- Location
- South Carolina....no public land
I can't believe I'm going to write this now, instead of getting a nap....
Photos will come later, I took some, but Greg took a bunch.
I left for the campsite around 2pm friday after finding out that 1/4 elliptic wasn't going to make it, then when I called shawn around 4pm, it sounded unlikely he'd make it out. I was a bit bummed, but was not about to turn around. Got to the area, found a reasonable campsite, and started unloading. Barely 10 minutes later, Bobdog shows up. I was glad to see him, meant I wouldn't have to hang out in camp by myself until bedtime.
Saturday
Bobdog and I got up with the sun, did a little chow, then headed out for some exploration. Most of what we looked at were simply trails that any 4x4 could do (I did most of it in 2wd). These trails are all of the trails heading east from the main road from the pass to just above the quarry. By the time we got to the quarry (to the east of the main road, at the southern end of the eastern ridgeline), it was just about 10am so we headed back to the camp to meet up with whoever else was coming out.
We barely got to the camp when up pulls Greg and his roommate and right behind them WayneXJ. Not too far behind them came Muleskinner and his family, Samizook and his wife and Skinner's neighbor Bob (Blue Yota).
We were getting a bit organized when Fergesor pulls in. We were glad to see him, since he knew the area and nobody else did! After everyone got organized and Ferg did some quick maintenance on his rig, we took off for the southern end of the valley.
Ferg showed us the extreme trail that includes Anarchy Alley. He showed us 3 or 4 hardcore obstacles, plus the alley. Myself, WayneXJ, Samizook, Muleskinner and Ferg all attempted the first obstacle. It starts out with a nice sami-eating hole, with a right hand turn up a wide crack (wide enough to drive through without too much trouble). Ferg walked it and made it look pretty easy, Wayne XJ pretty much walked it, with just a broken d-side rear taillight, Muleskinner made it look pretty easy, but took a rock in his d-side rear quarter, Samizook took some bumper damage, and for lack of a front locker, had to back off of it. I was quite nervous seeing all of the body damage in front of me, but I gave it a shot. Thanks to all for the spot, I made it through with just a scrape on my d-side front flare.
After the sami-eating hole, up the crack and a hard left over a ledge takes you to the next obstacle. A very sick, steep slickrock that is no friend to short wheelbases. The obstacle is in a couple of stages. the really steep part is first, then an option to go left or right around a tree. Ferg plays around on the lower steep, gets a bit of a wheelstand, but with a bit of a tug on a strap, makes it clean. He opts to go left around the tree over a 4-5 ft ledge. He pulls his slipshaft from his front driveline and has to do repairs in place. Something got bent, so he couldn't re-assemble it and ended up removing it completely. He was no longer capable of 4wd and wouldn't take any more obstacles for the day.
WayneXJ rolls up to the bottom while ferg is working on his rig, and again, with the help of a strap, comes over the steep. Since Ferg is working on his rig, WayneXJ opts to go right around the tree. While negotiating a not too difficult obstacle, a rock jumps out of the trail and completely takes out his p-side taillight. Gotta watch out for those kamakaze rocks!
I gave the steep a shot, but with my stock TJ wheelbase, even with a strap, it just felt wrong. I didn't want to try and bump it too much, although that may have got me over the steep. It may have also gotten me over on my head!! I backed off to come back later when I have a better cage.
Skinner takes a strap and makes it without any real difficulty. I believe he gave an assist to ferg when it was time for him to come around the right side of the tree in 2wd.
On to the next obstacle. Ferg takes us down the trail a bit, and pulls off next to a slickrock ramp. He gets out and starts walking up the ramp, and Skinner, WayneXJ, Me and Greg's Roommate Zach start following in our rigs. Didn't take long before skinner stops and decides to take a look on foot first. This is one insane obstacle that starts out with a breakover rock directly into a very steep (but short) climb. The steep is not pretty with an almost vertical face for the first 2' or so, then it reduces to a mere 80* climb for about 6 more feet. On either side of the steep is a bad spot for a roll, so all 3 that went up it took a strap on the front and 4-6 guys tugging on it.
Skinner was first and went over the breakover rock with barely a scrape. We had to stack a couple of rocks at the base of the steep after a couple of attempts that sent him sliding to the right. That is also when we broke out the strap. He drove and we pulled and up he came. He moved to the side to give WayneXJ space, and provide vehicular strap assistance if necessary.
A couple of nicely stacked rocks got wayne over the breakover, then the strap team hooked him up and got him over the steep.
With my baby 33s, I knew the breakover was going to be tough, but thanks to all for spotting me and the excellent placement of rocks. The strap team pulled me up the steep and I was ready for the next part of the obstacle.
The second part of the obstacle is as intimidating as the first. after crossing a crack with massive articulation, you have to drive along a crack that could send you way off camber (p-side high) if not for a nice little ridge of rock that you run your driver side tires over. You follow the rocks with your drivers side, then the d-side starts climbing and the p-side starts dropping. Now you are off camber the other way. A few strategically placed rocks get the p-side front up to a reasonable level while the d-side is still climbing. All of this while turning up to the left. As you climb, the front d-side is about 4-5' higher than the rear p-side. Those strategicly placed rocks gets the p-side front up high enough so you don't roll if you are smooth. Once the fronts are up, you have to bump it to get the rears over. This is a very intimidating move. You are way off camber (d-side high), turning to the d-side, rear p-side is in a hole (or maybe on one of those rocks) and you have to give it a bump....WOW!!
I think the strap was used again for all 3 rigs with the strap team giving some assistance. I know I needed the comfort of the strap, although if you weren't worried about a roll, there are probably plenty of rigs that could make it.
We took a quick drive around to look at anarchy alley, then headed back to camp. When we pulled up, there was spence, Wanker Delux and Spence's friend James (not sure if he is on RME). The wind had really picked up, so we moved the camp to a better location with a better fire pit. As we were loading up to move the camp, Toyota Crawler pulls up.
Those of us that drink consumed plenty of beer that night at camp, great music, great conversations, classic campfire.
You'll have to wait to hear about what happened on sunday. Just know that sunday proved to be even more carnage filled than saturday!!!
Photos will come later, I took some, but Greg took a bunch.
I left for the campsite around 2pm friday after finding out that 1/4 elliptic wasn't going to make it, then when I called shawn around 4pm, it sounded unlikely he'd make it out. I was a bit bummed, but was not about to turn around. Got to the area, found a reasonable campsite, and started unloading. Barely 10 minutes later, Bobdog shows up. I was glad to see him, meant I wouldn't have to hang out in camp by myself until bedtime.
Saturday
Bobdog and I got up with the sun, did a little chow, then headed out for some exploration. Most of what we looked at were simply trails that any 4x4 could do (I did most of it in 2wd). These trails are all of the trails heading east from the main road from the pass to just above the quarry. By the time we got to the quarry (to the east of the main road, at the southern end of the eastern ridgeline), it was just about 10am so we headed back to the camp to meet up with whoever else was coming out.
We barely got to the camp when up pulls Greg and his roommate and right behind them WayneXJ. Not too far behind them came Muleskinner and his family, Samizook and his wife and Skinner's neighbor Bob (Blue Yota).
We were getting a bit organized when Fergesor pulls in. We were glad to see him, since he knew the area and nobody else did! After everyone got organized and Ferg did some quick maintenance on his rig, we took off for the southern end of the valley.
Ferg showed us the extreme trail that includes Anarchy Alley. He showed us 3 or 4 hardcore obstacles, plus the alley. Myself, WayneXJ, Samizook, Muleskinner and Ferg all attempted the first obstacle. It starts out with a nice sami-eating hole, with a right hand turn up a wide crack (wide enough to drive through without too much trouble). Ferg walked it and made it look pretty easy, Wayne XJ pretty much walked it, with just a broken d-side rear taillight, Muleskinner made it look pretty easy, but took a rock in his d-side rear quarter, Samizook took some bumper damage, and for lack of a front locker, had to back off of it. I was quite nervous seeing all of the body damage in front of me, but I gave it a shot. Thanks to all for the spot, I made it through with just a scrape on my d-side front flare.
After the sami-eating hole, up the crack and a hard left over a ledge takes you to the next obstacle. A very sick, steep slickrock that is no friend to short wheelbases. The obstacle is in a couple of stages. the really steep part is first, then an option to go left or right around a tree. Ferg plays around on the lower steep, gets a bit of a wheelstand, but with a bit of a tug on a strap, makes it clean. He opts to go left around the tree over a 4-5 ft ledge. He pulls his slipshaft from his front driveline and has to do repairs in place. Something got bent, so he couldn't re-assemble it and ended up removing it completely. He was no longer capable of 4wd and wouldn't take any more obstacles for the day.
WayneXJ rolls up to the bottom while ferg is working on his rig, and again, with the help of a strap, comes over the steep. Since Ferg is working on his rig, WayneXJ opts to go right around the tree. While negotiating a not too difficult obstacle, a rock jumps out of the trail and completely takes out his p-side taillight. Gotta watch out for those kamakaze rocks!
I gave the steep a shot, but with my stock TJ wheelbase, even with a strap, it just felt wrong. I didn't want to try and bump it too much, although that may have got me over the steep. It may have also gotten me over on my head!! I backed off to come back later when I have a better cage.
Skinner takes a strap and makes it without any real difficulty. I believe he gave an assist to ferg when it was time for him to come around the right side of the tree in 2wd.
On to the next obstacle. Ferg takes us down the trail a bit, and pulls off next to a slickrock ramp. He gets out and starts walking up the ramp, and Skinner, WayneXJ, Me and Greg's Roommate Zach start following in our rigs. Didn't take long before skinner stops and decides to take a look on foot first. This is one insane obstacle that starts out with a breakover rock directly into a very steep (but short) climb. The steep is not pretty with an almost vertical face for the first 2' or so, then it reduces to a mere 80* climb for about 6 more feet. On either side of the steep is a bad spot for a roll, so all 3 that went up it took a strap on the front and 4-6 guys tugging on it.
Skinner was first and went over the breakover rock with barely a scrape. We had to stack a couple of rocks at the base of the steep after a couple of attempts that sent him sliding to the right. That is also when we broke out the strap. He drove and we pulled and up he came. He moved to the side to give WayneXJ space, and provide vehicular strap assistance if necessary.
A couple of nicely stacked rocks got wayne over the breakover, then the strap team hooked him up and got him over the steep.
With my baby 33s, I knew the breakover was going to be tough, but thanks to all for spotting me and the excellent placement of rocks. The strap team pulled me up the steep and I was ready for the next part of the obstacle.
The second part of the obstacle is as intimidating as the first. after crossing a crack with massive articulation, you have to drive along a crack that could send you way off camber (p-side high) if not for a nice little ridge of rock that you run your driver side tires over. You follow the rocks with your drivers side, then the d-side starts climbing and the p-side starts dropping. Now you are off camber the other way. A few strategically placed rocks get the p-side front up to a reasonable level while the d-side is still climbing. All of this while turning up to the left. As you climb, the front d-side is about 4-5' higher than the rear p-side. Those strategicly placed rocks gets the p-side front up high enough so you don't roll if you are smooth. Once the fronts are up, you have to bump it to get the rears over. This is a very intimidating move. You are way off camber (d-side high), turning to the d-side, rear p-side is in a hole (or maybe on one of those rocks) and you have to give it a bump....WOW!!
I think the strap was used again for all 3 rigs with the strap team giving some assistance. I know I needed the comfort of the strap, although if you weren't worried about a roll, there are probably plenty of rigs that could make it.
We took a quick drive around to look at anarchy alley, then headed back to camp. When we pulled up, there was spence, Wanker Delux and Spence's friend James (not sure if he is on RME). The wind had really picked up, so we moved the camp to a better location with a better fire pit. As we were loading up to move the camp, Toyota Crawler pulls up.
Those of us that drink consumed plenty of beer that night at camp, great music, great conversations, classic campfire.
You'll have to wait to hear about what happened on sunday. Just know that sunday proved to be even more carnage filled than saturday!!!
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