Met up around 8:30pm New Years day, and got home around 3:30am.
We made our way to the west side of Utah lake out toward the Pony Express Trail main turn off from 5 Mile Pass, we followed along the old RR grade to hook up with Black Rock Canyon.
I was apprehensive about taking the Xterra with it's limited ground clearance, and lack of a locker. But, to our suprise it was quite the capable contender! The saving grace in the 2' deep snow (mushed into a soupy goosh of slick crap from the rigs in front ~ Bryson) were my tires, because they would shred all the way to the bottom to find traction. No fail, the skinny deep tread always found traction. It was incredible really, when considering the hillclimb that had been thrashed by Bryson just infront of me.
Once to the Pass, the road drops 1,000 ft in elevation. Skirting along a narrow road with a very long way down to the left, this was interesting to navigate as I would slide 20' or more with the brakes engaged. A full moon accompanied our decent and made for a beautiful drive. Kurt rode Taliban style on the rear bumper the entire way down.
Once at the bottom we whipped out the SKS and other small arms.. I finally got to try out my new XD40sc, and loved it. I suck, but I love it.
The big Jeeps in the group headed back up the 1,000ft to retrieve one of the buggues that was having transmission issues. Me, Kurt, Bryson & Tenile, Paul R and Gary T then bombed some county roads back out to the highway, and headed home.
A great way to bring in the New Year!!
Not the greatest photos, but you'll get the idea of what went down. On with the photos...
Paul R's photos..
We made our way to the west side of Utah lake out toward the Pony Express Trail main turn off from 5 Mile Pass, we followed along the old RR grade to hook up with Black Rock Canyon.
I was apprehensive about taking the Xterra with it's limited ground clearance, and lack of a locker. But, to our suprise it was quite the capable contender! The saving grace in the 2' deep snow (mushed into a soupy goosh of slick crap from the rigs in front ~ Bryson) were my tires, because they would shred all the way to the bottom to find traction. No fail, the skinny deep tread always found traction. It was incredible really, when considering the hillclimb that had been thrashed by Bryson just infront of me.
Once to the Pass, the road drops 1,000 ft in elevation. Skirting along a narrow road with a very long way down to the left, this was interesting to navigate as I would slide 20' or more with the brakes engaged. A full moon accompanied our decent and made for a beautiful drive. Kurt rode Taliban style on the rear bumper the entire way down.
Once at the bottom we whipped out the SKS and other small arms.. I finally got to try out my new XD40sc, and loved it. I suck, but I love it.
The big Jeeps in the group headed back up the 1,000ft to retrieve one of the buggues that was having transmission issues. Me, Kurt, Bryson & Tenile, Paul R and Gary T then bombed some county roads back out to the highway, and headed home.
A great way to bring in the New Year!!
Not the greatest photos, but you'll get the idea of what went down. On with the photos...
Paul R's photos..