hence the extensive sagebrush pinstriping. 
One of our last pictures on the trail...
Winding through the forest, towards the Sage Steppes. I love Sage Steppes, they smell deee-lightful. Like sage... imagine that. 
The group, who made it so interesting and fun--so many people from so many backgrounds coming together around a campfire makes for some awesome campfire conversation.
Thank you to J&D, who did a bunch of trail research and hard work to put this event together. They also made some pretty awesome pulled pork for us all for lunch on Funny Rocks. And, thanks to Mr. Bill Burke, who shared his wisdom with us all for three days, and for that we are thankful. Can't wait for next time!!!
More wheels off the ground. It's funny. The first couple times this happens, you may feel like freaking out. But, after a while you get used to your vehicle and it's capabilities, and you know exactly how far you can push it before it actually flips, or hits something, or whatever. So once you know that, this is just fun.
Our only trail damage for the weekend, always nice when it's a cheap part. Also, it's funny that it cracked the light cover, but the light bulb behind it was perfectly fine. Also, it's funny how different vehicles with different purposes have a different level of seriousness when it comes to damage. It's quite easy to be circumspect about damage in this vehicle--that's how it's used. But, I swear when someone even walks too close the Frank's 300c, he involuntarily emits a high pitched scream that human ears cannot even hear. Cats coming near this vehicle pretty much send him into frantic genuflections. (For the record, I may be exaggerating slightly here, but not really.) But, it's all about the purpose... that vehicle is for driving fast and looking pretty... which it does quite well, and this vehicle is to be used on trails, and treated with respect and care, but not quite in the same way. Hence the extensive sagebrush pinstriping. 
One of our last pictures on the trail...
Winding through the forest, towards the Sage Steppes. I love Sage Steppes, they smell deee-lightful. Like sage... imagine that. Side Note: The vehicle you see in the pretty picture below is a Range Rover Classic. We find them to be delightful, as we generally find all Rovers.
The plan: Get a Range Rover Classic in rough shape, and when the girls fix it, they may have it to drive. At first they were horrified, now they are secretly thrilled.
Side Benefit: Dad and Momma get a Range Rover Classic.
Question: Do you think 5 and 6 years old is too young to start them working on cars?! Momma and Daddy don't want to wait. We have a fever, and the only cure is more ROVERS!
The group, who made it so interesting and fun--so many people from so many backgrounds coming together around a campfire makes for some awesome campfire conversation.
Thank you to J&D, who did a bunch of trail research and hard work to put this event together. They also made some pretty awesome pulled pork for us all for lunch on Funny Rocks. And, thanks to Mr. Bill Burke, who shared his wisdom with us all for three days, and for that we are thankful. Can't wait for next time!!!
Genuflections... nice! We must have taken our vocabulary pills today. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis was a very fun post to read and look at. I don't think it's something that we will ever do--so that makes it all the more interesting to read about : ) Glad you were able to do something together that you both love! Also, I'll know who to call when I need help wenching, er winching : )
ReplyDeletethe funny part is: when you were stuck in the snow, i was like, 'dude where is their high lift jack?!' lol. glad you got some high lift jack practice! i need to practice the high lift jack, and i need to learn the difference between the 4x4 gears (4h, 4l, 2l...) :) i know how to lock the hubs though! that's my job. :-D
ReplyDeletethis just motivated me to learn about 4h, 4l, and 2H... ;) ohhhhhhh, that's what that's for..... ;) hehehe.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if my Volvo wagon could do those fancy tricks :) hahahaha!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks AWESOME!!!
So, this is probably a ridiculously stupid question--but did anyone actually flip over? It seems at some point someone would push it a tad too far and, oops! I still can't get over that scenery.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a rediculous question. :-) So, pretty much everyone who does this knows their vehicle really well. At least they should! :-) And, most of us have a Levo-Gauge (or as I tend to call it, a tip-o-meter) somewhere on the dash. And, you start watching that when you start tipping. And, you make sure you don't tip much further when you get near the point that you know your vehicle will tip. You have to consider too if you have bigger tires or a lift or whatever, your vehicle might tip sooner, so pretty much everyone has a tip-no-further point they stick to. And, the first time you get to 15 degrees you'll feel like you're going to tip at any moment... but you won't. After a while, 15 degrees is boring, and you're only feeling jazzed at 25 to 30 degrees. I "think" our owners manual says 35 degrees?! But, we know Discovery owners that have gotten there's to 42 degrees before it tipped. One thing we learned was to always keep your body as tipped as the car is... otherwise you'll keep correcting your body to be straight, and your head will be leaned clear over into the passenger area while your car rolls. But, if you keep yourself "straight" (or tipped at equal tippage as the car) in the drivers seat you'll be able to feel how stable your car actually is, and not let it get to the rolling point. I found that to feel very true while I was driving.
ReplyDeleteAnd disclaimer time... don't try this at home, don't tip your vehicle, I know nothing of which I speak, don't listen to me. Thank you. :-)
Oh, I remember Funny Rocks. I remember doing a lot of praying at Funny Rocks.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are seriously insanely outdoorsy!!
ReplyDeletethe Flower Fairy books are fabulous! Your girls will love them... they are outdoorsy fairies!! ha ha!! ;) really! ;)
This looks like so much fun! Seriously fun. Good times. So when can we come? Tipping. Hmmmmmmm, can we all fit in your vehicle for the first time? thanks. heh.
ReplyDelete