It began with a CA pal, Seth, posting a notice on an on-line discussion board about doing a enterprise journey to Phoenix. His plan was to work on Saturday after which catch a path on Sunday earlier than heading again house for work on Monday. ScottOkay (native Jeepin’ buddy) talked about that Axle Alley could be tail to run. I mentioned I’d be up for the journey if I used to be licking any wounds from the earlier week’s Johnson Valley run. The typical e-mails and mobile phone quantity trade occured and by the point Saturday night rolled round, every little thing was set. We could be assembly on the Florence Junction Texaco station at 8:00 AM on Sunday.
By the time we hit the path head, we had 7 autos within the group. Seth, ScottOkay, Troy, Bob, Lachlan, JohnB, and myself. Bob and I did a path collectively earlier this 12 months (with mates) and I had not seen his rig since then. Needless to say, his SOA ’87 YJ has grown a bit (and he has executed a pleasant job on it too). It is sporting 42″ Swampers and a few Dynatrac axles.
So, with everybody aired down and the trailored rigs sitting on the bottom, we headed out to the path. In the Florence Junction space, one often drives about half-hour of “entry path” earlier than you truly get to any of the great trails. These entry trails might be run by nearly any SUV. Axle Alley is down the path a bit from the Woodpecker trails and never too removed from the Martinez Canyon loop.
A thanks goes to ScottOkay for the pictures on this write-up. I didn’t take any nonetheless digitals, just a few digital video footage.
Well, we weren’t hardly into the path and John’s Swamper bit the mud. The sidewall bought pinched between the rim and a really pointed rock. Just a few of us hopped in to assist John get the spare mounted after which all of us had been again on our method.
There are three waterfalls on the path. The first cannot be pushed, from what I’ve been advised. Here is Bob, our path chief, winching up the primary waterfall. Seth might be questioning what the heck he has gotten himself into! <grin….simply kidding> With Bob’s 42″ tires, this factor seems nearly potential.
So, with just a few others now on prime of the primary waterfall, Seth tosses up his cable and will get able to energy himself up and over the large ledge. As with people who had gone earlier than him, he made it up simply high quality.
And then it was my flip. No downside…..park the entrance tires up as excessive as they are going to go and let the winch crew hook me up. The pull was one and I used to be up on prime with out incident. Staring at blue sky when you winch up is type of stress-free…..NOT!
Axle Alley
Lachlan offers the primary waterfalls a attempt to makes it up and over. Lachlan was working the path at present with out a sway bar (at both finish!). The one he had broke (or one thing like that) and he hadn’t fastened it but. He was slightly wobbly on just a few of the obstacles.
Lachlan pulls the winch rope out for John. You keep in mind John….the man who popped a tire in the beginning of the path? Luckily, he saved the remaining 4 tires in fine condition for the rest of the run.
Troy type of laid his TJ over on it’s aspect/rear whereas making an attempt waterfall #2. Both Scott and Lachlan managed to drive over this one whereas us remaining mortals had a strap hooked to a entrance tow hook.
Scott will get lined up for the second waterfall. Yes….you possibly can’t see a lot within the photograph (there is no such thing as a room to face ….as you possibly can see, the edges of the wash go nearly straight up).
We made it to the top with no breakage (aside from John’s tire). We all winched up the final waterfall so we might exit the path. Once again to the staging space, we goth Seth packed up and pointed him again in the direction of California. I caught a submit from Seth the next day…..he blew out a tire on the way in which house whereas nonetheless in Arizona. He swapped in his spare and headed out once more. Luckily, that was the one factor that went on his rig throughout the return journey.
Remember……TREADLightly!