Uwharrie Opening Day

[Joel]

To sum it up it was wet, muddy, slippery, and a ton of fun.

When we arrived it was misty and foggy with a few sprinkles every now and again. We decided to hit easy trails first rather than start on Daniel like normal. It was perhaps the smartest thing we did all day. We started off jumping on to Dickey Bell just past the double parking lots and didn't really have too much trouble. We ran into a couple of trees down on the trail. The first we moved easily, the second was about 2' thick and I couldn't drag it across the trail so Dave and Jesse put their winches on it until it got wedged against a tree. We then gave up and went around it. We got to the quartz rock in the middle of the trail and my front driver's side tire started to slip so I backed down. Mike went next and went right over it. Jesse bypassed it like I did and then Hawkdriver gave it a shot with the JK. He was on it and then slipped off giving his shiny Moabs some a little rock rash. I believe Grant bypassed it as well.

From there we headed up Falls Dam where the trail was a lot slicker than Dickey Bell. I ran most of it in two wheel drive and had fun spraying Mike with mud whenever I could. Falls Dam was mostly uneventful. We saw the two new parking lots that are not open yet. They also kept the mud pit and Grant ran through it. The rock bowl is pretty much no more.

We stopped and ate lunch while waiting for Heyward and Baryn to catch up to us. We then went to Dutch John. Dutch John was even worse. It was very slick but lots of fun. The hill before the steep hill I hit in 3rd gear 4 lo and had no troubles but lots of slinging mud. I then tried the big hill. I first tried 1st gear 4lo and didn't go very far so I backed down. The next attempt was 2nd gear 4lo and I got to the bend. Backed down and tried 3rd gear 4lo and made it just into the bend. Backed down and 1st gear 4hi and made it about as far as 3rd gear 4lo. Tried one more time and got about the same. Heyward tried next and didn't get much further with his 3 or 4 attempts. Then Mike assaulted the hill with his automatic and made it up first try. Dave went next and made it up his first try. Grant went next and made it on his third try. I went again and made it on my first try. Jesse and then Heyward made it up on their first tries. During all this the clouds had started to part and the wind picked up. I dunno if it was just it drying up some or all the attempts clearing out the mud but it definitely got easier between my first and second go-rounds. We then slipped and slid down the backside to Slabpile and over to Rocky Mountain Loop.

This is were things got interesting. Mike got high centered on the ledge at the top of the hill, Dave got high centered on a berm, and Grant was struggling with a berm and then put a nice 4 - 5" bend in his wheel. Jesse pulled Dave back, Dave bypassed the ledge to pull Mike out and Grant beat his wheel back into shape. I took the bypass (which now has a nice rocky outcropping), Grant kind of did but tried to avoid the rock outcropping, Jesse took an interesting line that got him stuck, and Heyward tried to follow my line and almost went tumbling down the mountain. Meanwhile Mike and Dave had gone on to Kodak. Heyward winched himself up, Jesse winched himself over, and then Jesse strapped Grant up and we all went on to meet Mike and Dave who had to bypass Kodak because of how slippery it was. Mike also broke the driver's side rear axle shock mount in his initial attempt at Kodak. I hunted around for a line but just couldn't find one so Dave spotted me up just left of the deeper rut running down the middle of Kodak. Heyward also went line hunting and eventually ran up the old bypass. Grant bypassed. And Jesse got up the middle rut line. Mike then came back down and tried a line that I was unsuccessful at and eventually found a way up it.

At this point it was 4pm and we all decided to head back to the Outpost to grab some food and call it a day. Our troubles were far from over however. On our way back down Dave cut a sidewall and had to change a tire. We wouldn't know it until later but he had cut two more but was able to drive on them. So we slipped and slid down Rocky Mountain Loop and finally got back on Dutch John Rd. At the Outpost we aired up and Dave found one of the other sliced sidewalls but it was still holding air. Jesse had to take off to be home for dinner while the rest of us ate at the Outpost. Then Dave took off to head back to Savannah and somehow the rest of got on the topic of crawl ratios. So we had a crawl off. First was me and Heyward. Not satisfied with the result Heyward wanted to try it with him in reverse so Mike and Grant joined in on the second one. Mike was the fastest, Heyward was second fastest in reverse, Grant was third fastest but not by much and I barely edged him out with the slowest crawl.

From there we all said our goodbyes and drove off into the sunset.

The End.

[Polaris]

the bypass around the unmoveable tree was dubbed Corky's Bypass.

[southern4x4]

Now for the picture book for Grant and Heyward.

[Joel]

Oh yeah, got a call from Dave while he was on his way home. His steering wasn't returning to center properly and also is when he found another tire with a slice in the sidewall.

[southern4x4]

Man, I hope he makes it back safe. I can gas up and be on the road in a matter of minutes if need be. Joy of unemployment.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by southern4x4

Man, I hope he makes it back safe. I can gas up and be on the road in a matter of minutes if need be. Joy of unemployment.

As of an hour ago he thought he would be ok and was about 175 miles from home.

[southern4x4]

Originally Posted by Joel

As of an hour ago he thought he would be ok and was about 175 miles from home.

Well you have my number should something come up. I am sure he has someone down that way who would be willing (wife or good friend) but it never hurts to have another willing body.

All in all I had a great time. The weather was nice even though the conditions were wet and slick. It was nice to finally be at Uwharrie and be able to drive down the service roads and see where I was going because there was no dust. Definitely a lot different than when I was there last.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by southern4x4

Now for the picture book for Grant and Heyward.

36's FTW!

[Will]

Originally Posted by Joel

36's FTW!

Looks like 36" mud slicks.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by Will

Looks like 36" mud slicks.

Remember Railroad Tie Hill after all that rain?

[RenegadeStang]

Y'all went swampin' through some gumbo! Looks like a lot of fun was had, despite all the tire slicing.

[Harvest]

Cool shots! I am still sooo upset I missed this one, but I have to admit that I am also glad I missed this one lol.

Wow. Looks like a fine time had by all!

[southern4x4]

Well I search the house high and low for an s video cable and can't locate one so I will go pick one up tomorrow and start on the video. I am hoping the s video cable will let me transfer at a faster rate than the usb and result in better quality. Need to figure out the sound transfer issue too.

[scarface]

Dave will be fine if not i can pick him up in the a.m.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by southern4x4

Well I search the house high and low for an s video cable and can't locate one so I will go pick one up tomorrow and start on the video. I am hoping the s video cable will let me transfer at a faster rate than the usb and result in better quality. Need to figure out the sound transfer issue too.

You might be better off using the USB cable with short clips. It is going to have to capture using S-video and then render.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Joel

Remember Railroad Tie Hill after all that rain?

Nice. Those were some full throttle assault, good times.

[Pattycakes]

That's my kinda wheelin. Too bad I was owned by school.

[LOOSE SCREWS]

SCREWDRIVER was depressed that she couldn't go me too

[Joel]

Originally Posted by LOOSE SCREWS

SCREWDRIVER was depressed that she couldn't go me too

I held down the horn for about 5 seconds driving past your house on the way back.

[GG'SJEEP]

Originally Posted by southern4x4

i hope Grant got to use one of those hammers he loves so much!




the JK looks good out there, glad to see it on the trail so early in its life!



glad y'all had fun, i did not enjoy my last muddy URE trip. good to hear you gave the big hill on Dutch John some hell!

[brokeass4runner]

What a fawkin mess.

[Hawkdriver]

Originally Posted by brokeass4runner

What a fawkin mess.

Bro, you said it.

First of all, Joel thanks for keeping tabs on me, Baryn thanks for the offer to police me up off the highway, and the same for Shania. You guys rock.

My wife who still is at work doesnt believe me. I called her back after midnight and told her again since it was officially April 2nd.

I indeed made it home. 1 tweeked fender, 1 tire for the trashman with sidewall gash and 2 more on the jeep with gashes, but no leaks, and steering that is fubar. I don't know what the issue is. It actually drives straight but hard to make turn and drives hard when you do and wont recenter. Funny thing is, no vibes and no wobbles. All tires are still aired at the factory 37 too, so no low tires.

I think the tie rod feels a little loose. (less so checking it at home then what I talked to you on the phone about Joel). Other than that, everything with a shake seems tight. The JK is not like the TJ steering with the Y link. I will check the toe in tomorrow morning, but don't know if that could cause such a calamity.

Needless to say I drove home at about 60mph figuring I could coax it off the road if a sidewall blew up or the steering went kaput. One trucker even slowed down and pointed at my driver side front tire. I don't know what it was doing however, but stopped and took a look at it. At this point I had already driven 260 miles and was 35 from home. I decieded to say fawk it and take my chances.

I did however get some really fawking awesome gas milage. 20.5 all the way home. I also was reminded that there are several towns in SC on the back roads that serve no purpose other than to consume oxygen. Glad I didnt "have" to stop.


I am glad I came, but should of stuck with my instincts. I hate mud. Just not my thing. Joel, just heading to your place for dinner was worth the trip however. Thanks again to you and Maya for putting me up. You guys rock.

THe good thing about WW when we are real wheeling is when the carnage happens, everyone is doing something to make repairs. It just seems I was usually the one needing help!

Pics in next post.

[Hawkdriver]

As for the JK. Really a little bit of a dissapointment. Mostly wheelbase related, however I guess bigger meats and more armor is always a fix for that. My TJ was much more nimble out of the box even in the mud.

I think the JK might excell on a dryer day on some climbs. I will have bigger meats with stronger sidewalls.

He is some carnage, not JK related.



Thanks for all the tugs. Great shot for the scrapbook



Lights help





This is what dried it out for the rest of the group





file for remember when threads



How to remove JK fenders without tools

[Just enough]

Had a blast. I don't enjoy playing in mud but do enjoy when the trails are covered in it. I spent most of the day in 2hi. Came to a stop several times while trying to climb hills but nothing 4lo couldn't get me right out of. I can't wait to be twin sticked. I would have loved to have 2lo.

I was considering getting some bfg's next time around but after seeing Dave cut a wall on a brand new tire and now finding out that two others are split as well there is no way i'm going that route.

No trail damage for me but I did have a carb sputter that happened twice and once on the way home. I'm sure it's nothing that a $15 rebuild kit and some alone time with it won't cure. I also noticed when I got about 5 miles from the house that the left rear while coming to a stop was popping in and out of line. Like the axle shaft was trying to walk it's way out. I'll be sure to check that out on my day off Thursday.

It was also Sassy's first wheeling trip and she did great, got dirty, and then got sleepy. We took a shower when we got home and she's still stained with URE mud.

Now lets see more pics and some vids.

[butters]

Sucks I missed it