Da Kine
September 23rd, 2007, 03:05 AM
Today was the perfect day for a run to the mountains. Okiyota (Tom with his wife and baby) driving a 4Runner, 3? lift and 33?s, Karl in a Cherokee with a 3? lift and 32?s, myself in an 07 Rubicon Unlimited, no performance mods as of yet. We also had some riders with us in the form of Huth (Tim with his wife) and Boing (Jay).
We met bright and early in Woodland Park and ate brekfast at The Donut Mill (great food, you would not believe how big they make the cinaminonminmominim (you know what I mean) buns!) After a few hundred thousand calories, we took off West on 24. As we passed over the mountains and desended down the other side, we were treated to the sight of about 12 hot air ballons floating over the valley. Boy was this day going good so far.
We finally got to the trail head for Wheeler Lake and started our journey. Along the way we met serval hardier souls that were hoofing it and a troop of 5 Land Rovers. Out of our group, only two (Boing and Okiyota) had been here before, so the rest of us did not have much of an idea of what to expect. I had read that the trail was graded at a 6. I had done a 7 in the Rubi with little problem so I figured I could handle this. After today, I think the rating for Wheeler Lake needs to be updated to a 7. Both Boing and Okiyota both said that the trail had gotten a lot rougher since their last outing.
Once we got to the trail, Okiyota made short work of the obsticles, choosing to take some of the tougher lines. Karl, though not as equiped as others, still attacked this trail with gusto. In the end his tail gate would not latch. I am sure it is nothing permanat, but I feel for the guy none-the-less. He really had to work on some of the spots and made it all the way to the top with only one assist, when he got high centered. Way to go Karl.
I am somewhat of a nube to rock crawling, and as my Jeep is still new, I was a little more ginger with my approaches. I still took some challenging lines, but for the most part I chose to use the Jeep?s inate ability to crawl like a millipede instead of hard charging the obsticles. Sure I was slow, but I got it done.
So, great trail, great friends, great time.
I am still new to this posting process and will try and get some picks on here. I was driving instead of picture taking, so I do not have much. Boing and Okiyota will be able to post more as they get the chance.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/1426735182_7187396085.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/1426738744_d17690d8f5.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1426731814_a2940d6886.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/1426728682_09d379cb04.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/1426724216_8b71ce304d.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/1425841283_a0661458e3.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/1426715674_2886b1fe87.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1353/1426709628_1f8bb43900.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1319/1426706984_87a5d0cb8d.jpg?v=0
We met bright and early in Woodland Park and ate brekfast at The Donut Mill (great food, you would not believe how big they make the cinaminonminmominim (you know what I mean) buns!) After a few hundred thousand calories, we took off West on 24. As we passed over the mountains and desended down the other side, we were treated to the sight of about 12 hot air ballons floating over the valley. Boy was this day going good so far.
We finally got to the trail head for Wheeler Lake and started our journey. Along the way we met serval hardier souls that were hoofing it and a troop of 5 Land Rovers. Out of our group, only two (Boing and Okiyota) had been here before, so the rest of us did not have much of an idea of what to expect. I had read that the trail was graded at a 6. I had done a 7 in the Rubi with little problem so I figured I could handle this. After today, I think the rating for Wheeler Lake needs to be updated to a 7. Both Boing and Okiyota both said that the trail had gotten a lot rougher since their last outing.
Once we got to the trail, Okiyota made short work of the obsticles, choosing to take some of the tougher lines. Karl, though not as equiped as others, still attacked this trail with gusto. In the end his tail gate would not latch. I am sure it is nothing permanat, but I feel for the guy none-the-less. He really had to work on some of the spots and made it all the way to the top with only one assist, when he got high centered. Way to go Karl.
I am somewhat of a nube to rock crawling, and as my Jeep is still new, I was a little more ginger with my approaches. I still took some challenging lines, but for the most part I chose to use the Jeep?s inate ability to crawl like a millipede instead of hard charging the obsticles. Sure I was slow, but I got it done.
So, great trail, great friends, great time.
I am still new to this posting process and will try and get some picks on here. I was driving instead of picture taking, so I do not have much. Boing and Okiyota will be able to post more as they get the chance.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/1426735182_7187396085.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1091/1426738744_d17690d8f5.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/1426731814_a2940d6886.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/1426728682_09d379cb04.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/1426724216_8b71ce304d.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/1425841283_a0661458e3.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1192/1426715674_2886b1fe87.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1353/1426709628_1f8bb43900.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1319/1426706984_87a5d0cb8d.jpg?v=0