Another Az Wheeling Trip-pics and story

[Triathlete]

So, mother nature decided to rain on the parade today....but the show went on. I was the only VX today (everyone else had other plans, visitors or unexpected stuff come up). We had 2 Troopers, a Toy Tacoma TRD (stock with factory rear locker), a Jeep, a Cherokee, a Jeep Truck and an ATV. I had a Rodeo owner riding shotgun in my VX (his Rodeo was stock with street tires and he had no serious wheeling experience).
After our morning meet we drove to the trail head and aired down...
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We have had rain here for the past couple of days and it has definately done some changes to the trail making it much tougher. The rutting was way worse and the rocks were much bigger. The water in the river was a whole 'nother story.

[Triathlete]

Some pics from the begining of the trail...
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The Charleau Gap-the trails namesake...
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Getting to this point was a pretty tough task. The rain made the obstacles a lot tougher. I didn't get a lot of action shots sinceI was doing a lot of spotting and the weather was not so great (I got a bit of video but still need to veiw and edit it).

[Triathlete]

The first water crossing...yes that is WATER....in Arizona! And a lot of water it is!
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I have video of everyone crossing!

[Triathlete]

One of the hill tops...
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When we got to the next water crossing (about the half way point of the trail) we found a recovery mission going on. A Chevy Avalanche was stuck big time in the middle of the crossing and ended up breaking his drive shaft without making any progress...he was stuck...the trail was blocked. We looked at our options (they were slom to none) and spoke to the guys in the Chevy and the built jeep that was with him. The news was grim. The trail, which follows the the river in parts, was even worse and deeper in some of the other crossings. They said there were some under water holes that pretty much swallowed the big chevy and had it on two wheels almost rolling several times! They thought they had gotten through all the toughest stuff and then the big stuck happened. We decided we were under built and decided to turn aropund and head out the way we came in. Day light was starting to go away fast and we had to backtrack over some pretty tuff stuff. Oh yeah...and that water was COLD!

[Triathlete]

The Toy 3 wheeling in the ruts on the way out...
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Avery nice trooper entering one of the rut areas (there was a lot of these) on the way out (he had a problem with having to long of shocks, flexing the suspention and his rear springs popping out...we got real good at trail spring instalations after about the 6th time)
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The Cherokee flexing through the ruts
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a spring install break...
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[Triathlete]

The sun going away and we still had another hour on the trail...
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Wheeling at night is a whole new beast! Completely changes the trail.

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All in all it was a fun day. There was a few who got some minor body damage, some minor mechanicals (springs) and a near flop. I came out unscathered...except a few new dents in the skid plates. 12+ hours from the time I left my door to the time I got back home...I am tired! I will hopefully get the videos up soon.

[VCAMILO]

Sorry I could not make it. I was thinking about you guys this morning as it rained all day here in Chandler. Seems like you guys had fun. :cool:

[Ldub]

Nice pics & write up Billy, looks like fun.

[ZEUS]

Awesome, man! That J-10/20 is sick! Did anyone get pics of the Avy stuck?

[Triathlete]

The J-10 was built as a mall crawler! This was his first time on a real trail. I have some video of him getting a strap from one of the Troopers...on a bypass!:bwgy:
I didn't get any pics of the Chevy but I think my buddy did. I'll try and get some. He was double high centered. Sitting with a boulder under his front skid plate and another one under his rear diff. His buddy in a built Rubicon Unlimited attempted to winch him out and it just drug the jeep. They ancored the jeep to a large boulder and still couldn't get it to budge. Those guys were knee deep in the water trying to use high lifts and come alongs to no avail. That water was COLD...I waded across to take a look and as soon as my feet hit the water they started to throb! They left it there and went for parts and a few more rigs with winches to give it another go either late last night or today.

[ZEUS]

The J-10 was built as a mall crawler! This was his first time on a real trail. I have some video of him getting a strap from one of the Troopers...on a bypass!:bwgy:HAHA! Oh, well that sucks. Undergeared, carbureted, rats nest of a truck driven by a dirt virgin! It looks clean at least, maybe it's just "inter"-beauty! :rolleyes:

[SRT-IZ]

Hey Billy, had a great time. Let me know for next trip. I dont think the truck will see any more dirt. That kid was PISSED!!

BTW guys, im the guy in the white Cherokee.


IZ...

[Triathlete]

Will do...thanks for the great spotting!
Yeah, I don't think he knew what he was getting into.